Research
Democracy is not a given. It is based on a multitude of institutional, ideational and material foundations. To maintain their legitimacy, democratic orders must also be able to respond to societal change and exert influence on central policy fields such as security, environment and economy. The work of researchers at the CSD can therefore be divided into the three core areas of Foundations, Change and Impact.
Foundations:
In this area, researchers analyze the preconditions for the emergence and reproduction of democratic orders. The field of Political Theory investigates the ideas and concepts associated with democratic governance. It asks what a democratic order should look like. The field of Comparative Political Science asks how the central actors, including parties and voters, move within this democratic order. Research on Political Culture analyses what attitudes, values, and behavioral patterns must be prevalent in a society to allow for the democratic regulation of conflicts. The field of Political Economy, in turn, examines which economic dynamics favor democratization and what fiscal arrangements rulers and ruled agree on to finance democratic institutions and policies. Finally, the field of International Relations analyses how global orders and interdependencies enable or undermine democratic governance. It asks about the security and sovereignty of democratic communities.
Change:
In this area, researchers examine how democracy responds to societal and political challenges. The field of Comparative Political Science illuminates the societal and socioeconomic causes for changes in the population’s political behavior. It asks: Who votes for whom and why? The field of German and European Politics examines how German and European parties react to changes in the interests of voters and how this is reflected in institutional reforms. The field asks about the responsiveness and resilience of democratic institutions. Research on Political Culture analyses how value change and political empowerment interact. It asks: what determines who counts? The field of International Relations finally illuminates the connection between normative change and the democratization of international organizations. It asks about the legitimacy and legitimation of global governance.
Impact:
In this area, researchers analyze how democratic institutions and processes influence the formulation and implementation of policies, both on a national and international level. The field of Public Policy and Law examines the interplay of institutional context, scientific expertise and power resources in the negotiation of migration policy. It asks: Who can assert themselves? The field of Political Economy examines the impact of democratization on a country's attractiveness for foreign capital. It asks: Who gets empowered and who benefits? The field of International Relations, in turn, analyzes the strategies nation states and the institutions and interest groups they comprise deploy to influence cooperation in international organizations. They ask about the nexus of foreign policy and global governance.
Research in these three core areas reflects the renowned professional competencies of the CSD. It has a high political-social and theoretical-professional relevance. This is reflected both in the number of high-ranking, internationally visible publications of the Center members as well as in the widely used data sets, which are collected and further developed at the Center. These include the World Values Survey Germany, the Comparative Political Data Set and the database on Central and Eastern European political systems and governments.
The Center ensures the sustainability and consolidation of its research success through targeted promotion of young talent in the form of scholarships and summer schools as well as the organization of regular conferences and guest lectures on current research issues. The CSD is excellently networked both nationally and internationally, providing optimal working conditions for young researchers.