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Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy
18 May 2020

Discover the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy’s research projects

The research developed at the Centre focuses on four thematic pillars

Thirty scholars from the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy’s core research team and affiliated faculty, have contributed to the development of projects that bridge theoretical and empirical research, academic and policy work. Research at the Centre focuses on four main themes: (1) Voice and participation in policy processes; (2) Democratic voice under liberal and illiberal regimes; (3) Law, courts and democracy and (4) Transparency, regulation and accountability. 

The Centre currently hosts 11 externally funded projects, which have received funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS), the Gerda Henkel Foundation, and the Swiss Society of Americanists (SSA).

 

THEME 1: Voice and participation in policy processes 

Democratic participation extends well beyond the ballot box to a voice in policy processes which govern people’s daily lives. Three projects address questions such as: How is voice expressed in policy processes in various contexts? What is the relationship between popular voice and expertise? What factors influence the form and quality of voice? 

Democratising access to healthcare: Infertility, childlessness, and treatment seeking in resource-poor settings in Nepal and India (2018-20)

Constitution-making and deliberative democracy (2018-2022)

The transnational politics of ethics review: A study of the effects of ethical regulations on political voice in Global South countries (2019-23)
 

THEME 2: Democratic voice under liberal and illiberal regimes 

In the context of the current disenchantment with democracy and the rise of increasingly “illiberal” regimes, projects explores the diversity of meanings, forms and experiences of democracy in various regions of the world. Among the issues addressed are: How does democratic participation intersect with different kinds of economic regimes, redistribution policies, political cultures and recognition discourses? Which spaces are created and used by citizens to express voice when faced with soft authoritarian regimes that seek to supress dissent and public protest?

Governance through disorder: Illiberalism and the politics of unpredictability (2019-21)

The Everyday State (2020-21)

Images, (in)visibilities, and work on appearances (2020-24)

How elites shape unequal democracies: Perceptions of redistribution in Brazil and South Africa (2020-24)
 

THEME 3: Law, courts and democracy 

Courts are guarantors of rights essential to democracy and the rule of law. But they can arguably also contribute to a de-politicization of issues. It is important to understand how courts are being used by civil society actors today. How far can and do they render the state and multinational corporations accountable? How is the use of courts by activists transforming democratic experiences and how are courts themselves transformed in the process?

Diversity on the international bench: Building legitimacy for international courts and tribunals (2019-22)
 

THEME 4: Transparency, regulation and accountability 

Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of contemporary democratic politics. Beyond expressions of democratic voice as found in practices like voting and protesting, citizens in democratic societies increasingly exercise their sovereignty using mechanisms of surveillance and grievance redressal to hold the state accountable. How might citizens participate in governance in an administrative state? How are transparency and accountability produced, protected, and—in some cases—manipulated in global, national, and sub-national contexts? In what ways does an emergency like COVID19 affect mechanisms of transparency and accountability? 

Extracting voice: The subnational law and politics of relationships between mining companies and affected communities in India (2019-22)

The puzzle of unspent funds: The institutional architecture of unaccountable governance (2020)

Transparency: Qualities and Technologies of Global Gemstone Trading (2017-20) (in collaboration with the CCDP)