Democratic Institutions under Stress

Democracy builds on common principles such as elections, a division of power, and the rule of law. In practice, democratic institutions often underperform due to executives overstepping the mark, conflicts and power struggles causing a stalemate in the policy process, as well as governance instability.

Democratic Institutions under Stress

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    Audio file X-Space Venezuela, 29.7.2024, a conversation with Sabine Kurtenbach, Maryhen Jimenez Morales, Jesus Renzullo, and Mariana Llanos
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    Audio file X-Space Venezuela, 29.7.2024, a conversation with Sabine Kurtenbach, Maryhen Jimenez Morales, Jesus Renzullo, and Mariana Llanos

    GIGA Insights | 31/01/2025

    Venezuela at a Turning Point? The Elections and an Uncertain Future

    On 28 July 2024 the people of Venezuela were called to elect a new president. The elections took place amid controversy, with the National Election Council declaring President Nicolás Maduro the winner without evidence. Despite far-reaching protests, Maduro was inaugurated as the new president in January 2025. Our experts delve into the elections’ credibility, the opposition’s counterefforts, and international reactions.

    Research Project | 01/06/2025 - 31/12/2027

    Digital Authoritarianism through Lawfare: Mapping and Strengthening Civil Society Responses in Asia

    This project investigates the most potent weapon of digital authoritarianism - lawfare in the digital realm in South and Southeast Asia in general and Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Thailand in particular. Building on previous research, it creates the first database in the world on the range of laws used for digital repression of civil society by autocratic/autocratising states, its impact on democracies and civil liberties, and countermeasures for democratic resistance and resilience.
    Luminate, 2025-2027

    Research Project | 01/03/2025 - 28/02/2027

    Leftist Politics in Democratising Indonesia

    My project addresses the question of why the leftist element of civil society in Indonesia remains marginalised despite over two decades of democratisation that have ostensibly created a more open political landscape. It investigates the factors that hinder their consolidation, both related to organisational capacity and the socio-political structures. Specifically, it analyses the extent to which Indonesia’s recent democratic decline correlates with the continued absence of an organised left.
    AvH, 2025-2027

    Research Project | 01/05/2021 - 31/03/2027

    Democratic Institutions in the Global South (DEMINGS)

    This project contributes new knowledge on the functioning of democratic institutions in the Global South, their (in)efficacy to constrain powerful executives, and the effects of particular institutions on both democratic quality and regime stability. The focus is on countries with presidential constitutions, i.e., those with directly elected presidents, an institutional choice that extended worldwide in the last decades.
    Leibniz Competition, 2021-2027


    MOTRA-Spotlight | 07/2025

    Wehrpflicht oder Freiwilligendienst?: Einstellungen der Bevölkerung zur Bundeswehr und einer „Neuen Wehrpflicht“ nach der „Zeitenwende“

    Etwa ein Viertel der Menschen in Deutschland lehnen jegliche Form einer Dienstpflicht ab; dies gilt insbesondere für Frauen und jüngere Menschen unter 30 Jahren. Knapp die Hälfte (47%) aller Menschen befürwortete eine einjährige allgemeine Dienstpflicht für Personen unter 21 Jahren, die entweder bei der Bundeswehr oder in einer zivilen Einrichtung abgeleistet werden kann.

    Infographic | 04/2025

    COVID-19 and Executive Personalization in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the MENA Region: A Dashboard

    This dashboard examines how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced executive personalization in 32 countries. Each bubble represents a country and its number of personalization events. Select one or two, then use the buttons to explore the events and their underlying mechanisms.

    Neue deutsche Regierung: Außenpolitik im Globalen Süden
    Neue deutsche Regierung: Außenpolitik im Globalen Süden

    GIGA Forum | 09/04/2025

    Neue deutsche Regierung: Außenpolitik im Globalen Süden

    Germany is facing important foreign policy decisions: How can the new government best interact with the Global South between democratic crisis, power competition, and ongoing economic interests? In this GIGA Forum, experts analyse challenges, opportunities, and possible strategies here. 

    Conference | 26/08/2025 - 29/08/2025

    Courts between Law Enforcement and Rights Protection: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chile

    ECPR General Conference, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki Organisers: European Consortium for Political Research Dr. Cordula Tibi Weber (Speaker), Prof. Dr. Mariana Llanos (Speaker), Pablo Pizarro Zúñiga (Speaker)

    GIGA researchers Dr. Cordula Tibi Weber and Prof. Dr. Mariana Llanos present their paper "Prosecutors and Courts Between Law Enforcement and Rights Protection: Insights from the COVID-19-Pandemic in Chile" at the ECPR General Conference 2025. The presentation is part of the panel "Quantifying Judicial Impact: Selection, Process, and Authority".

    Conference | 26/08/2025 - 29/08/2025

    ECPR General Conference 2025

    ECPR General Conference 2025, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Organisers: European Consortium for Political Research Dr. Cordula Tibi Weber (Panelist)

    The panel explores factors shaping public support for courts amid rising polarization, populism and political interference. Papers examine national and regional courts, influencing factors as partisanship and satisfaction with democracy, and discuss how courts can strengthen their public support.

    President (ad interim)

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach is President (ad interim) of the GIGA.

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

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