Democratic Institutions under Stress

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

Democratic Institutions under Stress

  • LatinAmerica 21 | Expert Comment / Guest Contribution | 27/08/2023

    El “Trump de las Pampas”: Argentina suma un riesgo más

    Argentina is adding a new risk to its long list of problems. Frustration and anger in Argentina with the economic situation and the disappointing performance of the traditional parties led to a populist figure get first position in the primaries on 13 August.

    deutschlandfunk Kultur | Interview | 12/08/2023

    Mord an Politiker in Ecuador – der Umgang mit Drogenkartellen in Lateinamerika

    The asasination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio becomes part of Latin America's search for security policies to confront organised crime. Two models are pursued: El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele opts for extreme repression while Colombian President Gustavo Petro favours talks for disarmament.


    Research Project | 01/05/2021 - 30/04/2026

    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, 2021-2026

    Research Project | 01/12/2019 - 30/11/2024

    Monitoring System and Transfer Platform Radicalisation (MOTRA)

    "Monitoring System and Transfer Platform Radicalization" (MOTRA) is a research association in the context of civil security research (zivile Sicherheitsforschung) funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The project was created as part of the establishment of a top-level research cluster for the early detection, prevention and combating of Islamic extremism and terrorism and will be a central point of contact over a period of five years.
    BMBF, 2019-2024


    MOTRA-Spotlight | 08/2023

    Demokratie in Konfrontation mit Krieg, Klimawandel, Flucht und Inflation: Einstellungen zur Demokratie und die Verbreitung von Autokratieakzeptanz in Deutschland

    Aktuelle gesellschaftliche Herausforderungen wie der Krieg in der Ukraine, Klimawandel, Flucht und Migration sowie Inflation sind für eine große Mehrheit der Bevölkerung mit erheblichen Besorgnissen verbunden. Je zahlreicher diese Besorgnisse sind, desto häufiger sind Zweifel daran zu erkennen, dass die Demokratie in der Lage ist, diese Probleme zu bewältigen.

    GIGA Focus Middle East | 4/2023

    Tunisia’s Autocratisation under President Kais Saied

    After the Arab uprisings, Tunisia would emerge as the only Arab democracy. President Kais Saied’s July 2021 coup has, however, led to the autocratisation of the state. This GIGA Focus traces Saied’s base of support, his strategies, and rhetoric, as well as their implications for Tunisia’s future.

    Workshop | 17/11/2023

    Public Trust, Judicial Independence, and Social Media Engagement of Latin American High Courts

    Trust in and between Courts in the Changing World of the 21st Century, Erasmus Law School, Erasmus University, Rotterdam Organisers: Erasmus University Rotterdam Dr. Cordula Tibi Weber (Speaker)

    Paper presentation at the Workshop on “Trust in and between courts in the changing world of the 21st century”

    Conference | 13/10/2023 - 15/10/2023

    The Role of Militaries in Authoritarianism Research: Looking Past the Head of the Executive

    Armed Forces and Society Biennal International Conference, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Reston, Virginia Organisers: Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society Hager Ali (Speaker)

    This article outlines the range of roles militaries play in authoritarian regimes, and how they have been studied in authoritarianism research and civil-military studies.

    Conference | 04/09/2023 - 08/09/2023

    Autocracies with Adjectives: The Need for Better Classifications of Autocratic Regimes

    ECPR General Conference 2023, Charles University, Prague Organisers: European Consortium for Political Research Hager Ali (Speaker)

    Hager Ali presents her paper "Autocracies with Adjectives: The Need for Better Classifications of Autocratic Regimes" at the ECPR General Conference 2023 in Prague. The presentation is part of the panel "Classifying Contemporary Authoritarian and Hybrid Regimes: Old Questions, New Data, and Salvaged Concepts", co-chaired by her.

    President

    Prof. Dr. Amrita Narlikar is President of the GIGA. Her research focuses on international negotiations, economic statecraft, and multilateralism. She has a special interest in India, Asia, and the BRICS.

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    Africa|Asia|Latin America|Middle East

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