Von Janina M Pawelz, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20458888

Democratic Transformation and Values

Democracy is in retreat. Although democratic improvements still occur around the globe, many citizens in both new and established democracies now turn to the authoritarian lure of populist parties that reject basic democratic principles such as minority rights and the equality of all people. Internationally, autocratic regimes gain legitimacy. Academia is still looking for ways to comprehensively explain these setbacks. Nor does the literature agree on how to explain improvements in democratisation. This lack of insight makes it difficult for policy makers who aim at supporting democracy from the outside to devise appropriate strategies.

To better understand dynamics of political transformation, we need to identify factors that make democracies endure, factors and that drive autocratisation. Only then can we fathom how democracy is best supported inter- and transnationally.

Our analyses focus on the design of political institutions and the role of norms and values in societies of the Global South. Regime changes, we argue, are better understood when acknowledging the interplay between informal and formal institutions and networks. With regard to making democracy promotion more effective, we analyse the contestation of norms, aid modalities, and how it affects equality and social cohesion.

Publications

More donors, more democracy
Ziaja, Sebastian (2019)

The Journal of Politics (forthcoming)

First peace, then democracy? Evaluating strategies of international support at critical junctures after civil war
Mross, Karina (2019)

in: International Peacekeeping 26 (2), 190-215

The negotiation of democracy promotion: issues, parameters and consequences
Poppe, Annika Elena / Julia Leininger / Jonas Wolff (eds.) (2019)

Democratization 26 (5), (Special Issue), London: Routledge Taylor & Francis

Method factors in democracy indicators
Elff, Martin / Sebastian Ziaja (2018)

in: Politics and Governance 6 (1), 92-104

Cultural values, attitudes, and democracy promotion in Malawi: how values mediate the effectiveness of donor support for the reform of presidential term limits and family law
Nowack, Daniel (2018)

Discussion Paper 27/2018

Assessing the potential of ICTs for participatory development in Sub-Saharan Africa with evidence from urban Togo
Breuer, Anita / Jacob Groshek (2016)

published on International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society

It's institutions, not theology! Muslim actors’ influence on democratization in Mali
Leininger, Julia (2016)

in: Politics and Religion 9 (4), 815-842

Against all odds: strong democratic norms in the African Union
Leininger, Julia (2015)

in: Tanja A. Börzel / Vera van Hüllen (eds.), Governance transfer by regional organizations, London: Palgrave Macmillan, 51-67

Social media and protest mobilization: evidence from the Tunisian revolution
Breuer, Anita / Todd Landman / Dorothea Farquhar (2014)

published on Democratization

Highlight

The negotiation of democracy promotion: issues, parameters and consequences
Poppe, Annika Elena / Julia Leininger / Jonas Wolff (eds.) (2019)

Democratization 26 (5), (Special Issue), London: Routledge Taylor & Francis

Highlight

The relevance of social policies for democracy: preventing autocratisation through synergies between SDG 10 and SDG 16
Leininger, Julia / Anna Lührmann / Rachel Sigman (2019)

Discussion Paper 7/2019