The Democratic Transformations Cluster studies how political systems are evolving in response to major contemporary shifts — from the structural fractures emerging out of capitalist crises to the upheavals of the Anthropocene and the technological revolutions transforming communication.

Its research addresses crucial questions such as climate governance, the evolution of party politics, minority representation, new forms of protest, political personalization, and new modes of citizen participation. These themes also invite reflection on the philosophical foundations of modern democracies.

Grounded in political science, the cluster’s work contributes to several fields including comparative politics, public policy analysis, political communication, European studies, and political theory. To explore these transformations, members use a diverse range of methods — from discourse analysis, interviews, and ethnographic observation to surveys, machine learning, deep learning, and quantitative analyses of panel or cross-sectional data.

Current research projects