School of Human and Social Sciences

Democratic theory and government systems research

The field of "Democratic Theory and Government Systems Research" deals with current and long-term developments in political forms of rule. In the field of democratic theory, we are particularly interested in forms of participation that are located parallel to and in connection with parliamentary processes. These include direct democratic voting, citizens' councils and functional self-government bodies.

The dynamic development of democratic decision-making processes in their various parliamentary and non-parliamentary facets is the focus of research here. The focus here is on the demands made by citizens on the shaping of politics in terms of argumentation and legitimation strategies.

With a similar perspective, research in the department also focuses on organized interest groups, their interests and assertiveness. The visible profile of the department includes research on business associations and chambers of commerce.

In the area of government systems research, our team is dedicated to economic, environmental and infrastructure policies in the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany from a governance and policy analysis perspective. Examples of this include tax, energy and transport policy. The focus is on patterns of interpretation, institutional context, concrete political disputes and social conflicts.

In this context, one focus of our research was and is the development of service provision in the field of tension between the guaranteeing and providing state on the one hand and various forms of public-private partnerships and privatization on the other.

It is part of the self-image of the department to understand municipalities and districts, in short: "local politics", as an important level of political society. Municipalities are important for research, not only because of their relative proximity to citizens, but also with regard to experimental solutions to problems. Urban and rural areas are the spaces in which politics becomes concrete.

Employees

Ongoing research projects of the Department of Democratic Theory and Government Systems Research

  • Bürger-Energie: Strukturstärkung und Teilhabe (BE:ST), funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK).
  • Citizens' Councils database, together with "Mehr Demokratie"
  • Guilds, collective bargaining and co-determination in transition (InnWa) - organizational changes and options for action, funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation.
  • Citizens' forum Climate-neutral transport in Lemgo 2035, financed by Stadtwerke Lemgo.

Completed research projects of the Department of Democracy Theory and Government Systems Research (since 2010)

  • 01.2019-09.2020 Globalized governance norms and local management and business practices in Africa and on the Arab peninsula (ManaGlobal), funded by the European Union, H2020-MSCA-RISE-2018 (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange).
  • 10.2017-09.2019 Perspective on self-management (PerSe). Evaluation of the conditions of participation in craft self-administration, project management, funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics.
  • 06.2017-05.2018 Evaluation of the "Gesetz zur Erleichterung der Sanierung von Unternehmen (ESUG)", project management together with Prof. Dr. F. Jacoby, funded by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection.
  • 09.2016-08.2019 Controversy and scientificity in materials and guidelines for socio-economic education (KoWiMa), project management together with Prof. Dr. R. Hedtke, funded by the Research Institute for Societal Development.
  • 09.2015 Economic chambers in European comparison / international symposium, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
  • 11.2012-06.2016 Social standards in public procurement policy. Political decision and administrative implementation in European comparison, project management, funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation.
  • 02.2011-09.2013 Legitimacy Convictions, Commitment and Contradiction in Organizations of Functional Self-Government - The Chambers of Crafts, University of Bielefeld, project leader, funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation.

  • Prof. Dr. Detlef Sack talks about voter turnout in European elections. Click here for the article.

  • Aldermen and councillors in conflict?

    On December 11, 2023, the political scientist Prof. Dr. Detlef Sack discussed with the FDP and CDU parliamentary group chairmen in the Wuppertal City Council, Karin van der Most and Hans-Jörg Herhausen, as part of the Political Round Table of the Bergische VHS. Beyond the topicality of urban politics, it should be noted that the role of councillors in local politics is a topic that has been under-researched in political and administrative science. The podcast can be listened to here.

  • Artificial intelligence and citizens' councils: In the context of digitalized democracy, artificial intelligence raises new and old questions for participation research. Detlef Sack, Anselm Renn and Maike Behrendt spoke about this at civic coding.

  • In the summer semester 2023, the Blended Intensive Program - "The Future of EUropa in the Danube Region" took place. Now there is the evaluation, the PDF can be found here.

  • Shortly before the summer break, is the "Heating Act" a done deal? In the DVPW blog, Sebastian Fuchs and Detlef Sack see the legislation as a small lesson in the role of interest groups. Click here for the article.

  • On May 17, 2023, Detlef Sack gave his inaugural lecture on "Democracy Research and Transformations". He presented important programmatic aspects of the teaching and research area "Democracy Theory and Government Systems Research". Around 40 colleagues and students discussed the associated conceptual questions. There were also flowers and champagne. You can find the presentation here.

  • The inaugural lecture by Prof. Dr. Detlef Sack will take place on 17.05.2023 at 16.00 c.t. in lecture hall 28 (I. 13.71). You can find more information here.
  • Between Cultural Pessimism and Confidence. Discussion culture in times of crisis. Detlef Sack spoke and discussed this topic in Remscheid on 19.04.2023. Click here for the current coverage.
  • Crises, democratic development and active confidence. Prof. Dr. Detlef Sack gave a lecture in Solingen on the connection between discussion culture and the development of democracy. Click here for the current coverage.
  • Symposium "Neustart ÖRR" At the symposium "Neustart ÖRR" on 27.02.2023 in Berlin, Nora Freier and Detlef Sack presented their thoughts on the previous participation formats in the reform of public service media. At the concluding panel discussion "Neustart rbb", Dr. Katrin Vernau, Director General of rbb, Dr. Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and Prof. Dr. Detlef Sack discussed the Broadcasting Council and the current reform requirements (more compliance, more employee participation, more social participation) and made corresponding proposals.
  • Where is transport policy heading? In the volume "Renaissance of transport policy", policy-analytical and mobility-scientific contributions discuss current developments. The volume was edited by Detlef Sack, Holger Straßheim and Karsten Zimmermann. Click here for the publication.
  • What influence do business associations and trade unions have on local politics ? Based on more than 5,600 respondents from almost 20 European countries, this question is examined in Detlef Sack's current article "Organized Business and Trade Unions in Local Governance". Click here for the publication.
  • "Organized Interests in Turbulent Continuity": A review of the annual conference of the DVPW's "Organized Interests" working group A good 20 doctoral students, postdocs and professors met at the University of Wuppertal from 11 to 12 November for the annual conference of the "Organized Interests" working group. Current research work was discussed, which led the participants thematically across the field of interest group research over the course of the two conference days. From organized interests as a transmission belt of political representation, to the development dynamics of interest group populations using the example of the German craft guilds, to right-wing populism in interest groups and the influence of organized interests on the introduction and design of the transparency register or the supply chain law. We would like to thank all participants and the staff of the Bergisches Zimmer for the successful conference and look forward to seeing you again at the 2023 annual conference in Stuttgart. Participants with Twitter links:Pauline Busken, Samuel Greef, Jonas Katemann, Lucas Flath, Michele Knodt, Maximilian Schiffers, Sandra Plümer, Detlef Sack, Florian Spohr
  • Detlef Sack was interviewed on WDR about the social protest in fall 2022. Watch the recording here.

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