Democracies are not to be taken for granted and are in constant evolution. They gain strength, but also face threats at the local, national, and international levels. For instance, the past couple of decades saw the emergence of political parties and movements that openly challenge key principles of liberal democracy and threaten the rule of law. In addition, governments experience difficulties in implementing policies and look for a balance between collective decisions and local participation.

These developments result in a strained relationship between elected representatives, the state, and citizens, leading to increasing levels of public distrust. This presents a challenge to good governance at all levels.

The Democracy & Governance Research Theme at the UG is a network of interdisciplinary experts working on these issues. The theme covers topics such as deliberative democracy, transparency and accountability in public governance, populism and extremism, and transnational cooperation to address global risks and challenges. Our members cover all levels of governance, from local neighborhood initiatives to internationalism.

Groups

The Research Theme operates on a bottom-up approach, with 'Groups' focusing on specific matters that fall under the umbrella of Democracy and Governance. The current Groups are:

• Democratic Innovations (steered by Prof Dr. Davide Grossi and dr. Benjamin Leruth)
• Populism and Extremism (steered by dr. Léonie de Jonge, dr. Lisa Gaufman and dr. Melanie Schiller)
• Human Mobility and Migration (steered by mr. Raymond Adema and dr. Jeanette den Toonder)
• Transitions and Social Justice (steered by dr. Senka Neuman-Stanivuković, dr. Ksenia Robbe and dr. Sander van Lanen)

We aim to facilitate a healthy exchange of ideas and collaborate with partners both inside and outside the university to advance our understanding of democracy and governance. Our activities include webinars on relevant societal issues, small and medium-scale events to connect experts and practitioners, and cross-faculty initiatives to promote multidisciplinary research projects.

If you are interested in the activities of the D&G research theme, or want to contribute in any way, do not hesitate to contact Benjamin Leruth, Theme Director (b.j.j.leruth rug.nl).

You can contact us by sending an email to b.j.j.leruth rug.nl .

Core theme members:

• Dr. Benjamin Leruth (theme director)
• Prof. dr. Kees Aarts (Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences)
• Dr. Stefan Couperus (Faculty of Arts)
• Prof. dr. Solke Munneke (Faculty of Law)
• Dr. Marc Pauly (Faculty of Philosophy)
• Prof. dr. Caspar van den Bergh (Campus Fryslan)
• Prof. dr. Gerrit Voerman (Faculty of Arts)
• Prof. dr. Dirk Jan Wolffram (Faculty of Arts)
• Dr. Élise Rouméas (Campus Fryslan)