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Science of Democracy 2.0

October 24, 2025

🦋 The pluriverse of democracy 

Ioannis Rigkos-Zitthen In a time of anthropogenic existential crises, writes Ioannis Rigkos-Zitthen, this new stage in the Science of Democracy conversation highlights how plural thinking can help rejuvenate democracy Read more
October 16, 2025

🦋 Democracy between anywhere and nowhere 

Simon Bein Do we need a paradigm shift in democracy research? Simon Bein broadens the current western-led perspective on searching for, and researching, democracies. Nevertheless, he warns, theorists should avoid making it more difficult to undertake comparative analyses of democratic systems  Read more
October 10, 2025

🦋 Ideology, normativity, and education

Michał Biedowicz Michał Biedowicz outlines a tripartite caveat for this new phase of the Science of Democracy discussion by considering a concept well known but rarely engaged in the study of politics: ideology. Here, he opens up normative considerations that need to be guided by education Read more
October 3, 2025

🦋 The ‘Fourth Theorist’ and the future of democracy  

Rishiraj Sen A new book by this series’ founder introduced the radical idea of a yet-to-exist theoretician who can access and condense immense amounts of information. Rishiraj Sen looks at the advantages and pitfalls of this concept, arguing that the ‘Fourth Theorist’ risks becoming an authoritarian figure, undemocratic in their theorisation of democracy  Read more
September 25, 2025

🦋 On democracy’s 'Fourth Theorist' 

Dimitra Mareta This new phase in the Science of Democracy series posits the idea of a 'Fourth Theorist' – a still-to-exist thinker who may in future come to life. But, asks Dimitra Mareta, will that person, or thing, deliver on their promises? Or will it the Fourth Theorist prove a false idol?  Read more
September 8, 2025

🦋 Plain democracy: reclaiming fundamentals in an age of democratic erosion

Agnieszka Pawłowska In the current climate of populist narratives, citizens need a clear message about democracy. Agnieszka Pawłowska draws inspiration from the notion of plain language. Here, she proposes that citizens should be provided with plain democracy, which would empower them to recognise, understand, and use the fundamentals of democracy Read more
August 14, 2025

🦋 Shift happens: rethinking democracy research in times of crisis

Norma Osterberg-Kaufmann Democracy research must evolve. Citizens support democracy itself, but are growing disillusioned with democratic institutions. Christoph Mohamad-Klotzbach and Norma Osterberg-Kaufmann say we need to rethink our frameworks. Here, they argue for broadening the empirical paradigm – shifting focus from procedural checklists to people’s own understandings of democracy – to better grasp today’s crisis Read more
August 7, 2025

🦋 Democracy in academia: the not-so-wanted child

Max Steuer Of all domains of inquiry, the science of democracy is hit particularly heavily in non-democratic regimes. Max Steuer argues that non-democratic practices in academia complicate the issue. Here, he calls for a debate on more intra-academic democracy Read more

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Advancing Political Science
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