The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy explores the plurality of democratic experiences and aspirations in an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective. It seeks to understand what ails democracies worldwide, focusing on the growing disenchantment of citizens with democratic political power, and on the shifts from liberal to illiberal democracy that increasingly blur the divide between the two. It develops projects that bridge theoretical and empirical research, academic and policy work.
Its activities include: Research on the everyday practices of democratic politics, citizensâ aspirations and dissatisfactions with liberal values, institutions and elites; a series of public lectures, conferences and workshops organised and supported by the Centre; A series of PhD activities to foster interdisciplinary communities