lucernaforum is ready to DEPART
The Research Hub for Democracy and Participation (DEPART) combines research competencies in the field of democratic participation and participatory inclusion. Particular attention is paid to the exchange between academia and civil society in order to contribute to a fact-based and rational discourse.
As current fields of application, the DEPART Research Hub focuses on the establishment of participatory processes to promote sustainable development and the issue of inclusion and exclusion of different actors in the democratic constitutional state.
Research Impact
„Inclusion - Exclusion“ Conference
The conference will be held in German. Prof. Dr. Rudolf Stichweh, University of Bonn („Forum Internationale Wissenschaft“ and „Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies“), and former rector of the University of Lucerne, will open the conference with a keynote address. In addition, a dialogue between science and art will be encouraged, with the artist duo Dias & Riedweg presenting video contributions that exemplify postcolonial social segregation as well as the social reality and identity within the favelas in Rio de Janeiro. The contributions are planned to be published in a volume.
„Inclusion - Exclusion“ Conference
Online Conference „Direct Democracy in the Constitutional State“
Thematically, the approved project focuses on the promotion of democratisation processes and the rule of law. With the chosen topic of direct democracy, an aspect of fundamental importance for a democratic system is to be elaborated and discussed. It is about the question of the pros and cons of direct democratic and, if applicable, plebiscitary elements in the political decision-making process, which has been controversially discussed time and time again for decades. In particular, the tense relationship between direct democracy and the rule of law will be examined.
Online Conference „Direct Democracy in the Constituional State“
Seminar „Participation and Resistance in the Democratic Constitutional State“ (FS 20)
In the first part, various theories of democracy are discussed (e.g. Habermas’ deliberative theory of democracy, Schumpeter’s empirical-analytical theory of democracy or Downs’ economic theory of democracy). The second part addresses current and practical problems of political rights (e.g. the transparency initiative, new developments in cantonal electoral systems, e-voting, voting rights for foreigners, the influence of social media on voting behaviour). The third part addresses the right to resistance and the civil disobedience in the context of new social movements (e.g. Extinction Rebellion).
Seminar „Participation and Resistance in the Democratic Constitutional State“