Even in long-established democracies, the current moment is unsettling in ways that go beyond cyclical crises. Patterns of participation shift, trust in institutions is eroding, and familiar forms of collective engagement are losing traction across multiple levels, from local communities and cities to national politics and multilateral arenas. These changes raise fundamental questions about what sustains democratic life, how democratic attachments are formed and maintained, and how institutions adapt - or fail to adapt - when disaffection grows.
This seminar brings in external researchers to engage in debate with the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy community on the foundations of democratic life in light of these evolving tensions. Inspired by Hirschman’s attention to ambiguity, contradiction, and invention, we explore how individuals and collectives navigate frustration, experiment with new forms of participation, and reconfigure democratic practices across diverse contexts.
The seminar offers a forum for presenting work in progress and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue that connects academic inquiry with questions of practice and policy relevance.
Format: Sessions are held monthly on Tuesdays at 12:30, with a light lunch provided. Online participation is possible.
We are pleased to announce the dates for the first two thematic clusters of the 2025-2026 academic year on two crucial themes: digital life and the climate crisis.
Series 1: Digital & Democracy
- 28 October, 12:30–13:30
AI and the Democratic Commons: New Practices of Participation
Clarie Alspektor, Sciences Po Paris and Make.org - 4 November, 12:30–13:30
Reassessing the Right to Live in Dignity in the Digital Era
Maria Varaki, King’s College London
Series 2: Climate & Democracy
- 9 December, 12:30–13:30
How Political Parties Deal with Environmental Issues: A Comparative Perspective
Oscar Mazzoleni and Emilia Meini, University of Lausanne - 20 January, 12:30–13:30
Participation in the UNFCCC’s First Global Stocktake: Innovation and Continuity in Climate Governance
Kari de Pryck, Nicklas Wagner, and Shaurya Patel, University of Geneva