The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions by investigating how democratic participation, accountability, and justice take shape in a rapidly changing world. We take the view that strong institutions are not only stable, but also equitable, inclusive, and responsive to those they govern. Our interdisciplinary research investigates how democratic participation is practiced and contested across a range of settings globally, from formal legal arenas to street protests and digital platforms, and at various levels of governance.
Drawing on Hirschman’s ideas of “voice” and “exit,” we explore the practices through which citizens challenge injustice, claim rights, and transform governance. We engage with the tensions between formality and informality, legality and legitimacy, elite control and grassroots voice, both through research and by engaging with practitioners, ranging from policymakers to activists.
Spotlight Projects
Diversity on the International Bench - Maria Neus Torbisco Casals, Andrew Clapham
This project investigated how international courts and tribunals can build legitimacy through greater gender and regional diversity. By centering gender and representation in legal authority, the project aligns directly with SDG 16’s commitment to inclusive institutions and access to justice for all.
Understanding the links between multilateralism and democracy to tackle global challenges more effectively - Christine Lutringer, Laura Bullon-Cassis
How to address the fraying link between democracy and the multilateral system? The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy and the Kofi Annan Foundation collaborate to further a common understanding – through exchanges of good practices from all continents – of how democratic, ethical and inclusive leadership is essential to solving global challenges.
Civic Engagement and Protest: Research on Engagement and Activism
A significant strand of our work focuses on how collective action challenges dominant structures and reshapes democratic space. Together, these projects advance knowledge and practice around SDG 16’s pillars, namely responsive institutions, legal empowerment, civic participation, and inclusive decision-making:
- Protest and Engagement, from the Global to the Local
Mapping the forms of youth political participation across Europe.
(Christine Lutringer) - Humanitarianism from Below
Investigating bottom-up political claims within humanitarian settings.
(Till Mostowlansky) - Public Protests and Protest Publics in Authoritarian Regimes
Examining modes of dissent and their limits under repression.
(Yanina Welp, Graziella Moraes) - Youth Climate Activism and Local Institutions
Analyzing how youth environmental movements reframe democratic practices.
(Christine Lutringer) - Stories of the Future: Youth and AI in Democracy
Engaging young people in imagining and shaping democratic futures through technology.
(Christine Lutringer, Jérôme Duberry)
Learn more at graduateinstitute.ch/democracy