What role does direct democracy play in the political agendas of right-wing populist parties? In a recent book chapter, Thomas M. Klotz and Sandra Katharina Rubner examine the positions of the AfD and FPÖ on direct democracy at the European, national, and regional levels. Their analysis reveals that… [read more]

How sustainable are smart cities really? In their new open-access publication, Nina Wörle and Stefan Wurster examine the trade-offs that emerge between ecological, social, economic, and technological sustainability goals in digitally transformed cities. Using Hamburg’s HafenCity as a case study, the… [read more]

How do political institutions shape the protection of privacy in the digital age? In their new study, Stefan Wurster and Ahmed Maati examine how different types of democratic systems influence the design and strength of online privacy protection. Their findings show that the quality and structure of… [read more]

How can students actively and collaboratively address the challenges of artificial intelligence and sustainability across disciplines? The new publication, Interdisciplinary AI and Sustainability Education: Fostering 21st Century Skills through Challenge-Based Learning, demonstrates how an… [read more]

Dr. Thomas M. Klotz presented the findings of his research on the “Save the Bees!” citizens’ initiatives in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg at the German Institute for Direct Democracy (DISUD). The presentation focused on political networks, innovative participatory mechanisms, and their significance… [read more]

Prof. Dr. Stefan Wurster examines the political and societal challenges of climate change from a policy and governance perspective. His analysis focuses on international climate regimes, European and national climate policies, and the question of how political institutions can develop effective… [read more]

In his new book, Rettet die Bienen!, Thomas M. Klotz examines the popular initiatives for species conservation in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Drawing on a discourse-analytical perspective, he demonstrates how the honeybee became a powerful political symbol and how public debates on insect… [read more]

Germany’s debt brake is once again at the center of political debate. But what impact does it actually have on public investment by the German federal states? In their latest contribution to the DVPW Blog, Kai Brumm, Felix Hörisch, and Stefan Wurster examine new empirical evidence on the effects of… [read more]

Can coalition partners from opposing political camps successfully govern by focusing on their respective core policy areas? In a new article published in German Politics, Felix Hörisch and Stefan Wurster analyze the first Green–Black government in Baden-Württemberg (2016–2021) and its ambitious… [read more]

Why did the EU reform aimed at reducing pesticide use fail? In his latest publication, Thomas M. Klotz examines the political fault lines surrounding the proposed Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR) and shows that national decisions on pesticide policy do not always follow the partisan patterns… [read more]