This research project analyses legal and political reforms to European judicial systems over the last 20 years. The project aims to document attacks on judicial independence by populist-authoritarian forces and to identify any patterns. Are there certain 'toxic' institutional and political configurations that make an independent judiciary particularly vulnerable? At the same time, it also considers how existing dysfunctions can be remedied to strengthen the resilience of democratic institutions based on the rule of law. The comparative analysis intends to significantly contribute to a better understanding of the 'democratic decay phenomena' in Europe, as well as to the development of effective counter-strategies. A mix of quantitative and qualitative empirical social research methods will be used to collect and analyse data on the institutional structure of judicial systems in the 47 member states of the Council of Europe on a cross-case basis.
Silvia von Steinsdorff (Professor of Comparative Democracy Research and the Political Systems of Eastern Europe at Humboldt University, Berlin) is heading the project, which is being carried out in cooperation with the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) and is jointly funded by the Mercator Foundation.
Funding period: 2020 - 2024
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Silvia von Steinsdorff
Universitätsstraße 3b
10117 Berlin
Email: steinsds(at)sowi.hu-berlin.de
Applicant: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin