Research at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

About Research at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

What does research in democracy in the 21st century look like? How can we study a political system that is under constant challenge? For years, the Albert Hirschman Centre for Democracy has pioneered a collaborative approach that draws on the views of its namesake – Albert O. Hirschman – and now shares it with listeners in podcast form. Transgressing disciplinary and academic boundaries to bring new takes on forms of government, the Research at the AHCD podcast invites its researchers to meditate on their fieldwork, their methods and their readings, and the meaning of democracy. The audio form is a nod to the concept of ‘voice’ in “Exit, Voice, and Loyalty”, which might just be central to understanding current democratic practices. Join us every week for a new episode and a fresh approach on democratic rule, research, and experiences.

Publisher

Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

Category

government · news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Sept 2021

Latest episode

29 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Jul 2026

   Youth Movements and the Crisis of Democracy

   In this episode, Christine Lutringer and Yanina Welp explore what European youth movements reveal about the crisis of democracy. They discuss how youth mobilisation has been evolving, highlighting shifts in the spaces of mobilisation as well as the issues motivating young people to engage. Unpacking the concepts of ideological and affective polarization, they reflect on how political polarization is reshaping electoral politics. The discussion also examines the broader forces fuelling these processes, including the rise of the radical right and attacks on the multilateral system. At the same time, the episode highlights how the current context is also giving rise to democratic innovation, creating new opportunities for participation and civic engagement.

2. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Youth Climate Activism: What's Left?

   The youth climate movement shook the world, then seemed to disappear. But did it? A new six-episode mini-series from the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy traces where that energy actually went. From Paris to Barcelona, Bologna to Geneva, co-hosts Christine Lutringer, Yanina Welp, Maria Mexi, and Laura Bullón-Cassis bring together activists, scholars, and policymakers to ask a big question: what does democracy owe the next generation?

3. 

   3 Apr 2024

   Reading Albert O. Hirschman with Santiago Gerchunoff

   In this episode of Research at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, host Yanina Welp and guest Santiago Gerchunoff  speak about Santiago’s personal encounter with the Hirchman’s contributions to social sciences and humanities. Santiago Gerchunoff teaches Political Theory at Madrid Carlos III University and specializes in the study of historical mutations in the public sphere He is the editor of the latest Spanish version of The Rhetoric of Reaction; and is preparing a new Spanish edition of Shifting Involvements. Among others, in this talk Santiago dives into the Hirschman’s analysis of the historical problem of the inexpressiveness of the vote and its relationship with the apparent cyclical crises of public action.

4. 

   28 Feb 2024

   Navigating Environmental Justice at Sea through Ethnographic Ways of Knowing with Jennifer Telesca

   In this episode of Research at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, host Laura Bullon Cassis and guest Jennifer Telesca dive into the heart of environmental justice through an ethnographic lens. This episode unpacks the intersections of human-environment relationships, global ocean governance, and the politics of extinction. It delves into the choices ethnographers make when embarking on new research projects and examines the role of ethnography in shedding light on the nexus between environmental, economic, and political concerns. Join us for a deep dive into how ethnography enriches our understanding of environmental justice and governance.

5. 

   15 Feb 2022

   Bayesian Reasoning with Tasha Fairfield

   On this second episode of our miniseries on methods Matias Lopez discusses methodology with special guest Tasha Fairfield. Together they will delve into methodological debates, bayesian reasoning, and explain the many approaches in methodology. Join them as they discuss how statistical reasoning can help qualitative case studies

6. 

   30 Nov 2021

   Gabriel Sterling on Swiss democracy

   On the occasion of the visit of Gabriel Sterling, elections manager for the U.S. state of Georgia, to the Graduate Institute during the 2021 Geneva Democracy Week, AHCD Executive Director Christine Lutringer invites him to share his thoughts about Swiss democracy from an American perspective.

7. 

   9 Nov 2021

   Trespassing Methods in Political Research

   On this episode of Research at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, Matias Lopez and Jake Bowers Political Science and Statistics and NCSA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign discuss methodology in depth. How can methodology change research? Is there a better way to settle the debates? Or is there a way to strike a balance and adapt our research? Find out more about Jake Bowers and his projects at www.jakebowers.org

8. 

   26 Oct 2021

   Civic-Tech with Christopher Larraz part 2

   This  episode of the Research at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy podcast continues the conversation on civic technologies for a second part to our miniseries on civic-tech and societal change. The recent rise in civic activism and public engagement in various countries has been tied with the digital age, and social media in particular. Activists have taken advantage of these technologies, for engagement and social impact. The social impact of these technologies has slowly entered governmental circles and local-government in particular. The public sector has embraced them as a tool for citizen participation and empowerment. Yet, this data driven civic participation requires some degree of risk management and oversight. Public engagement requires fostering trust from the average voter. These technologies may enable new channels of consultation, exchange, communication, and information, strengthen partnerships for a truly participatory government. Yet they require an open data approach from public officials and government agencies if they are to enlist the population in this digital transformation. Jerôme Duberry, Lecturer and senior Researcher at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, has been focusing his research on digital technologies and collaborative governance for many years. He guides us through this fascinating topic with guests from the governmental sector, civil-society organizations. In this second episode (in French), Jerôme  continues the conversation with Christopher Larraz, technologies and innovation advisor for the state of Geneva. They question the role of technology in liberal democracies. Can these innovations empower voters and lead to a more open governance? Are they in danger of discriminating against certain local communities if transparency is lacking? Stay tuned for future parts of this series concerning the real world experiences with civic-tech, and how other countries have adopted the practices. And subscribe to the podcast to receive all the latest conversations on research at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy. Ce nouvel épisode du podcast Recherche au Centre Albert Hirschman sur la Démocratie poursuit la conversation sur les technologies civiques pour une deuxième partie de notre mini-série sur les technologies civiques et le changement sociétal. La récente montée de l'activisme civique et de l'engagement public dans divers pays est liée à l'ère numérique, et aux médias sociaux en particulier. Les activistes ont tiré parti de ces technologies pour s'engager et avoir un impact social. L'impact social de ces technologies a peu à peu pénétré les cercles gouvernementaux et les administrations locales en particulier. Le secteur public les a adoptées comme outil de participation et d'autonomisation des citoyens. Cependant, cette participation civique axée sur les données nécessite un certain degré de gestion des risques et de surveillance. L'engagement public exige de susciter la confiance de l'électeur moyen. Ces technologies peuvent permettre de nouveaux canaux de consultation, d'échange, de communication et d'information, et renforcer les partenariats pour un gouvernement véritablement participatif. Pourtant, elles nécessitent une approche d'ouverture des données de la part des responsables publics et des agences gouvernementales s'ils veulent enrôler la population dans cette transformation numérique. Jerôme Duberry, enseignant-chercheur au Centre Albert Hirschman sur la démocratie, concentre ses recherches sur les technologies numériques et la gouvernance collaborative depuis de nombreuses années. Il nous guide à la découverte de ce sujet fascinant avec la contribution de nombreux invités. Dans ce deuxième épisode, Jérôme poursuit la conversation avec Christopher Larraz, conseiller en technologies et innovation de l'Etat de Genève. Ils s'interrogent sur le rôle de la technologie dans les démocraties libérales. Ces innovations peuvent-elles donner du pouvoir aux électeurs et conduire à une gouvernance plus ouverte ? Risquent-elles de discriminer certaines communautés locales si la transparence fait défaut ? Restez à l'écoute pour les prochains épisodes de cette minisérie sur les technologies civiques et la manière dont d'autres pays et administrations locales ont adopté ces pratiques. Et abonnez-vous au podcast pour recevoir toutes les dernières conversations sur les recherches menées au Centre Albert Hirschman sur la démocratie.

9. 

   4 Oct 2021

   Civic-Tech with Christopher Larraz pt. 1

   The newest episode of theResearch at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy (https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/communications/news/new-podcast-researchers-researchers)podcast brings a first for this project, miniseries. This particular miniseries on technologies and democracy will delve into the world of civic technologies throughout this, and future episodes. Jerôme Duberry, Lecturer and senior Researcher at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, who has focused his efforts on the intersection between digital technologies and collaborative governance leads us through this fascinating topic with the help of an array of guests. In this episode Jerôme interviews Christopher Larraz, technologies and innovation advisor for the state of Geneva. Together they will explain what civic tech is, and how it can be applied concretely. While technology may be the way of the future when it comes to government plans, we cannot forget that they require the people’s approval to exist. Teaching citizens and encouraging them to participate in these civic-tech innovations is at least half the battle. As Larraz points out, civic technologies are only tools that one can use to communicate with the public, genuine connection is built gradually and hinges on teaching the public how these technologies constitute an improvement to the democratic process. Stay tuned for future parts of this series concerning the real world experiences with civic-tech, and how other countries have adopted the practices. And subscribe to the podcast to receive all the latest conversations on research at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy.

10. 

    21 Sept 2021

    Fear and empathy in fieldwork

    Rebecca Tapscott Ph.D. visiting lecturer at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy joins Anastasia Shesterinina Ph.D. to discuss fieldwork, fear, and empathy. Together they will reflect on their experiences and Tapscott’s new book Arbitrary States Social Control and Modern Authoritarianism in Museveni's Uganda. Find out more about the book here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/arbitrary-states-9780198856474?cc=gb&lang=en& For more on the topic, join Rebecca Tapscott, Keith Krause, Didier Péclard, Dennis Rodgers, and Karen Zamberia during the 2021 Democracy week for a discussion on Democracy and Transitional States focusing on civilian experiences in Uganda. Register here: https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/communications/events/democracy-and-transitional-states-civilian-experiences-ugandan-state (https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/communications/events/democracy-and-transitional-states-civilian-experiences-ugandan-state)

11. 

    7 Sept 2021

    Discovering the Possible: The surprising world of Albert Hirschman

    Luca Meldolesi, Professor of Economic and Financial Policy at the University of Naples is also one of the foremost authorities on Albert Hirschman's work and legacy. On this episode of Research at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, Professor Meldolesi reflects on Albert Hirschman's work but also on what it means for the future, what is left to be done. For more information visit www.graduateinstitute.ch/democracy

12. 

    1 Sept 2021

    Introducing Research at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

    What does research in democracy in the 21st century look like? How can we study a political system that is under constant challenge? For years, the Albert Hirschman Centre for Democracy has pioneered a collaborative approach that draws on the views of its namesake – Albert O. Hirschman – and now shares it with listeners in podcast form. Transgressing disciplinary and academic boundaries to bring new takes on forms of government, the Research at the AHCD podcast invites its researchers to meditate on their fieldwork, their methods and their readings and the meaning of democracy. The audio form is a nod to the concept of ‘voice’ in “Exit, Voice, and Loyalty”,  which might just be central to understanding current democratic practices. Join us every week for a new episode and a fresh approach on democratic rule, research and experiences.