Research areas

Quality of democracy: analysing the many forms of governance

Challenges and transformations

Representative democracy, the cornerstone of modern political systems, faces unprecedented challenges in the 21st century. Understanding the multifaceted causes of these challenges is a crucial task for the social sciences, and for contemporary political science in particular.

The changing role of political players

The role of political parties and governments is changing. In a globalised world, the position of nation states within the European Union is developing. The forms and arenas of political participation are diversifying, while the rise of “populist” movements reflects a growing rejection of traditional political elites.

A return to the foundations of democracy

The aim of this theme is to analyse the formal and procedural conditions of democracy, the capacity of political institutions to meet these criteria, and the causes and consequences of democratic transformation. The research carried out under this heading includes a legal approach to democracy, theoretical reflections on the criteria of good government and an empirical analysis of political processes.

Key research areas

Using various approaches and methodologies, the work in this thematic area focuses more specifically on:

• Political representation (elections, parties and parliaments): These elements play a central role in representative democracy. This subfield examines the dynamics of representation, the challenges facing political parties and the changing role of parliaments in the 21st century.
• Beyond representation: The success of direct democracy practices and the growing importance of deliberative and participatory experiments in democracy are also prompting research to push back the boundaries set by our representative systems and analyse the principles, procedures and consequences of different democratic practices
• New spaces for democracy: This area of research explores the expansion of democratic principles into new spheres, such as the workplace (economic democracy) and the digital environment (e-democracy). In particular, the rise of digital technologies has had a profound effect on political life, opening up a field of research into the potential and challenges of e-democracy.
• Multi-level governance: With the deepening of the European Union and other supranational organisations, combined with territorial demands for autonomy and independence, the nation-state is being weakened. The analysis of democratic governance and the definition of several territorial levels is a fundamental dimension of the issues facing our contemporary societies. 
• Meeting the challenges of the 21st century. By examining the changing nature of representative democracy and the various challenges it faces, this theme contributes to a better understanding of contemporary political systems and the prospects for democratic renewal. Research conducted in this thematic strand provides valuable information to policy makers, researchers and citizens as they navigate the complex and dynamic political landscape of the 21st century.

International reconfiguration: advanced research into global dynamics

ESPOL-Lab’s ‘Reconfiguration of the international’ research area focuses on the changing landscape of world affairs, offering rich and diverse research on international security, migration, economic globalisation and North-South relations, with particular attention given to the place of the European Union in global change.

Beyond the traditional concept

The development of supranational organisations, international mobility and globalisation has considerably broadened the international dimension of many issues. While 50 years ago international affairs were confined to relations between states, today they have moved closer to the daily lives of citizens, even in times of peace. This area looks at the contemporary international dimension, including issues traditionally seen as domestic, such as migration and terrorism, as well as more traditional areas such as war and foreign policy.

Understanding international issues through a variety of approaches

The theme adopts different perspectives, enabling us to examine the impact of the internationalisation of issues on the domestic and foreign policies of states. The integration of these perspectives provides a deeper understanding of the contemporary challenges and opportunities facing the international community.

Key research areas:

The research carried out under this heading covers a wide range of thematic areas, including:

• International security. This sub-field explores the dynamics of security in the 21st century, examining the role of states (de facto or de jure), non-state actors and multilateral institutions in addressing global security challenges. It includes the analysis of armed conflicts, whether inter-state or civil wars, as well as the evolution of transnational terrorism and new forms of counter-terrorism.  
• Migration and borders. This second theme deals with various issues relating to the mobility of people, including political asylum, economic or environmental migration and the development of international law on these questions. The evolution of migration policies and the effects of migration on national politics are also important aspects of the research in this area.
• Europe and international organisations. This last theme analyses the role played by international and supranational organisations, their development and influence. Particular attention is paid to the European Union and its integration into international organisations and international issues.

Politics of the Anthropocene: economic development and the environment

The Anthropocene marks a new geological epoch in the history of the Earth. A time when human activities have become the dominant force shaping the planet’s trajectory.

On the one hand, human societies are experiencing unprecedented economic growth and development, which was previously limited to a small number of states. On the other hand, this development is leading to considerable effects on the earth, such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, desertification, ocean acidification, plastic pollution, over-exploitation of resources and many other interconnected problems.

This section analyses these far-reaching changes, with a particular focus on the link between economic development and environmental issues.

Policies for the Anthropocene

The work in this area focuses on policies of and for the Anthropocene, and aims to offer new perspectives for understanding how economic and environmental development can coexist:

• Social and political responses to the environmental crisis: Analysing the various strategies and approaches adopted by societies to deal with the environmental crisis, including international agreements, national policies, popular movements and individual actions.
• Current and alternative food systems: Examine the current global food system and its environmental and social impacts, and explore alternative food systems that promote sustainability, equity and resilience.
• Models of development and North-South relations: analysing the factors that promote development that is both effective and environmentally-responsible.