Center for Comparative
Research on Democracy

Judiciary and Democracy: Unravelling Present Challenges, Activating Future Potentials

Featured Research Project
JuDem goes beyond defending the judiciary against authoritarian threats and asks a deeper question: what should the judiciary look like in the democracy of the future? It recognizes that liberal democracies face global challenges such as climate change, inequality, digitalization, and polarization, and thus need to be reimagined. The project sees the judiciary not just as a guardian of the rule of law but as an active agent in shaping democratic futures. Bringing together scholars, judges, and human rights advocates from Germany, Turkey, and beyond, JuDem transforms the task of protecting democracy into one of reinventing it.
The JuDem Project is part of the Volkswagen Foundation’s Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives Programme.

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Upcoming Events

Conference: Contemporary Threats to Academic Freedom and Democracy - Education, Journalism and Human Rights

The conference will bring together scholars and researchers to discuss cureent challenges facing academic freedom, democracy, journalism, and higher education in different political context.

📅 May 13-14, 2026

📍 Humboldt University of Berlin

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"Plattformmacht und demokratische Resilienz: Zur digitalen Souveränität Europas" by Josephine Ballon (HateAid)

As part of the lecture series Digital Space and Militant Democracy, the event will address the growing influence of digital platforms, questions of democratic resilience, and the challenges of strengthening Europe`s digital sovereignty in an increasingly platform-driven sphere.

📍 HU Berlin, Juristische Fakultät, Raum E25

📅 June 8, 2026

⏱️ 18.00-20.00

For livestream participation, please register via email at: law-and-society@hu-berlin.de

“Transformationen: Über die Zukunft konstitutioneller Demokratie” by Uwe Volkmann

As part of the lecture series Challenges for Democracy, the talk will explore current transformations and tensions surrounding constitutional democracy and reflect on its future in times of political uncertainy.

📍 HU Berlin, Juristische Fakultät, Raum E25

📅 June 22, 2026

⏱️ 18.00-20.00

For livestream participation, please register via email at: law-and-society@hu-berlin.de

News

LSI Lecture Series: Did The Future Die of Old Age?

As part of the LSI Berlin Lecture Series at the Law and Society Institute Berlin, Stephen Holmes delivered a lecture titled “Did the Future Die of Old Age?” The talk examined how contemporary crises are eroding belief in the future and explored the implications of this shift for democratic politics and societal expectations.

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Lecture and Discussion on Populism at Bard College, NY

Ertuğ Tombuş joined Pınar Kemerli and Archie Magno for a conversation on “The Concept of Populism at the Time of Crisis” at Bard College. Organized by the Bard Center for Civic Engagement, the event featured a lecture by Tombuş and a broader discussion on populism in times of crisis.
Panel – From Erosion to Restoration: Rethinking the Judiciary’s Democratic Role

On February 27, we had the pleasure of hosting Gábor Halmai (Eötvös Loránd University) and Ágnes Kovács (Eötvös Loránd University), and Max Steuer (Comenius University in Bratislava & Universität Münster) at HU-Berlin for the panel at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

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Workshop with Feminist Lawyers

Feminist lawyers gathered in Istanbul to exchange experiences on gender-based violence cases and to discuss structural challenges within the justice system. The workshop also explored collaborative strategies for strengthening feminist legal advocacy and access to justice.

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JuDem Launch Event

The opening event of the JuDem project has successfully taken place. The event featured Oona Hathaway as the keynote speaker, who delivered a insightful talk on contemporary challanges facing the judiciary and democratic governance, as well as the future pathways for strengthening democratic institutions.

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Cities and the Rule of Law

Dr. Gülçin Balamir Coşkun participated in the “Cities and the Rule of Law” event at the European Parliament on 18 November. Organized with the Pact of Free Cities, the event brought together mayors, policymakers, and academics to highlight the role of cities in defending democracy.

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Leonie Teresa Bohle moderates conversation with Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights

We are delighted to share that our team member Leonie Teresa Bohle, together with Ankita Gandhi, will serve as moderator at an upcoming event in the “Conversations with Judges” series, hosted by the Law & Society Institute (LSI) at Humboldt University Berlin.
The event features Ivana Jelić, Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights, who will speak on Thursday, 11 December 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Faculty of Law (Room E 25).

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About

The Center for Comparative Research on Democracy (CCRD) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is an interdisciplinary platform for the study of democracy in its diverse forms and transformations. Founded in 2021, the Center explores the conditions that sustain democratic life as well as the dynamics of de-democratization and autocratization.

Bringing together scholars from political science, sociology, philosophy, and law, CCRD fosters comparative and critical perspectives on democratic practices and institutions. Based in Berlin’s vibrant academic and civic environment, it connects researchers, public institutions, and civil society actors through collaborative projects, conferences, and public events. CCRD also supports early-career scholars and promotes international exchange on the challenges and futures of democracy.