This is the fourth and final episode in a podcast series featuring LEGITIMULT a project that examines how measures taken during the Covid-19 crisis by international, national, and subnational governments have affected multilevel institutions and intergovernmental relations. The aim of the research is to develop a model of legitimate crisis governance. In this episode, we focus on the citizen juries on crisis management in Europe, convened as part of the project following extensive research. The aim was to connect the project’s findings with real-world practice and engage with diverse segments of society. These juries brought the project’s academic work into a practical context, helping to explore what legitimate crisis governance means for citizens. By bridging academia and practice, the initiative sought to close the gap between science, policymakers, and the public on crisis governance. The juries also provided a platform for citizens to share how they perceive crises and to take part in shaping how societies should respond. The episode shares key insights from these discussions and takes you behind the scenes of organizing citizen juries—an evolving innovation in democratic engagement. Joining the conversation are LEGITIMULT team members who played a leading role in designing and facilitating these juries: Greta Klotz, Post-Doc-Researcher and Project Manager, Institute for Comparative Federalism, Eurac Research. Chiara Salati, Post-Doc-Researcher, Institute for Comparative Federalism, Eurac Research. Jakob Frateur, PhD researcher at the Department of Political Science and the Faculty of Law, University of Antwerp. Hosted by: Gentiana Gola, Adviser for Europe at the Democracy Assessment team and LEGITIMULT Project Manager for International IDEA LEGITIMULT is funded through Horizon Europe and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
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From Billboards to Bots: Rethinking Political Finance for a Digital World
The digitalization of political campaigning has transformed the ways in which political parties and candidates interact with voters. While offering new avenues for political engagement and outreach, digital campaigning also raises critical regulatory and transparency challenges—ranging from opaque online advertising, third-party influence, and data-driven microtargeting to foreign interference. In response to this evolving landscape, International IDEA has produced the report Political Finance in the Digital Age: Towards Evidence-Based Reforms, which is a comprehensive examination of how digital campaigning intersects with political finance systems. It analyzes the regulatory implications of online campaigning, and the roles of oversight institutions, civil society, and tech companies. The report provides actionable recommendations to help ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in political and campaign finance in the digital era.In this episode, Khushbu Agrawal, Adviser for Money in Politics and Editor of the report speaks to Dr Wouter Wolfs, the lead author, exploring the emerging trends, regulatory gaps, and innovative practices drawn from the 13 case studies, which form the basis of the global report.Guest: Wouter WolfsBackground reading: https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/political-finance-digital-age-towards-evidence-based-reforms
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Legitimult: Making democracy crisis-proof III
This is the third of a podcast series featuring LEGITIMULT, its findings and tools for addressing and solving future crises. This episode builds “Lessons from Covid-19 – Journalism in a Post-Pandemic Future” media workshop (more details below), and delves into the topic of crisis reporting. The conversation highlights the media’s dual role in both informing the public and holding those in power accountable, as well as the crucial distinction between facts and opinions in journalism—especially through journalists’ experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. Drawing from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic the LEGITIMULT (Legitimate Crisis Governance in Multilevel Systems) project aims to identify a model of political legitimate crisis governance that takes into account the interplay between international, national, regional and local governments and institutions. Its guiding research question “Which conditions contribute to democratically legitimate crisis governance?” will allow governments and policy makers to better face the crises of the future. The aim is not only to have effective responses, but that these measures respect and guarantee basic human rights and freedoms. LEGITIMULT is funded through Horizon Europe and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Guests: Ms Amina Manzoor, Science Journalist at Expressen, Sweden Ms Therese Bergstedt, Science Journalist focusing on public health and climate issues at Svenska Dagbladet, Sweden Hosted by: Dr Alexander Hudson, Senior Adviser in the Democracy Assessment Unit, International IDEA Background Reading: Workshop summary article: Lessons from Covid-19 – Journalism in a Post-Pandemic Future Blog post inspired by the media workshop: In times of crisis: How to keep calm and carry on
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Facing the climate crisis and democracy backsliding by reforming global governance
Frank Biermann is a research professor of Global Sustainability Governance with the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. He discusses with International IDEA Communications Director Alistair Scrutton ideas about how to tackle the planetary crisis in the face of rising unilateralism, authoritarianism, and anti-environmentalism.Background reading: The Earth System Governance project
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Climate Hazards and Elections in India
In this episode of Peer-to-Peer, we speak to Saket Ambarkhane about the impacts of natural hzards on Indian elections and the growing concern over the effects of climate change on future elections. With Ambarkhane, we explore how different events, such as the heatwaves during the 2024 election, impacted various steps of the electoral process like campaigning, polling day, and voter turnout.Ambarkhane also explains how the different levels of EMBs (federal vs regional) have mitigated such events and the numerous tools India uses to build resilience against natural hazards.Guest: Saket Ambarkhane is an elections expert, having previously worked for the Electoral Commission of India and International IDEA. Hosts: Erik AsplundBackground Reading: Natural Hazards and Elections in India: Lessons in Adaptation and Mitigation The Impact of Natural Hazards on Elections
Democracy IDEAs is brought to you by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). Our podcasts share analyses, data, and insights from experts worldwide to help you understand the challenges of democracy in times of crisis. Find more information to empower you on decision-making processes at www.idea.int
Netherlands