Welcome

We are an academic research centre at the University of Zurich dealing on an interdisciplinary level with basic research and current scientific issues relating to democracy – here, there and everywhere.

The Centre for Democracy Studies (ZDA) was established in January 2009 in Aarau to practice and promote top level scientific research and teaching on democracy in political science, law and political education. The national research programme "Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century" (Website NCCR Democracy) provided an important impulse for the establishment of the ZDA.

The ZDA is a meeting point for qualified researchers, interested bodies and curious citizens from around the world who care for democracy and its development.

Development Plan 2010-2013 (pdf; October 2009)
Annual Report 2009 (pdf; January 2010)
Annual Report 2010 (pdf; January 2011)
Annual Report 2011 (pdf; January 2012)
Annual Report 2012 (pdf; January 2013)