State, Domination and Political Change

This field of research deals with typologies of state and domination (autocracies, democracies, military dictatorships, etc.) and the causes of political change (transformation). Over and above this, there is the fundamental question of the extent to which the modern nation-state can still fulfil its traditional functions in a time of globalization and neoliberal trends, or whether we need new forms of governance. The Institute is an active participant in current debates on failed states, on coping with governance in areas in which the state's writ is limited, and on supranational forms of domination. Of equal interest are also the various causes of transformation in state and domination (modernization, globalization, constellation of actors and financial crises).

Current research at the ABI includes projects in the following fields:

The welfare state

The "Welfare State" research group focuses on the compatibility of welfare state and globalization. Whereas the existing welfare state in industrialized countries is coming under increasing pressure, developing and emerging countries are discussing the fundamental question of the benefits and costs of this system. At the moment the jury is still out on the question of whether certain mechanisms of the welfare state, such as the universal systems of social insurance, active labour and family policies, and educational, residential and health policies are an obstacle or an advantage in international locational competition. Another field of detailed investigation is the nation-state's possibilities for action (regulator vs. provider) and the substitutability of public actors by private for-profit actors (privatizations) and not-for-profit actors (international NGOs) as alternatives to state provision of social security.

Stability and change of political systems

The Institute's research into "Stability and Change in Political Systems" is a response to the observation that the development of statehood is not a linear progression towards democracy. Instead, the result of change in political systems is open. For this reason, it is particularly important to also take a comparative look at states that break the mould. For instance, it is necessary to study in greater detail not only "good governance", but also the persistent phenomenon of "bad governance". The analysis itself focuses on both formal (institutions of state, etc.) and informal institutions (such as neopatrimonialism).

Religion and democracy

After many years of academic neglect, religion is back on the political agenda in Europe. With its research on religion and politics, the ABI wants to contribute to a differentiated debate. The Institute's various projects investigate the influence of religious imprinting on political culture, the importance of religious identities in fragmented societies, and the role of religious communities and institutions in processes of democratization and their potential for peace and conflict