Thematic Focus

Democracy and Science

Graphic with young people giving political messages at a demonstration.

VolkswagenStiftung

Ein Magazin mit dem Titel "Impulse" liegt auf einem grauen Sofa
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IMPULSE-Magazine 2025: Protecting democracy

In the current issue of our magazine IMPULSE, we ask: What holds us together in the face of the crisis of democracy? What fact-based concepts does science provide us with to keep democracy strong and alive?

IMPULSE magazine "Protecting democracy"

A free science needs a free society: We support a wide range of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research projects that are dedicated to highly topical issues of democracy research - and present them to you in this thematic focus.

How can we protect our democracy? How can science generate political recommendations for action on pressing socio-political issues with due haste? How can public awareness of anti-democratic tendencies be further raised? Scientists are looking for answers - we support them in their endeavours.

 

Illustration: Reproduktion von Reichtum

SurfUpVector, Andrii – www.istockphoto.com

How does politics contribute to growing economic inequality?

To the article about the project

News on #Democracy

Die Worte "Max Planck Center for Democracy, Security, and Human Rights" stehen auf blauem Grund.
News 14 July 2026

The Volkswagen Foundation and the Hertie Foundation are supporting German-Israeli cooperation on democracy research

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Grafik mit jungen Menschen, die politische Botschaften auf einer Demonstration von sich geben.
News 13 July 2026

Research into democracies in transition: €14.3 million for eleven transdisciplinary projects

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Illustration mit Mann mit Schutzhelm vor einer Brückenbaustelle, an der zwei unterschiedliche Brücken, eine mit US und eine mit deutscher Fahne, aufeinandertreffen
News 16 June 2026

First "Transatlantic bridge professorships" approved

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Illustration with a man against a green background, spreading his arms in welcome
Funding Offer 15 June 2026

Transatlantic Bridge Professorships

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Illustration with a group of protesting people
Funding Offer 20 May 2026

Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives

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Farblich eingefärbte Weltkarte, die den Zustand des Academic Freedom in allen Ländern im Jahr 2025 zeigt.
News 17 March 2026

Academic Freedom Index: The Autonomy of Universities in the USA Falls Far Behind Peer Group

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Funding Offers #Demokratie

  • Illustration with a group of protesting people
    Next deadline in 2027, the call will be published in autumn 2026
    Collaborative projects: currently no further calls

    Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives

    The programme addresses persons from science together with actors outside of academia who are interested in transdisciplinary research and aim at jointly developing new perspectives on democratic forms of government under change.

    Learn more
    • areas of research: humanities, cultural and social sciences (lead); cooperation with natural, life, data and technical sciences possible
    • type of funding: task forces
  • Illustration with a man against a green background, spreading his arms in welcome
    Applications can be submitted at any time

    Transatlantic Bridge Professorships

    Funding programme for professors in the humanities and social sciences currently working in the USA who wish to work both in the USA and in Germany.

    Learn more
    • area of research: Humanities and Social Sciences
    • type of funding: Proportional financing of a professorship in Germany
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