Democratic Innovations

DEMOCRATIC INNOVATIONS

This podcast explores how democratic innovations are reshaping the landscape of citizen participation in response to the ongoing crisis in representative democracy.
It is sponsored by the EU-funded projects INCITE-DEM and INSPIRE, as well as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
The podcast is produced by Roberto Falanga at the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon, together with Eleonora Tulumello (episodes 1 to 7) and João Santos Duarte (episode 8 onwards), who are responsible for live sound engineering, editing, and post-production.

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10 episodes
Avg 46 min
English

Episodes 10

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Monday · 54 min
Ep.10: Where in Latin America? - With Yanina Welp and Melisa Ross
In this episode, we explore democratic innovations in Latin America with Yanina Welp, a researcher at the University of Girona (Spain) and the Geneva Graduate Institute, and Melisa Ross, a Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute. Together, we examine this field from a less Western-centric perspective. We aim not only to assess whether Latin America truly functions as a global democracy laboratory, but also to uncover why mainstream scholarship too often fails to recognise its role.
May 19 · 46 min
Ep.09: Why technosolutions? - With Álvaro Oleart and Tiago Peixoto
In this episode, we focus on the role that technological solutions have in the field of democratic innovations and democracy in a broader sense. Together with Tiago Peixoto, political scientist and Senior Governance Specialist at the World Bank, and Álvaro Oleart, postdoctoral researcher at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, we critically address many aspects of the use of technological devices for participatory deliberative initiatives and reflect on the controversial role of AI and its funders.
S1 · E8
March 19 · 45 min
Ep.08: Why Citizen-Led Democratic Innovations? - With Donatella della Porta and Andrea Felicetti
In this episode, we focus on the role that grassroots forces have in shaping democratic innovations. Together with Donatella della Porta, Professor of Political Science, founding dean of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, and Director of the PhD programme in Political Science and Sociology at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Florence, and Andrea Felicetti, Assistant Professor at the University of Padua, we discuss horizons for democratisation through the action of movements and civil society organisations.
S1 · E7
Dec 31, 2025 · 33 min
Ep. 07: Why populism and polarisation? - with Petra Guasti
In this episode, we raise critical questions about the political landscape within which democratic innovations are expected to improve our democracies. Together with Petra Guasti, Associate Professor of Democratic Theory at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University in Prague, we focus on the growth of political polarisation and populism, and on the implications of illiberal values for inclusive participation.
S1 · E6
Dec 1, 2025 · 46 min
Ep.06: Why critical political economy? - with Adrian Bua
In this episode, we move toward an understanding of democratic innovations from the perspective of critical political economy. Together with Adrian Bua, researcher at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, we highlight the structural power dynamics that inevitably shape citizen engagement within the political system and society more broadly.
S1 · E5
Nov 14, 2025 · 43 min
Ep.05: Why Intersectional Inclusion? - with Sonia Bussu
In this episode, we take a critical look at the multiple sources of oppression in contemporary society. Together with Sonia Bussu, Associate Professor in Public Policy at the University of Birmingham and scientific coordinator of the EU project INSPIRE, we explore how marginalised communities can be meaningfully included in participatory and deliberative processes.
S1 · E4
Jan 22, 2024 · 56 min
Ep.04: Changing bureaucracy? - with Stephen Elstub and Rikki Dean
In this episode, we focus on the role that Democratic Innovations play within democratic systems, with a particular emphasis on public administration. Together with Prof. Stephen Elstub and Dr. Rikki Dean, we reflect on trade-offs and opportunities. Bureaucracy is not the only answer, and public administration is not synonymous with bureaucracy. Public officials should be acknowledged as key actors capable of driving change, and the power they hold in their hands can indeed make things happen. But is that all? What are we missing in the constellations of networked actors that influence political decision-making today? There is no innovation in democracy without organization, and public administration is there to make innovation possible.
S1 · E3
Dec 9, 2023 · 1 hr 2 min
Ep.03: Solving crises? - with Graham Smith and Oliver Escobar
In this episode we focus on the pathways of democratic innovations through the multiple crises that challenge our democracies, starting from the crisis of democracy itself. Together with Prof. Graham Smith and Prof. Oliver Escobar, we interrogate the alleged success of climate assemblies, we discuss the success of new technologies applied to democratic systems, and their impact on citizen participation. Conflicts around the globe help focus on the contribution of democratic innovations to political change, beyond the sought policy improvement.
S1 · E2
Nov 9, 2023 · 38 min
Ep.02: Enhancing citizen trust? - with Francesco Veri and Brigitte Geissel
In this episode we question whether and how democratic innovations enhance citizen trust. Together with Professor Brigitte Geissel and Doctor Francesco Veri, we dive into trust in the political system and government. We reflect on trust among citizens within participatory and deliberative initiatives in consolidated democracies. Finally, we interrogate the emotional and cognitive underpinnings of trust.
S1 · E1
Nov 6, 2023 · 40 min
Ep.01: Improving democracy? - with Thamy Pogrebinschi and Mark Warren
In this first episode, we question the assumption that democratic innovations enhance democracy. Professors Mark Warren and Thamy Pogrebinschi guide us through a deep dive into the issues of democracy deficits, social polarisation, and the engineering of democratic innovations as possible context-based solutions. We also examine the evolving role of digital tools and social movements in shaping the future of democratic innovations.

Showing 1–10 of 10 episodes