Political Representation

Political representation describes the institutional and social processes and practices that connect citizens and voters to politicians and the political decision-making process. Much research is concerned with whether and how the interests, opinions and preferences of citizens and voters are taken into account in political decision-making processes. A key area of research is the way in which different social groups - including different education and income levels, age groups, genders and ethnicities - are represented politically. Our research also pays particular attention to how citizens want to be represented in the first place, for example whether they have ideas about ‘ideal’ representatives. The overall aim of our research is to better understand political representation on an international comparative basis in order to strengthen democratic participation and improve the quality of political decision-making.

Completed Projects

  • CONNEX
  • ESF-Eurocores HumVIB REPCONG
  • Fewer member, less influence
  • Politische Repräsentation in Mehrebenensystemen am Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts – Die Perspektive der Österreichischen Abgeordneten im Europäischen Vergleich (OeNB)
  • Die Präferenzen von Bürgerinnen und Bürgern über die parlamentarischen Aktivitäten von Abgeordneten (OeNB)
  • RECONNECT
  • "Strong" vs. "weak" governments and the challenge of economic reforms (SFB 884)