Project description
Rethinking democratic preferences
European democracies are complex systems. They consist of an array of institutions, organised according to a variety of competing values. However, when we research what kinds of democracy people want, we assume that their preferences should be aligned to simple, ideal models of democracy that are nothing like this complex reality. This makes it difficult to accurately diagnose the growing discontent with democratic performance and assess support for reforms to address it. The ERC-funded PoPPiE project pioneers a new approach, combining democratic systems theory with a new multidimensional framework of the psychology of process preferences in an innovative mixed-methods design. This new approach generates a more realistic picture of process preferences that is better targeted to renewing European democratic systems.
Objective
To understand the levels of dissatisfaction with democratic performance in Europe, as well as the most effective reforms for addressing it, requires an understanding of citizens’ process preferences: how do they want democracies to function? Empirical research on process preferences is rapidly proliferating, but it has been underpinned by an assumption that the task of this research is to discover which one of a set of abstract, normative models of democracy citizens subscribe to. The driving idea behind PoPPiE is that this assumption is a serious limitation. It has led the study of process preferences to focus on discrete choices between simple alternatives that fail to represent the real choices facing the inhabitants of complex democratic systems and neglected the extent to which individuals are conflicted between competing democratic norms. It prevents robust inferences on important questions, such as levels of polarisation and support for democratic innovations.
PoPPiE develops a groundbreaking new approach to rethink the conceptual, ontological and methodological foundations for researching political process preferences.
- First, by applying democratic systems theory to re-conceptualise the content of process preferences it will generate a wholly new conceptual understanding of preferences for complex democratic systems, rather than ideal models of democracy.
- Second, instead of assuming that the nature of process preferences is inherently ideological, PoPPiE uses a novel multidimensional theoretical framework to assess levels of contextuality, conditionality and coherence in process preferences.
- Third, it develops a new mixed methods approach, producing a unique dataset that combines qualitative and quantitative data on a single individual’s preference.
The new approach will not only strengthen the foundations of the science of process preferences, but ensure its findings are more policy relevant for the project of renewing European democracies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
SO17 1BJ SOUTHAMPTON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.