Public Engagement as a Core Role for Parliaments
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Public Engagement as a Core Role for Parliaments

Parliaments fullfill a key function in political system of linking society and the political system. The new article by Cristina Leston-Bandeira and Sven T. Siefken explores changes and continuity in how parliaments fulfill engagement, which actors are doing it and what it entails. The article is available open access: Cristina Leston-Bandeira/ Sven T. Siefken (2023):…

IPSA in Buenos Aires
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IPSA in Buenos Aires

The Research Committee of Legislative Specialists is meeting during the 2023 World Congress in Buenos Aires. Organizing various panels it brings together perspectives on Parliamentary Oversight, Second Chambers, Parliamentary Party Groups, Parliaments in the Pandemic, Parliamentary Development. Sven T. Siefken is serving as convenor, panel chair, discussant and paper presenter. More on the panels by…

Parliamentary Committees in Paperback
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Parliamentary Committees in Paperback

The edited volume on Parliamentary Committees in the Policy Process, edited by Sven T. Siefken and Hilmar Rommetvedt, is now available in paperback. It brings together parliamentary experts from around the world to report on the state of knowledge about what is going on in committees and how relevant they really are. More here https://www.routledge.com/Parliamentary-Committees-in-the-Policy-Process/Siefken-Rommetvedt/p/book/9780367617950

Fourth Academic Workshop on Parliaments in the Pandemic
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Fourth Academic Workshop on Parliaments in the Pandemic

The international collaboration on Parliaments in the Pandemic (PiP) started to gather information on how the Covid-19 pandemic influenced parliaments around the globe. On March 13, it is holding its fourth Academic Workshop, continuing to analyze the data – this time with a special focus on oversight, legislation and parliamentary performance. Sven T. Siefken is…

Current Threats to Parliamentary Democracy
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Current Threats to Parliamentary Democracy

The Institute for Parliamentary Research (IParl), Berlin, and Sven T. Siefken brought together a large group of scholars for a workshop discussing current threats to parliamentary democracy. The meeting was held at the Reichstag building in an open format to debate the various developments in democracies around Europe and grapple with the question how to…

Mini Publics in MP Districts
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Mini Publics in MP Districts

The initiative “Hallo Bundestag” is running mini publics in MP districts – an innovative approach to combine elements of deliberative and representative democracy. Sven T. Siefken is supporting and advising the initiative that is financed by the Robert Bosch foundation, the ZEIT foundation, the Open Society Foundations and the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. More about…

At the IParl Academy
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At the IParl Academy

In March 2023, the Institute for Parliamentary Research held the first IParl Academy for graduate students. As part of the program, Sven T. Siefken discussed with participants what roles parliaments had in crises and how crises are dealt with in parliaments. You can find more about the IParl Academy here https://www.iparl.de/de/forschung/iparl-akademie.html

Georgetown Class on Activism, Campaigning, Governing in Europe
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Georgetown Class on Activism, Campaigning, Governing in Europe

For the Master’s Program of American Government at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, Sven T. Siefken is co-teaching a Comparative Politics class. Students learn about the entire process: From becoming active in politics, to party work, candidate nomination, election and governing. Going broad comparatively and going deep in the formalities and informalities of the German…

Reforming German Electoral Law – and What it Means for Representation
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Reforming German Electoral Law – and What it Means for Representation

The first reading of the reform bill for the electoral law of Germany has been debated in the Bundestag today. Sven T. Siefken discussed with “Die WELT” daily newspaper, if this new law may lead to deserted districts in the future. The complete article is here. In a separate interview, Siefken spoke about topic with…

Conference at St Pete Beach, Florida
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Conference at St Pete Beach, Florida

The Research Committees 08 (Legislative Specialists) and 13 (Democratization in Comparative Perspective) of the International Political Science Association jointly set up a conference within the Southern Political Science Association‘s Annual Conference, held January 11 to 14, 2023 at St Pete Beach in Florida. Conference organizers Irina Khmelko (University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, USA), Adam Szymański (University…

Holding the public sector accountable

Holding the public sector accountable

Providing redress for maladministration is a key requirement of any legitimate system of public service delivery. During the 6th. International Conference on Public Policy, held in Toronto, Canada, 27-29 June 2023, Eckart Schroeter and Sven T. Siefken organize a panel that explores different ways of holding public authorities and agents of public service delivery accountable….

Brussels, November 2022
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Conference on Building Democratic Resilience

The European Parliament has been active in supporting and strengthening parliaments around the globe. Looking back at 10 years of activities, the EP Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group organized a high-level-conference in Brussels to discuss experiences and the way forward, November 29 to 30, 2022. Sven T. Siefken participated as an academic commentator. More…

Assemblee nationale, Paris, November 2022

At the Assemblée nationale in Paris

Visiting the Assemblée nationale on the occasion of the price awarded to colleague Calixte Bloquet for their dissertation “On the outskirts of the French Parliament: The Delegation for Women’s Rights”. A grand ceremony, talks with policy makers and parliamentary administrators and the opportunity to watch question time in parliament. More about the prize here.

“Parliaments, Crises and Foresight” in Dublin

“Parliaments, Crises and Foresight” in Dublin

Sven T. Siefken presented the international research collaboration “Parliaments in the Pandemic” during the workshop “Parliaments, Crisis and Foresight” of the Inter Pares Steering Committee. It was held in Dublin, Ireland. Inter Pares is a project of the European Commission that is implemented by International IDEA. It brings together parliaments from the EU members states and…

Optimizing MP Office Work

Optimizing MP Office Work

Work in the office of a member of parliament is very dynamic and has particular challenges. Teams are small, hierachies flat, changes frequent – and the work is very fast-paced. At the same time, there are important connections to the district office. In a workshop with the entire team of an MP from both offices…

Field Trip to the Bundestag

Field Trip to the Bundestag

The study abroad program at Colorado College has a long tradition; students spend a few months in Germany, learn the language and take regular classes, too. In 2022, Sven T. Siefken organized a field trip to the Bundestag for the current group of students in Berlin. After an introductory lecture and discussion, the group met…

New Challenges to German Politics and Policy

New Challenges to German Politics and Policy

In the German Studies Association conference in Houston, Texas, Barbara Donovan, Eric Langenbacher and Sven T. Siefken convened a three-day seminar on the “New Challenges to German Politics and Policy”. Scholars from the United States, Canada and Germany presented their research and discussed the findings. Sven T. Siefken presented a paper on Changes or Constitency…

German Politics in Colorado
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German Politics in Colorado

The 2022 class by Sven T. Siefken at Colorado College takes an in-depth look at how people can make a difference in parliamentary politics. In a comparative perspective on the European parliamentary democracies, we study civic culture and political activism, look at candidate nomination and the electoral system and at how to run an election…

Parliaments in the Pandemic – Working Groups
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Parliaments in the Pandemic – Working Groups

In-depth analysis in the international collaboration on “Parliaments in the Pandemic” underway. Based on the expert panel survey (comprising 380 questions), researchers will now analyse how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected parliaments. Nine Working Groups have been installed for the analysis. More about the collaboration on Parliaments in the Pandemic: https://ipsa-rcls.org/pip

“Revisiting Parliaments in Pandemics” in Prague
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“Revisiting Parliaments in Pandemics” in Prague

In May 2022, the Academy of Sciences organized a workshop Revisiting Parliaments in Pandemics. Keynote speaker Sven T. Siefken presented first findings of the second wave of a global expert survey ‘Parliaments in Pandemics’. Conducted in 2020, 2021, and 2022, the survey focused on how the pandemic changed the legislatures’ roles and, in particular, electoral, legislative, oversight, communication and representation…

Podcast on “Political Representation”

Podcast on “Political Representation”

How does political representation work in modern democracies? And what exactly is representation in the first place? Hendrik Hering, the President of the State Parliament of Rhineland Palatinate discusses these questions with Sven T. Siefken in the latest edition of the Podcast “Hintergrundgespräch”. Wie funktioniert politische Repräsentation in modernen Demokratien? Und was ist Repräsentation eigentlich…

Book Launch: “Parliamentary Committees in the Policy Process”
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Book Launch: “Parliamentary Committees in the Policy Process”

Routledge are publishing a collection “Parliamentary Committees in the Policy Process” edited by Sven T. Siefken and Hilmar Rommetvedt. The book sheds new light on the often shadowy but essential role of committees which exist in modern parliaments around the globe. It questions the conventional notion that the ‘real’ work of parliament happens in committees….

Research Committee of Legislative Specialists der IPSA

Research Committee of Legislative Specialists der IPSA

Im Rahmen des World Congress der International Political Science Associtation wurde im Juli 2021 eine neue Leitung des Research Committee of Legislative Specialists (RCLS) bestimmt. Sven T. Siefken wurde zum Vice Chair gewählt. Das traditionsreiche RCLS begeht im Jahr 2022 sein 50. Jubiläum. Weitere Details finden Sie unter https://ipsa-rcls.org/

Parlamentarische Repräsentation – überholt oder unverzichtbar?
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Parlamentarische Repräsentation – überholt oder unverzichtbar?

Parité-Gesetze, Vorwahlen, Volksgesetzgebung und Bürgerräte – es werden gegenwärtig verschiedene Wege zur Ergänzung der repräsentativen Demokratie empfohlen. In einem Beitrag für die  Zeitschrift Gesellschaft-Wirtschaft-Politik stellen Sven T. Siefken und Alexander Kühne die Grundgedanken parlamentarischer Repräsentation vor, diskutieren verbreitete Missverständnisse und gehen auf Reformansätze ein. Sie finden den Beitrag hier    

“Public Outreach und Public Engagement” von Parlamenten weltweit

“Public Outreach und Public Engagement” von Parlamenten weltweit

Im dritten Global Parliamentary Report untersuchen die Inter-Parlamentarische Union (IPU) gemeinsam mit dem United Nations Development Programme  (UNDP), wie Parlamente ihre “Outreach”-Tätigkeiten wahrnehmen. Zur  Begleitung der Studie, die im Oktober 2021 vorgelegt werden soll, wurde im Januar 2021 ein Advisory Board eingerichtet. Cristina Leston-Bandeira (Leeds) und Sven T. Siefken (MLU) vertreten dort die Parlamentsforschung.

Internationales Panel zu “Legislatures During Covid-19”
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Internationales Panel zu “Legislatures During Covid-19”

Mit der Rolle der Parlamente in der Covid-19-Krise befasste sich ein internationales Panel an der Bar-Ilan University, das am 14.1.2021 von 15:00 bis 16:30 Uhr (MEZ) stattfand. Vorgestellt und diskutiert wurden Erkenntnisse und Forschungsvorhaben zu verschiedenen Ländern, unter anderem Italien, das Vereinigte Königreich und mehrere “illiberal democracies” im Vergleich. Sven T. Siefken sprach zur Rolle…

Gespräch mit Stipendiaten des Bundestages aus Namibia und Südafrika

Gespräch mit Stipendiaten des Bundestages aus Namibia und Südafrika

Über Grundzüge von Wahlsystemen, das personalisierte Verhältniswahlrecht Deutschlands und das Wahlverhalten diskutierte Sven T. Siefken mit Teilnehmenden des Internationalen Parlaments-Stipendiums (IPS) des Deutschen Bundestages. Dabei ging es auch um die aktuellen Ansätze und Perspektiven der Wahlrechtsreform. Mehr Informationen zum IPS finden Sie hier

Der SPIEGEL über Untersuchungsausschüsse in Bund und Ländern
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Der SPIEGEL über Untersuchungsausschüsse in Bund und Ländern

Untersuchungssausschüsse sind ein etabliertes Instrument parlamentarischer Kontrolle. Sie werden meist von der Opposition zur Aufklärung rückwirkender Geschehnisse eingesetzt. Der SPIEGEL hat in einer groß angelegten Auswertung die Parlamentarischen Untersuchungsausschüsse in Bund und Ländern ausgewertet und zur Einordnung der Ergebnisse mit Sven T. Siefken gesprochen. Den Beitrag finden Sie hier

Demokratie in Zeiten der Corona-Krise
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Demokratie in Zeiten der Corona-Krise

Im Gespräch mit der Abendakademie Mannheim diskutiert Sven T. Siefken welche Folgen die gegenwärtige Situation für das politische System hat. Dabei geht es um die Fragen, ob in Deutschland der Notstand herrscht, wie politische Entscheidungen gegenwärtig getroffen werden und welche Herausforderung dies für Opposition und Mehrheit mit sich bringt. Sie finden das Interview in der…

Anhörung im Sächsischen Landtag

Anhörung im Sächsischen Landtag

Vom Ausschuss für Verfassung und Recht, Demokratie, Europa und Gleichstellung war Sven T. Siefken als Sachverständiger zu einer Anhörung eingeladen. Diskutiert wurde über Möglichkeiten für eine Verbesserung des Informationsaustausches zwischen Staatsregierung und Landtag im Rahmen von Gesetzgebung und Staatsverträgen sowie bei der Europäischen Subsidiaritätsprüfung.

Delegation aus dem armenischen Parlament

Delegation aus dem armenischen Parlament

Für Abgeordnete der Armenischen Nationalversammlung hat Sven T. Siefken einen Workshop zur Parlamentarischen Kontrolle der Exekutive durchgeführt. Analysiert wurde die Kontrollpraxis in Deutschland, um Erfahrungen für die weitere Parlamentsentwicklung nutzbar zu machen. Schwerpunkt dieser von der Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit organisierten Studienreise war die Finanzkontrolle.

Workshop zu Parlamentsausschüssen im Policy-Making
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Workshop zu Parlamentsausschüssen im Policy-Making

Ausschüsse werden häufig als die wichtigste Einheit von Parlamenten verstanden. Doch was genau in ihnen passiert, ist nur wenig erforscht. Für das Research Committee of Legislative Specialists (RCLS)  der IPSA hat Sven T. Siefken gemeinsam mit Hilmar Rommetvedt (Stavanger, Norwegen) und Pablo Oñate (Valencia, Spanien) im Oktober 2019 einen vergleichenden Workshop zur Rolle der Parlamentsausschüsse…