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PRESENTATION
In a liberal and representative democracy, such as the Portuguese and those of our geo-cultural area, namely within the scope of the European Union, in addition to the mainstays of the constitutional architecture of a liberal democracy (Constitution and fundamental human rights, namely political and social; rule of law; separation of powers; free, fair and frequent elections; vertical accountability, of elected representatives to the voters, and horizontal accountability, that is, accountability among the different sovereign bodies; full political sovereignty of elected representatives, within the limits of the constitutional architecture, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights), democratic government (that is, incorporating the citizenry in the political decision-making process) is exercised in a representative way.
That is, the sovereign delegates its sovereignty to elected representatives (at the various levels of government), who must govern according to popular preferences (at least of the majority of voters) and be regularly accountable for the exercise of power in free, fair, and regular elections. Democratic political representation refers to the incorporation of citizenship into the political process and into political decision making, referring to the link between voters, elected officials, and the production and implementation of public policies. In a quality liberal, representative democracy, a fundamental axiom is that public policies reflect the will of at least a majority of voters.
OBJECTIVES
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To consolidate and extend the long tradition of study of democratic political representation at CIES-Iscte, namely with the various surveys of elected representatives (MPs and non-elected MP candidates) and voters, from at least about two decades ago, comparing the values, orientations and behaviors of both, but also the questions of citizen participation in political processes (individually or collectively, i.e. through interest groups and/or social movements) and the question of the processes of political representation itself assessed through the link between elected representatives, voters and policy making (in the various types of policies).
- Collection and dissemination of data on social and political movements and on democracy and political representation in Portugal, Europe and the World.
- To hold colloquia and conferences that bring together the various scientific areas of the Politics and Citizenship Group of CIES-Iscte (Political Science, Sociology, Social Work, Public Policies), and, desirably, give rise to joint publications.
- Disseminate data and disseminate the activities of the "Observatory of Democracy and Political Representation", in its various aspects, through the respective website and newsletter.
TEAM
André Freire - Director
Guya Accornero – Subdirector
Viriato Queiroga – PhD Grantholder
viriato_jose_queiroga@iscte-iul.pt
Livino Neto - PhD Grantholder
SCIENTIFIC COMISSION
André Freire
Guya Accornero
Helge Jorgens
José Santana-Pereira
Helena Belchior Rocha