RESEARCH AND THIRD MISSION OFFICE
Head
Anna Elisa D’Agostino
T: 06 8522 5989
Viale Romania, 32
00197 Roma
ricerca@luiss.it
Research Centers
Alessandra Paoletti
T: 06 8522 5826
The Center on Democracy was established at the end of 2024 through the synergistic merger of the former research centers CISE, CESP, and ICEDD. The Center positions itself as a hub of excellence for the study of representative institutions, electoral processes, and the quality of democracy in its multiple forms.
It combines historical, legal, political, sociological, and comparative approaches. Its mission is to develop a deep understanding of the dynamics of political representation and the transformations of contemporary democracies, while also fostering dialogue with institutions, academia, and civil society.
The Center’s research activities span a broad thematic spectrum: the study of parliaments and legislative assemblies at both national and European levels, with particular attention to parliamentary law, legislative techniques, procedures, and interparliamentary cooperation; the empirical analysis of electoral behavior, party systems, electoral reforms, and public opinion; and historical and theoretical reflection on the genesis, development, and crises of democracy, with a focus on democratization processes, forms of authoritarianism, and the quality of democratic governance.
The Center promotes a rigorous and international approach to research, supported by a broad network of collaborations with European and American universities and research institutes, and sustained by a consistent presence in academic journals and prominent publications. Its organizational structure includes thematic units, observatories, and laboratories that support the development of specific projects and foster interdisciplinarity and methodological innovation.
Special emphasis is placed on advanced education through university master’s programs, summer schools, executive courses, and didactic initiatives integrated into Luiss programs. Notable among these are the Master in Parliament and Public Policies, the Erasmus+ Joint Master in Parliamentary Procedures and Legislative Drafting, and preparatory courses for public competitions in the parliamentary field.
Alongside its scientific activity, the Center on Democracy carries out an intensive public engagement effort, contributing to the public debate through analysis, popular publications, media participation, and educational initiatives addressed to students, policymakers, and third-sector actors. Its scientific output includes academic volumes, thematic dossiers, research articles, and contributions also available in open access. In this way, the Center serves as a point of reference for the study and critical understanding of political and institutional changes in our time, at the intersection of theoretical analysis, empirical research, and societal impact.