Projects / Programmes
Democracy and development
January 1, 2013
- December 31, 2016
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.03.00 |
Social sciences |
Sociology |
|
| 5.06.00 |
Social sciences |
Political science |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S210 |
Social sciences |
Sociology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.04 |
Social Sciences |
Sociology |
| 5.06 |
Social Sciences |
Political science |
Researchers (15)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The research programme Democracy and development is focused on research of developmental dynamics of contemporary societies. The concept of development encompasses all key areas of society (economy, science, and politics). The very concept of development has a relatively neutral meaning, i.e. it denotes a process indicating changes in society (social development) or its parts (economic and political development). However, it commonly includes a qualitative dimension that can be understood as an improvement of the situation, melioration of its quality according to certain criteria. In this sense, the developmental performance can be defined as an ability of a system to reach goals on the basis of these criteria.
This research programme is concerned with development in the context of democracy, i.e. within parameters of the system of parliamentary democracy. Development is understood as a factor that strengthens societal democratic potentials. Namely, democracy necessitates its own social requisites (Lipset) encompassing economic (material welfare) social (extensive and autonomous middle class) and cultural (individualistic values) factors, which enable its prevalence. Thus, the development of democracy can be seen as an integral part of the entire societal development.
This research discusses developmental performances and challenges of Slovenia and other contemporary societies. Primary aims and objectives are:
- to investigate democratic processes on national, European and global level
- to analyse of relationships between different dimensions of democratic political setting
- to investigate the causal relations between socio-economic performances and democratic stability of society
- to analyse the indicators for ‘measuring’ different aspects of quality of governance and to develop models for evaluations of government institutions
- to investigate strategies for creating development policies and their implementations on national, regional and European level.
Research orientation of the research programme includes both theoretical thematisation of observed phenomena and their empirical analysis. Programme’s approach is strongly interdisciplinary oriented since it combines knowledge of different social science disciplines like sociology, political science, economics, communication science etc. In theoretical terms, it refers to different relevant approaches, such as systems theory, neoinstitutionalist theory, theory of social capital, democratic elite theory, public choice theory, new public management approach, approach of pragmatist philosophy etc. All of them share integral treatment of societal phenomena that crossed disciplinary boundaries. Combination of different theoretical paradigms and research methods will create conditions for innovative analysis and explanation of causal relationships between different components of democratic political setting and developmental performance of particular society.
Significance for science
On the basis of multidisciplinary and multi-theoretical approach, the research programme offered a holistic and complex insight into the issues of social development. It integrated different though compatible theoretical and empirical approaches and therefore overcomes disciplinary and conceptual fragmentation. Comparative component was highly emphasised, in terms of comparison of different aspects of democracy and social development. It was complemented with specific case studies that offer a deeper understanding of the research topic. The research project therefore offered an innovative combination and interrelation of several methods (triangulation), such as fuzzy-set analysis, focus groups and different multi-variant statistics. In this respect, the research uncovered and discussed several important developmental aspects such as the quality of governing and governance, formation of development strategies, connecting strategic resources etc. Very good results in terms of scientific publications and citatons are the best proofs of program's scientific relevance.
Significance for the country
Research results of the group offered a useful foundation for planning development strategies for various areas of Slovenian society. They helped to clarify some dilemmas related to the development of Slovenia, especially in terms of selection of the most appropriate socio-economic regulation model and the best strategies for its implementation. Research programme members strived for dissemination of their research findings to different stake-holders (public administration, business sphere, civil society) what contributed to sensibilisation of the public for the most important developmental issues. The integral and interdisciplinary orientation of this programme contributed to development of innovative social disciplines in Slovenia. Furthermore, it offered suggestions for changes in the functioning of administration (public administration as an administration for citizens). With qualitative research results, it offered a systematic way to promote Slovene science and therefore Slovenia as a knowledge-based society. One should mention public opinion survey Slovenian Pulse that was carried out on monthly basis by School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica in cooperation with marketing agency Parsifal. Member of the research program were actively involved in this conduct. Beside standard questions on support of government and political parties, the survey includes questions on how citizens perceives situation in different fields of society like politics, business sphere, education system, media etc. In this way, one can detect prevailing value orientations and behavioural patterns. As such, the survey contributes to reflection of the state of Slovenian society, detection of key developmental problems and their successful resolving.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
2015,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
2015,
final report
