[DemocracyNet.eu-list] Reminder: CfA Democracy, Inequality and Minorities // new deadline 28.02.2026 - Swiss Summer School Democracy Studies: 22-26.06.2026

[IPZ democracysummerschool]

Dear colleague,

The Call for Applications for the Swiss Summer School in Democracy Studies (S3DS) "Democracy, Inequality and Minorities” // 22 to 26 June 2026 - University of Geneva// is open till 28 February 2026.

Through the prism of the role of minorities, we will explore issues of inequality in democracy, examining not only their causes and consequences, but also the institutional design tools that can enhance the promise of equality in democratic rule.

The programme features lectures and interactive sessions with the following international scholars:

KEYNOTEShaun Bowler<http://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/shaunb> University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside), on Differences in electoral decision-making

PANEL 1Timofey Agarin<https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/happ/find-a-phd-supervisor/dr-timofey-agarin.html> Queen’s University Belfast, on Interrelations between the majority and the minority in multi-ethnic states

PANEL 2Mikael Persson<https://www.gu.se/en/about/find-staff/mikaelpersson3> University of Gothenburg, on Unequal representation and consequences

PANEL 3Lea Portmann<https://www.fhnw.ch/en/people/lea-portmann> University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), on Electoral discrimination

PANEL 4Elisabeth Alber<https://www.eurac.edu/en/people/elisabeth-alber> Eurac Research Bolzano, on Federalism and the protection of minorities in direct democracy

More information can be found in the full CfA text below, on the attached poster, and on the Democracy, Inequality and Minorities webpage<https://www.ipz.uzh.ch/en/study/doctorate/democracy-studies/summer-school/2026-geneva.html>.

We now accept applications till 28 February 2026. Please refer to the application instructions<https://www.ipz.uzh.ch/en/study/doctorate/democracy-studies/summer-school/application-instructions.html> for all details. Please note that we offer grants to cover either school fees or accommodation costs for accepted participants on a need basis.

Please circulate this message to your network so all interested applicants are informed.

We are looking forward to the next edition of the Swiss Summer School in Democracy Studies in Geneva!

Best regards,

Nathalie Giger, University of Geneva
Nenad Stojanović, University of Geneva
with Sofia Bollo and Matteo Pal
"Democracy, Inequality and Minorities” Team

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Swiss Summer School in Democracy Studies S3DS

Doctoral Programme Democracy Studies

University of Zurich

Affolternstrasse 56

CH-8050 Zurich

Office AFL-F-118

+(0)41 44 634 50 22

democracyschool at ipz.uzh.ch<mailto:democracyschool at ipz.uzh.ch>

www.ipz.uzh.ch/en/s3ds<http://www.ipz.uzh.ch/en/s3ds>

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From: Sofia Bollo <bollo at ipz.uzh.ch> on behalf of IPZ democracysummerschool <democracyschool at ipz.uzh.ch>
Date: Thursday, 11 December 2025 at 16:01
To: IPZ democracysummerschool <democracyschool at ipz.uzh.ch>
Cc: Nathalie Giger <nathalie.giger at unige.ch>, Nenad Stojanovic <nenad.stojanovic at unige.ch>
Subject: CfA Democracy, Inequality and Minorities - Swiss Summer School Democracy Studies: 22-26.06.2026

Dear colleague,

Before slowing down during the holiday break, we are happy to open applications for the next Swiss Summer School in Democracy Studies (S3DS). The 12th edition will focus on "Democracy, Inequality and Minorities” and will take place from 22 to 26 June 2026 at the University of Geneva.

A major issue in democratic theory and practice is the existence of persistent minorities. Prominent examples include ethnic, linguistic, religious, and geographic minorities, but also citizens whose voices hardly count in elections or referendums because their ideological attitudes repeatedly place them on the losing side of majority decisions.

Given that equality is the grounding and guiding principle of democracy—and hence its core normative promises are the fair treatment of all, coupled with the protection of individual liberties—then we have a problem if groups of citizens, due to their identity traits and/or ideological convictions, are systematically disadvantaged. This concerns both the input and output dimensions of democracy. Consider, for example, the problem of inequalities due to low turnout (both in elections and in referendums) or the existence of electoral discrimination (i.e., when majority voters discriminate against candidates from minority groups). On the output side, majority decisions in referendums can have a negative impact on minorities, whereas their poor descriptive representation as a result of elections typically has a negative impact on their substantive representation and the quality of political decisions.

Through the prism of the role of minorities in a democracy, the 12th Swiss Summer School in Democracy Studies 2026 explores these issues by examining not only their causes and consequences, but also the institutional design tools (e.g. federalism, electoral system reforms, deliberative minipublics) that can enhance the equality promise of democratic rule.

Participants in the summer school will have the opportunity to:
· Present and receive feedback on their research: share your research with peers and mentors to enhance your work
· Collaborate with peers: network with fellow PhD students worldwide, and foster academic collaborations
· Engage with leading international scholars: unique intellectual exchanges in a small group setting

The Swiss Summer School in Democracy Studies 2026 will feature lectures and interactive sessions with the following international scholars:
Shaun Bowler<http://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/shaunb> University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside)
Timofey Agarin<https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/happ/find-a-phd-supervisor/dr-timofey-agarin.html> Queen’s University Belfast
Mikael Persson<https://www.gu.se/en/about/find-staff/mikaelpersson3> University of Gothenburg
Lea Portmann<https://www.fhnw.ch/en/people/lea-portmann> University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)
Elisabeth Alber<https://www.eurac.edu/en/people/elisabeth-alber> Eurac Research Bolzano

More information can be found on the attached CfA Poster and on the Democracy, Inequality and Minorities webpage<https://www.ipz.uzh.ch/en/study/doctorate/democracy-studies/summer-school/2026-geneva.html>, including all details about the application instructions<https://www.ipz.uzh.ch/en/study/doctorate/democracy-studies/summer-school/application-instructions.html>. We accept applications by 31 January 2026.

Please share this CfA within your network so that all potential interested participants receive this communication.

We are looking forward to the next edition of the Swiss Summer School in Democracy Studies in Geneva!

Best regards,

Nathalie Giger, University of Geneva
Nenad Stojanović, University of Geneva
12th Swiss Summer School in Democracy Studies Scientific Committee




Dr. Sofia Bollo

Coordinator

Swiss Summer School in Democracy Studies S3DS

Doctoral Programme Democracy Studies

University of Zurich

Affolternstrasse 56

CH-8050 Zurich

Office AFL-F-118

+(0)41 44 634 50 22

democracyschool at ipz.uzh.ch<mailto:democracyschool at ipz.uzh.ch>

www.ipz.uzh.ch/en/s3ds<http://www.ipz.uzh.ch/en/s3ds>

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