Center for Comparative
Research on Democracy

Judiciary and Democracy: Unravelling Present Challenges, Activating Future Potentials

JuDem goes beyond defending the judiciary against authoritarian threats and asks a deeper question: what should the judiciary look like in the democracy of the future? It recognizes that liberal democracies face global challenges such as climate change, inequality, digitalization, and polarization, and thus need to be reimagined. The project sees the judiciary not just as a guardian of the rule of law but as an active agent in shaping democratic futures. Bringing together scholars, judges, and human rights advocates from Germany, Turkey, and beyond, JuDem transforms the task of protecting democracy into one of reinventing it.

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Events & News

JuDem Launch Event

The opening event of the JuDem project has successfully taken place. The event featured Oona Hathaway as the keynote speaker, who delivered a insightful talk on contemporary challanges facing the judiciary and democratic governance, as well as the future pathways for strengthening democratic institutions.

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Cities and the Rule of Law

Dr. Gülçin Balamir Coşkun participated in the “Cities and the Rule of Law” event at the European Parliament on 18 November. Organized with the Pact of Free Cities, the event brought together mayors, policymakers, and academics to highlight the role of cities in defending democracy.

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Leonie Teresa Bohle moderates conversation with Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights

We are delighted to share that our team member Leonie Teresa Bohle, together with Ankita Gandhi, will serve as moderator at an upcoming event in the “Conversations with Judges” series, hosted by the Law & Society Institute (LSI) at Humboldt University Berlin.
The event features Ivana Jelić, Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights, who will speak on Thursday, 11 December 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Faculty of Law (Room E 25).

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About

The Center for Comparative Research on Democracy (CCRD) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is an interdisciplinary platform for the study of democracy in its diverse forms and transformations. Founded in 2021, the Center explores the conditions that sustain democratic life as well as the dynamics of de-democratization and autocratization.

Bringing together scholars from political science, sociology, philosophy, and law, CCRD fosters comparative and critical perspectives on democratic practices and institutions. Based in Berlin’s vibrant academic and civic environment, it connects researchers, public institutions, and civil society actors through collaborative projects, conferences, and public events. CCRD also supports early-career scholars and promotes international exchange on the challenges and futures of democracy.