Aim of the Research
The aim of the LEGITIMULT research project is to develop a model of legitimate crisis governance. In doing so, it will assess the impact of the measures taken during the Covid-19 pandemic on democratic governance across 31 European democracies (EU-27, plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the UK). The research will evaluate how multilevel governance (MLG) structures can maintain legitimacy in crisis situations, considering the interplay between international, national, regional, and local governments and institutions.
Objectives
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Assess the impact of the Covid-19 measures on democratic governance across Europe.
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Evaluate the role of MLG institutions in implementing Covid-19 measures and the reciprocal effects of these measures on the legitimacy of MLG systems and broader democratic governance.
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Improve the governance of future crises by developing a toolbox for legitimate crisis governance and interactive learning tools for its application.
Project Duration:
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Start Date: January 2023
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End Date: December 2025
Project Partners:
The LEGITIMULT project brings together a diverse consortium of academic institutions, research centers, and international organizations from Europe and Canada. These partners bring expertise from a variety of disciplines to develop a comprehensive model of legitimate crisis governance.
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Eurac Research – Italy The Institute for Comparative Federalism at Eurac Research is dedicated to analyzing how complex societies are organized and how decisions are made. It provides solutions for improving the democratic efficiency of institutions and policies, both at the local and global levels.
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University of Bergen – Norway The University of Bergen (UiB) is a young, modern university with about 18,000 students and 4,000 faculty and staff. It offers expertise through its Centre on Regional Democratic Governance and the Department of Comparative Politics, focusing on regional democracy and governance.
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Leiden University – Netherlands Founded in 1575, Leiden University is one of Europe's leading research institutions. Its diverse departments, including law and political science, contribute significant knowledge on democracy, governance, and crisis management.
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Institute for Ethnic Studies (IES) – Slovenia Established in 1925, IES is a leading independent research institute focusing on ethnic and minority studies. It offers key insights into multicultural governance and the impact of crises on ethnic minorities.
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University of Antwerp – Belgium The University of Antwerp is known for its dynamic research environment and high educational standards. Its work on public policy and governance contributes significantly to the LEGITIMULT project.
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National Distance Education University (UNED) – Spain UNED is Spain’s largest provider of distance education, specializing in the use of technology for learning. Its expertise in virtual education supports the project’s goals in governance and crisis management.
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Freie Universität Berlin (FUB) – Germany FUB is an internationally recognized research university, particularly strong in political science, law, and international relations, with an emphasis on crisis governance and democratic processes.
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University of Zagreb – Croatia The Faculty of Political Science at the University of Zagreb is the flagship educational institution in Croatia, contributing its expertise in political science and governance.
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International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) – Sweden International IDEA is an intergovernmental organization that works to strengthen democratic institutions and processes worldwide. Its contributions help ensure that the project’s findings support global democratic standards.
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University of Fribourg – Switzerland (Associated Partner) The Institute of Federalism at the University of Fribourg is a leading center of expertise in state organization, focusing on the challenges of democracy, legitimacy, and governance in pluralistic societies. It leads work on the rule of law and democratic participation.
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Forum of Federations – Canada (Associated Partner) The Forum is a global organization that shares expertise on federal and decentralized governance. It provides comparative knowledge on governance models, contributing critical insights to the project’s work on multilevel governance.
The partnership’s diverse expertise ensures a holistic approach to researching and developing a legitimate crisis governance framework, with a focus on enhancing democratic resilience in times of global crises.
Funding:
LEGITIMULT is funded through Horizon Europe – Global Challenges Cluster 2 ‘Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society’ (HORIZON-CL2-2021-DEMOCRACY-01-05 ‘Politics and Governance in a Post-Pandemic World’). This work has also received additional funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI).
Advisory Board:
The LEGITIMULT project benefits from an advisory board composed of prominent scholars and experts in international law, governance, and public policy. Notably, Joanna Kulesza, Director of Lodz Cyber Hub, serves as a member of the advisory board, bringing her expertise in cyberspace governance and digital transformation to the project.
Contact Information:
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Project Coordinator: Eurac Research, Institute for Comparative Federalism
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Institution Address: Viale Druso 1/Drususallee 1, 39100 Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
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