About the centre
The Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), established in 1989, is based in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Westminster. At the Centre, academics working in politics and international relations undertake socially engaged, methodologically diverse and often interdisciplinary research that aims to address a range of critical political challenges in relation to democracy worldwide.
CSD has a longstanding international reputation for research excellence through a programme of publications, events and collaborations with academics, practitioners, policymakers, and activists. Research in Politics and International Studies at CSD was ranked fourth highest in the UK for impact in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
For enquiries about our research, visit our contact us page.
Read moreGo to About the Centre for the Study of Democracy page
Events
News
Impact
We are committed to research that provides support and builds the capacity of those excluded from society or political power. This impact of our research led to us achieving the UK's fourth highest impact ranking in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
CSD Encounter with John Keane
An international conference - celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD) - on the work of CSD founder John Keane.
On 8 November 2024, CSD hosted a celebration for its 35th birthday with a revival of CSD Encounter, drawing upon a distinguished tradition of CSD Encounters with public intellectuals including Luc Boltanski, Judith Butler, Stuart Hall, Bruno Latour, Richard Rorty, Quentin Skinner, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Charles Taylor, James Tully, and Michael Walzer.
Projects and initiatives
The range of projects being carried out at CSD have attracted funding from a wide range of different organisations, including Research Council UK, Leverhulme Trust and the British Academy.
CSD is also involved in the student-focused Democratic Education Network and the Materialisms Old and New Study Group.
People
Find out more about our academic staff and their research areas.
Doctoral research
We support an active and vibrant postgraduate research community and welcome applications for doctoral study that enhance our research themes in politics, international relations and related fields.
Visiting scholars programme
The vibrancy of the research culture at CSD is enhanced by visiting academics, postgraduates and practitioners from around the world.
Publications
CSD is home to the following publication series: Review of African Political Economy; Anthropocenes – Human, Inhuman, Posthuman; The Routledge Studies in Resilience; Routledge Advances in Democratic Theory Book Series and Routledge Studies in Intervention and Statebuilding.
Recent CSD seminars and events
The Centre for the Study of Democracy has been home to many research seminars and events throughout the years.
CSD Bulletin 1997 - 2015
The Centre for the Study of Democracy was founded in 1989 and the CSD Bulletin was first published in 1993. The 20 volumes of the CSD Bulletin contain articles on a wide variety of topics in international politics, from guest authors and CSD staff.