Comparative Politics
About
The core of this research area is devoted to the comparison of political institutions and processes in consolidated liberal democracies. The research is conducted in two organisational subunits -"Comparative Political Institutions, Leadership and Governance" and"Austrian Politics in Comparative Perspective". The special focal points include, on the one hand, the international and historical comparative study of governments, rulers and parliaments, and, on the other hand, the empirical analysis of democratic elections and political communication. A cross-arena element of the research agenda is the examination of questions of "comparative institutional engineering" and democratic reform. In regional terms, the focus is on the democratic systems of Western Europe, with particular attention to Austria. These agendas are complemented by broader intercontinental and transnational references.
Members
Current Members
Ass.-Prof. Dr Sarah Dingler, BA MA
Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr Ludger Helms
Former Members (since 2012)
Prof. Dr Fritz Plasser
Dr. Ekaterina Rashkova-Gerbrands
Current Projects
Projects, scholarships and other third-party funds
Research Projects
- Helms, Ludger: COCOPE. The End of Party Government? Assessing the Conditions and Consequences of Personal Parties¿ Rise to Power.
Háskóli Íslands - University of Iceland, Incentive and Collaborative Research Projects - Aurora European University Alliance
2025-01-01 - 2026-12-31 - Habersack, Fabian Jonas: VOCAL. Voting, Congruence, and Anti-Liberalism. A Survey Experimental Approach.
Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck - Vizerektorat für Forschung, Early Stage Funding
2022-09-01 - 2023-08-30 - Dingler, Sarah Caroline: Can a woman do the job? Introducing a gender perspective on legislative oversight.
Fritz Thyssen Stiftung
2022-04-01 - 2025-04-30 - Hayek, Lore; Dingler, Sarah Caroline; Senn, Martin: Communicating the COVID-19 Crisis: Comparative Analysis of Crisis Communication by Governments and Heads of State.
Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF), Akutförderung SARS-CoV-2
2021-10-01 - 2025-09-30 (Web link)
Scholarships
- Helms, Ludger: Fachspezifischer Forschungsaustausch u.a. zum Gegenstand des politischen Erbes von Langzeit-Amtsinhabern. Fachspezifischer Forschungsaustausch u.a. zum Gegenstand des politischen Erbes von Langzeit-Amtsinhabern.
Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck - International Relations Office, Staff Outgoing
2024-08-07 - 2024-08-24 - Helms, Ludger: Autocratic Leadership and Followership.
Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck - International Relations Office, Staff Outgoing
2024-07-16 - 2024-07-31 - Habersack, Fabian Jonas: Wie schaffen die Parteien ein Gleichgewicht zwischen Reaktionsfähigkeit und ideologischer Kontinuität? Untersuchung des Wandels der ideologischen Positionen der Parteien bei zentralen und peripheren politischen Themen (Prof. Dr. Annika Werner).
Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck - International Relations Office, Staff Incoming
2024-06-03 - 2024-06-23
Current Publications
Publications
(Co-)Edited Books
Anthology / Collected Edition (Editorship)
- Pallaver, Günther; Weber, Wolfgang; Jenny, Marcelo (2024): Kommunalwahlen in Vorarlberg 1950–2020. Fakten, Prozesse, Perspektiven. Innsbruck, Wien u.a.: Studienverlag. ISBN 978-3-7065-5514-2. (Web link)
Contributions to Books / Journals
Journal Article (Original Paper)
- Dingler, Sarah C.; Hayek, Lore; Schwaderer, Christian; Senn, Martin; Kraxberger, Andreas M.; Ragheb, Nada (First View): Everyone will know someone who died of Corona: Government threat language during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In: European Journal of Political Research. (DOI) (Web link) - Helms, Ludger (online first): Prime ministers in waiting? Women leaders of the opposition in Westminster systems.
In: Party Politics. (DOI) (Web link) - Helms, Ludger; Vercesi, Michelangelo (online first): Cabinet Reshuffles in Parliamentary Democracies: A Typology and Framework for Comparative Analysis.
In: Government and Opposition, p. PII S0017257X2200. (DOI) (Web link) - Helms, Ludger; Vercesi, Michelangelo (online first): The Comparative Politics of Cabinet Reshuffles.
In: Government and Opposition, p. PII S0017257X2200. (DOI) (Web link) - Willumsen, David; Otjes, Simon (First View): Coalition government, frustrated majorities, and minority rule.
In: Party Politics. (DOI) (Web link) - Dingler, Sarah C.; Kroeber, Corinna (2023): Myths About Women in the Political Executive—How Gender Stereotypes Shape the Way MPs Assess the Competences of Ministers.
In: Political research quarterly 76/3, pp. 1403 - 1417. (DOI) (Web link) - Dingler, Sarah C.; Ramstetter, Lena (2023): When Does She Rebel? How Gender Affects Deviating Legislative Behaviour.
In: Government and Opposition 58/3, pp. 437 - 455. (DOI) (Web link) - Dingler, Sarah; Helms, Ludger (2023): Parliamentary women opposition leaders: A comparative assessment across 28 OECD countries.
In: Politics and Governance 11/1, pp. 85 - 96. (Full-text) (DOI) (Web link) - Habersack, Fabian; Heinisch, Reinhard; Jansesberger, Viktoria; Mühlböck, Armin (2023): Perceived Deprivation and Voter Turnout in Austria: Do Views on Social Inequality Moderate the Deprivation—Abstention Nexus?
In: POLITICAL STUDIES 71/4, pp. 1006 - 1024. (Full-text) (DOI) (Web link) - Habersack, Fabian; Werner, Annika (2023): How non-radical right parties strategically use nativist language. Evidence from an automated content analysis of Austrian, German, and Swiss election manifestos.
In: Party Politics 29/5, pp. 865 - 877. (Full-text) (DOI) (Web link) - Helms, Ludger (2023): Why do Parties Select Non-Partisan Ministers? The Paradox of Ministerial Selection in Austria.
In: Representation 59/3, pp. 513 - 530. (Full-text) (DOI) (Web link) - Kroeber, Corinna; Dingler, Sarah C. (2023): Crisis and Gender in Legislative-Executive Relations.
In: Politics & Gender 19/3, pp. 908 - 914. (DOI) (Web link) - Ohmura, Tamaki; Willumsen, David (2023): Free votes and the analysis of recorded votes: evidence from Germany (1949–2021).
In: West European Politics 46/6, pp. 1205 - 1221. (Full-text) (DOI) (Web link) - Otjes, Simon; Willumsen, David (2023): Winning & losing in coalition systems. A quasi-experimental study of the effect of coalition formation on satisfaction with democracy.
In: Electoral Studies 84, Nr. 102646. (DOI) (Web link) - Willumsen, David (2023): Policy preferences, unity, and floor dissent in the European parliament.
In: Journal Of European Public Policy 30/10, pp. 2010 - 2030. (Full-text) (DOI) (Web link)
Journal Article (Review)
- Helms, Ludger (2023): Political oppositions in democratic and authoritarian regimes: A state-of-the-field(s) review.
In: Government and Opposition 58, pp. 391 - 414. (Full-text) (DOI) (Web link)
Journal Article (Editorial)
- Dingler, Sarah C.; Helms, Ludger; Müller, Henriette (2023): Women opposition leaders: Conceptual issues and empirical agendas. Politics and Governance.
In: Politics and Governance 11/1, pp. 80 - 84. (Full-text) (DOI) (Web link)
Book Chapter (Original Paper)
- Fernandes, Ana Tereza; Jenny, Marcelo (2024): Dezentralisierung und Korruption: eine komplexe Beziehung.
In: Bußjäger, Peter; Eller, Mathias: Compliance und Transparenz - Korruptionsprävention als Mehr-Ebenen-Aufgabe. Wien: new academic press (= Schriftenreihe des Instituts für Föderalismus, 140)., ISBN 978-3-7003-2316-7, pp. 23 - 35. (Web link) - Jenny, Marcelo (2024): Wettbewerb stimuliert: Einflussfaktoren der Wahlbeteiligung in Vorarlbergs Gemeinden (1985–2020).
In: Pallaver, Günther; Weber, Wolfgang; Jenny, Marcelo: Kommunalwahlen in Vorarlberg 1950–2020. Fakten, Prozesse, Perspektiven. Innsbruck, Wien u.a.: Studienverlag., ISBN 978-3-7065-5514-2, pp. 255 - 266. - Jenny, Marcelo; Weber, Wolfgang (2024): Politisches Angebot und Wahlkampf.
In: Pallaver, Günther; Weber, Wolfgang; Jenny, Marcelo: Kommunalwahlen in Vorarlberg 1950–2020. Fakten, Prozesse, Perspektiven. Innsbruck, Wien u.a.: Studienverlag., ISBN 978-3-7065-5514-2, pp. 161 - 201. - Pallaver, Günther; Weber, Wolfgang; Jenny, Marcelo (2024): Die Funktion von Wahlen auf kommunaler Ebene.
In: Pallaver, Günther; Weber, Wolfgang; Jenny, Marcelo: Kommunalwahlen in Vorarlberg 1950–2020. Fakten, Prozesse, Perspektiven. Innsbruck, Wien u.a.: Studienverlag., ISBN 978-3-7065-5514-2, pp. 9 - 24. - Pallaver, Günther; Weber, Wolfgang; Jenny, Marcelo (2024): Resümee und Perspektiven.
In: Pallaver, Günther; Weber, Wolfgang; Jenny, Marcelo: Kommunalwahlen in Vorarlberg 1950–2020. Fakten, Prozesse, Perspektiven. Innsbruck, Wien u.a.: Studienverlag., ISBN 978-3-7065-5514-2, pp. 321 - 340. - Helms, Ludger (2023): Presidents and Prime Ministers – Then and Now.
In: Keating, Michael; McAllister, Ian; Page, Edward C; Peters, B Guy: The Problem of Governing. Essays for Richard Rose. Houndmills [u.a.]: Palgrave Macmillan (= Executive Politics and Governance)., ISBN 978-3-031-40816-8, pp. 97 - 116. (DOI) (Web link) - Helms, Ludger; Umek, Philipp (2023): Der*die Bundespräsident*in.
In: Prapotnik, Katrin; Perloth, Flooh: Das politische System Österreichs: Basiswissen und Forschungseinblicke. Wien [u.a.]: Böhlau., ISBN 978-3-205-21594-3, pp. 271 - 297. (DOI) (Web link) - Jenny, Marcelo (2023): Parteien und Parteiensystem.
In: Prapotnik, Katrin; Perloth, Flooh: Das politische System Österreichs: Basiswissen und Forschungseinblicke. Wien [u.a.]: Böhlau., ISBN 978-3-205-21594-3, pp. 101 - 128. (DOI) (Web link)
(Book) Reviews
Journal Article (Book Review)
- Willumsen, David (2023): John Gerring, Brendan Apfeld, Tore Wig, Andreas Forø Tollefsen (2022): The Deep Roots of Modern Democracy: Geography and the Diffusion of Political Institutions.
In: Österreichische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft (OeZP) / Austrian Journal of Political Science 52/3, pp. 22 - 23. (DOI) (Web link)
You can find more publications here: https://lfuonline.uibk.ac.at/public/pk115_web.frame