Current Projects
Democratic Accountability
What forms the basis of traditional small "l” liberal democratic accountability standards? Drawing on classical liberal political philosophy, the principles of liberal constitutionalism, and historical precedence relative to the expansion and protection of individual rights, CDG Director, Chris Koliba, is writing a series of essays and empirical papers regarding the definitions of democratic accountability standards and the application of these standards to instances of democratic backsliding occurring in the United States and other democratic nations.
Learn more about Democratic Accountability
GoGreen
The GOGREEN research project is a global initiative led by Roskilde University and funded by the Danish independent Research Council from 2022 to 2026. The project’s objective is to identify the constellation of governance factors driving the successful co-creation of green transitions. To achieve this goal, GOGREEN employs an innovative research strategy that invites teams from all over the world to contribute case studies of local co-creation of green transitions. These case studies are then used to build a global database on collaborative governance of green transitions. As of 2024, research partners from 28 countries around the world have been enlisted to execute 37 case studies. The database will provide a solid foundation for improving the governance of green transitions, complementing technical knowledge about how to build a sustainable future.
State Preemption
This project was recently funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This study focuses on a critical area of democratic governance studies: when can, and should, a state preempt local jurisdictions? The team from CDG, led by Chris Koliba, and the National Academy of Public Administration’s Center for Intergovernmental Partnerships, will be conducting a study in the Kansas City Metro region asking three questions:
- What factors drive preemption in policymaking, and how do they influence the decision to preempt local decision making, and in what ways?
- What are the consequences of preemptive policies on the health and well-being of local communities of color?
- What opportunities for innovation, experimentation, and adaptation in policymaking emerge when racial justice and health equity advocates consider the policy narrative ecosystem shaping preemptive dynamics?