Research Networks
The Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies has been actively involved in a number of larger-scale international research networks as well as direct cooperations with colleagues from other institutions. The following list is a selection of the recent activities our faculty members have been and are involved in:
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem)
The V-Dem project is a worldwide network of scholars collecting and analyzing data on levels of democracy in over 200 countries and territories around the globe. Launched by Michael Coppedge (Notre Dame University), John Gerring (Boston University) and Staffan Lindberg (Göteborg University), the project has developed an unprecedented framework of over 300 indicators for measuring and tracking levels of democracy in the world since 1900. Thanks to this breadth and rigor, the database aims to be more robust, valid and transparent than the conventional indices currently available from, say, Freedom House or the Polity consortium. In February 2013 Prof. Vello Pettai was appointed regional manager for the Baltic states leading a team of country experts in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who will code about 100 of the indicators based on institutional and other factual data.
Between EU and Russia (BEAR)
The BEAR (Between the EU and Russia) network’s key objective is to promote a better understanding of how the EU and Russia influence and inspire minority politics, integration efforts, and societal contestation on the EU’s eastern borders by: 1) stimulating knowledge development through academic collaborations and connections; 2) conducting high-quality teaching activities across Europe, North America and Russia; and 3) disseminating our knowledge to policymakers, the public and other key constituencies. Our network brings together 25 scholars from 11 universities in six countries to explore attempts to mobilize, influence, protect, and claim regional minority groups on the EU’s eastern borders, as well as how societal actors in the region draw upon, react to, and engage with the overlapping influences of the EU and Russia.
Enhancing Visibility of the Academic Dialogue on EU-Turkey Cooperation (VIADUCT)
VIADUCT is a project aiming at creating an academic network linking universities and think-tanks from the EU, Turkey and the neighbourhood to build knowledge on EU-Turkey Cooperation. Coordinated from the University of Cologne, VIADUCT builds a large network with 40 partner institutions and one extended network partner from 36 countries. Represented in every EU member state, Turkey and the neighbourhood, VIADUCT is extending its outreach in research and teaching beyond the EU. Stefano Braghiroli is representing the University of Tartu in the project.
Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES)
CSES is a collaborative programme of research among election study teams from around the world. Participating countries include a common module of survey questions in their post-election studies. The resulting data are then merged into a single, free, public dataset for use in comparative study and cross-level analysis. The CSES survey module was implemented in Estonia for the first time in 2011. Piret Ehin and Vello Pettai were heading the research team in Estonia to carry out a post-electoral large-N survey in 2011 that met the rigorous guidelines and standards of the CSES.
European Elections Studies (EES)
EES focuses on electoral participation and voting behaviour in European Parliament elections. Commenced in 1979, the EES now covers all 28 member states. Research on the 2009 European Parliament elections was carried out in the framework of the PIREDEU project supported from the EU’s 7th framework program. Piret Ehin was the principal researcher in this network, making sure that Estonia participated in both the 2004 and the 2009 rounds of the EES.
Political Economy of Energy in Europe and Russia (PEEER)
PEEER (Political Economy of Energy in Europe and Russia) was established in April 2009. It is an ESRC funded energy network which brings together an inter-disciplinary group of academics from across Europe and Russia to research energy with an emphasis on energy governance, relations and issues associated with energy transition within Europe and Russia, and beyond. The network aims to produce research which is both policy relevant and theoretically informed. Dr Andrei Belyi, who worked at the Institute between 2012-2015, is a co-founder of the project and a member of the steering committee.
COST Action IS1203 "In search of transcultural memory in Europe (ISTME)" (2012-2016)
HERA project "Memory at War" (2010-2013)
COST Action IS0806 "The True European Voter" (2009-2014)
EU-CONSENT: Wider Europe, deeper integration? "Constructing Europe" network (2005-2009)
EU-CONSENT as a network of excellence for joint research and teaching aimed to look at the construction of a new Europe especially from 2005-2008. The project included integrating activities (conferences, workshops, activities in plenum and teams), common research (EU-25 Watch, CONSENT-WEB), teaching activities and dissemination activities (public events and common publications). The project was funded by the European Commission under the 6th framework programme and directed by the University of Cologne. Senior Researcher Piret Ehin was the Estonian research team leader.