Our mission 

Constitutional democracy promises legitimate and accountable government. Today, that promise is under increasing pressure. Confronted with the global rise of authoritarianism, illiberal politics, technocracy, and deepening public distrust, the Amsterdam Centre for Constitutional Culture & Democratic Governance (ACCu) seeks to explore and strengthen the foundations of constitutional democracy. In doing so, ACCu offers a focal point for studies on constitutional democracy within the University of Amsterdam and serves as a spring-board for cross-cutting interdisciplinary collaborations.

To achieve this mission:

• We offer a vibrant research culture that fosters critical reflection and constructive approaches to rethinking constitutional democracy in light of rule of law principles and the pressing challenges of our time. For example, we coordinate and focus research on contemporary domestic threats to constitutional democracy.
• We adopt a multidimensional approach, drawing on a wide range of disciplines including law, history, political science, sociology, economics, and public administration.
• We explicitly foster connections between scholars of both constitutional and adminstrative law, focusing on rule of law principles and the core tenants of good governance. In doing so, we remain attentive to national legal orders and cultures, recognizing their enduring relevance in shaping constitutional democracies.
• At the same time, we connect domestic legal debates with global scholarship, and explore domestic law within the broader context of Europeanisation and internationalisation.
• We host visiting scholars and collaborate with other research groups in the Netherlands and abroad, fostering a global exchange of knowledge. Interested in visiting our research centre? Contact us at publiekrecht-fdr@uva.nl.
• We encourage affiliated scholars to actively engage in public debates on the challenges facing constitutional democracy.
• We engage in fruitful interaction with legal practice and key stakeholders in the legal-political system. Accordingly, we publish both in Dutch and English in order to reach key audiences more effectively.
• We provide research-based education to (future) policymakers and professionals in our Bachelor’s and in our Master’s programm. In addition, we offer workshops, lectures, seminars, and post-academic training for external partners.

Contact

Amsterdam Centre for Constitutional Culture & Democratic Governance (ACCu)