Discussion at Goethe University Frankfurt between doctoral candidates from seven countries and leading international researchers.
From August 18 to 29, Goethe University Frankfurt was the venue for the 7th ECPR Summer School of the Standing Group on Parliaments. Founded in 1970, the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) is an umbrella organization of over 300 universities in almost 50 countries. At its Summer School of the Standing Group on Parliaments held at Goethe University Frankfurt, 15 participants from seven countries discussed their doctoral projects with leading international researchers. The school focused on topics such as opposition and coalition politics, political polarization, fair representation of women, migrants and young people as well as the stability of governance in modern parliamentary systems. In the opinion of the local organizers, Dr. Jan Berz and Professor Thomas Zittel from the Faculty of Social Sciences, together with Andreas Küpfer, M.A., and Professor Christian Stecker from the Institute of Political Science at TU Darmstadt, the Summer School makes an important contribution to the internationalization and professionalization of young researchers. This year, it also included round tables with faculty on publication strategies in modern political science. With Professor Tiffany Barnes (University of Austin, Texas), co-editor of leading international journals such as Legislative Studies Quarterly and the British Journal of Political Science, it was possible to recruit an outstanding interlocutor. Further members of the prestigious international faculty were Professor Sven-Oliver Proksch (University of Cologne), Professor Shane Martin (University of Essex), Professor Jessica Fortin-Rittberger (University of Salzburg), Professor Helene Helboe Pedersen (Aarhus University), Dr. Maria Thürk (University of Basel), Professor Tom Louwerse (Leiden University) and Professor Markus Wagner (University of Vienna). The Summer School also took parliamentary practice into account by visiting the Hessian State Parliament and discussing with members of parliament Bijan Kaffenberger (SPD) and Kaya Kinkel (The Greens). In 2026, the 8th ECPR Summer School of the Standing Group on Parliaments will also take place at Goethe University Frankfurt.
