Democracy is not just an ideal but a practical undertaking that requires continuous effort, innovation, and reflection to address emerging challenges effectively. Research on democracy is vibrant and expanding, offering valuable insights into strengthening democratic processes, enhancing citizen engagement, and addressing threats to democracy. But how do these insights move beyond academic circles and translate into real-world practice? Where do policymakers and practitioners turn when seeking solutions to complex democratic challenges?

This seminar will examine the challenges and opportunities of translating research into action, spotlighting current efforts by the Australian government to strengthen democracy alongside the latest developments in democracy research. Alex Fischer (Department of Home Affairs) and Max Grömping (Griffith University) will engage in a conversation on bridging the gap between knowledge and practice in democratic governance.

Dr Alex Fischer is Senior Advisor to the Department of Home Affairs Office of Community Cohesion and member of the Dusseldorp Forum. He is an interdisciplinary scholar and practitioner with expertise in global environmental security, social policy, and institutional design. His career has pursued social impact through roles in government, academia, social enterprises, civil society and philanthropy. As a member of the Australia Resilient Democracy Research and Data Network, he seeks to help translate novel research and insights into actionable ideas which inform policy and enable democratic innovators.

Dr Max Grömping is Senior Lecturer in the School of Government and International Relations at Griffith University. He studies the dynamics of policy lobbying and advocacy under different political regimes, and how information disorder affects citizens’ trust in political institutions. He is currently co-leading two Australian Research Council-funded Discovery Projects on Public Interest Advocacy in Australian Policymaking, and on Mapping & Harnessing Public Mistrust. He is also Associate Editor of the journal Democratization, and an invited affiliate of the International Panel on the Information Environment.

The seminar will be moderated by Prof Selen Ercan, Director of the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance, Faculty of Business, Government and Law, University of Canberra.