Responsibilities:

- Develop the theoretical and empirical foundations of direct democratic processes, for example by researching and analyzing existing legal bases in the world for decision-making via direct democracy.

- Advise the association on scientific issues

- Coordinate relevant research projects.

Klaus Hofmann is the "Direct-Democracy Navigator" editor, a joint research project organized by the University of Wuppertal and supported by Democracy International, IRI Europe and swissinfo.ch.

Contact:

hofmann[@]democracy-international.org

Tel: +49 221 669 665 33

Klaus Hofmann on democracy:

"The sovereign are the people. In most democracies we delegated our power to representatives. In general this system often works fine. But still we need to control those who decide for us. And: if we see a need we must have the possibility to take the decision back into our hands."

"Rule of law (Human rights and rights of minorities), representative and direct democracy procedures are the keystones of modern democracies."