This line of research studies and analyses forms of non-conventional political participation, paying special attention to social movements in all their manifestations, from local opposition movements (such as Nimbys as Timbys) to transnational networks. The group also analyses mobilising speeches, collective action repertoires and the impacts of these movements on institutions, public policies and people’s opinions. This research uses both the analytical framework today called ‘contentious policy’ and the new forms of ethnographic political research.

Several projects have been carried out in this area, funded through public and private competitive calls. Some research works undertaken jointly with the University of Salamanca and the Betiko Foundation Betiko are worthy of special mention.

This line of research studies and analyses the theoretical fundamentals of modern democracies, the political behaviour of the electorate and the evolution of political communication.More specifically, we work on analysing electoral processes in Europe and America, electoral and institutional political communication from its strategic angle and emerging political parties.

Various publications have been produced and seminars and courses given addressed to training professionals in political and strategic consulting.

This line of research about Latin American politics has a dual objective. The first is to analyse institutions, actors and political processes to contribute to the academic debate through publications in indexed journals. The second is to intervene (through teaching and applied research) in improving areas of the political situation of countries in the region, especially in terms of governability, public policies and the fight against exclusion.

Several research projects have been carried out in this area, funded through public and private competitive calls. The subjects most investigated by the UdG team are the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the evaluation of welfare policies and the fight against the poverty in Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

This line of research on public policies has a dual objective: one more theoretical and the other applied. The first is to contribute to the academic debate about the theory and analysis of public policies, addressing subjects such as public and political agenda-setting, and implementing public policies, among others. The second is to generate knowledge for application in various fields: sectoral public policies, multilevel government and local government policies.

Various research projects have been carried out in this area.  The subjects most investigated by the UdG team are welfare systems, social policies, local government and civic engagement. The group has also worked to promote educational and skill building projects at university, in the community and in public administration.

The line of research on electoral policy in Catalonia is a study of the actors and electoral processes of the Catalan political system with special interest in the political parties, their evolution, the emergence of new parties and election campaigns. The electoral systems in force in Catalonia and their effects, and politics in the counties of Girona province, especially everything that affects local politics, are also studied.