Berlin, 9 July 2026. The Volkswagen Foundation has approved the research project “Trying Democracy: Universal Jurisdiction and Transnational Community-Making between Syria and Europe” by Prof. Dr Pauline Endres de Oliveira of Humboldt University of Berlin (HU) as part of its funding initiative “Transformational Knowledge on Democracies in Transition”. The project will receive funding of around 1.3 million euros. The project partners are Dr Itamar Mann, HU; Roger Phillips, Syria Justice and Accountability Centre, Washington, USA; and Jun.-Prof. Leila Ullrich, Ph.D., University of Oxford, UK.
Research project “Syrians before European courts”
Trials based on the principle of universal jurisdiction in Europe are among the few ways of addressing crimes committed during the Syrian conflict through the legal system. However, their significance extends beyond the courtroom. They are taking place at a time when European societies are characterised by political polarisation and debates critical of migration, whilst Syrian communities in exile are developing their first visions for a future beyond authoritarian rule. The project examines how these proceedings influence democratic processes: do they strengthen judicial independence and trust in Europe? Do they enable Syrians in exile to practise democratic practices that could one day shape a transition in Syria? Through field research in Germany, the Netherlands and France, and by combining legal studies, ethnography and film, the project analyses how transnational communities perceive justice. In collaboration with judges, public prosecutors and policy-makers, this research will lead to the development of a practical framework for more democratic, cross-border legal proceedings.
Volkswagen Foundation’s funding initiative ‘Transformational Knowledge on Democracies in Transition’
In the funded collaborative projects, researchers work with partners from (civil) society to investigate, within a clearly defined research question, pressing challenges facing democracy in Germany or at EU level over a period of up to five years. They examine the challenges facing democratic transformation processes in a well-founded and detailed manner. The aim of these in-depth analyses is to generate evidence-based research findings that are translated into concrete recommendations for action.