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Institutions

The Center for Democracy Aarau (ZDA) has the legal status of a simple partnership. The bodies of the ZDA are the shareholders’ meeting, the management, the scientific advisory board and the employees’ meeting.

Social contract
Social order

Shareholders’ meeting

The highest body of the ZDA is the Partners’ Assembly, consisting of two representatives from each of the four supporting institutions. It is responsible for the strategic management of the ZDA.

Representatives of the City of Aarau

  • Dr. Hanspeter Hilfiker, Mayor of Aarau
  • Prof. Dr. Thomas Bernauer, political scientist

Representatives of the Canton of Aargau

  • Cantonal Councillor Alex Hürzeler, Department of Education, Culture & Sport (BKS)
  • Dr. Katja Gentinetta, political philosopher and publicist; lecturer at the University of Lucerne and Zurich

Representatives of the University of Zurich (UZH)

  • Prof. Dr. Thomas Gächter, Institute of Law
  • Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Stark, Vice Rector Research

Representatives University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland

  • Prof. Dr. Guido McCombie, Director of the University of Teacher Education FHNW
  • Prof. Dr. Wassilis Kassis, Head of the Institute for Research and Development at the FHNW University of Teacher Education

Chair

  • Dr. Hanspeter Hilfiker, Mayor of Aarau

Former members of the shareholders’ meeting

  • Dr. Alexander Hofmann, FHNW
  • Dr. Marcel Guignard, Mayor of Aarau
  • Prof. Dr. Hanspeter Kriesi, political scientist, University of Zurich
  • Thomas Pfisterer, Cantonal Councillor of Aargau
  • Prof. Dr. Andreas Fischer, Rector, University of Zurich
  • Prof. Dr. Ottfried Jarren, Vice-Rector University of Zurich
  • Prof. Dr. Crispino Bergamaschi, President of the FHNW Directorate
  • Prof. Dr. Gabriele Siegert, Vice-Rector and Vice-President
  • Prof. Dr. Sabina Larcher, Director of the FHNW University of Teacher Education