For 20 years, your publishing partner for the social sciences: In 2024, Verlag Barbara Budrich celebrates its 20th year anniversary! Here, we will share stories about what has shaped and moved the publishing house in early and in later years, featuring contributions from our partners and celebrating with you here on our blog and across our social media channels. In this post, Ursula van Beek looks back on our longstanding collaboration.
My name is Ursula van Beek. I am the founding director of the Centre for Research on Democracy, CREDO, at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. I am originally from Poland but have spent most of my life in Africa.
CREDO is the outcome of a long journey that began with the publication of a book South Africa and Poland in Transition: A comparative Perspective. The volume was the first in a continuing series of books, with latest: Democracy under Pressure: Resilience or Retreat? published in 2022.
“The books brought to the readers the story of the fluctuating fortunes of democracy around the world”
The international research group I have established what seems like a lifetime ago, grew in the early 2000s thanks to the support of the then Daimler Chrysler Foundation. With the backing of other founding bodies but especially the Bank of Sweden Foundation, we have managed to grow from an informal group of academics brought together by their shared interest in democracy to the Research Centre we are today webpage.
A substantial part of this most exciting research journey was spent in the company of Barbara Budrich Verlag. The founder of our travelling companion and I first met when we were both just starting to build our respective ‘empires’ – if I may shamelessly use this grand word. We were introduced to each other at the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI) in Essen where I was a visiting Fellow. The two of us clicked instantly and the rest – as the saying goes – is history.
The next three books – or our babies, as Barbara and I used to call them – were produced by Barbara Budrich Verlag. Democracy under Construction: Patterns from Four Continents was born in 2005; Democracy under Scrutiny: Elites, Citizens, Cultures saw the light of day in 2010; and Democracy under Stress: The Global Crisis and Beyond arrived in 2012. The books brought to the readers the story of the fluctuating fortunes of democracy around the world.
“Continuing success in enlightening and delighting their readers around the world”
As Barbara Budrich Verlag celebrates its 20th anniversary, I want to add my heartiest congratulations to the chorus of admiring voices. Having established itself as one of globally leading publishing houses, I wish Barbara and her dedicated team continuing success in enlightening and delighting their readers around the world.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Don’t’ forget to send some cake over 😉
Learn more about the Budrich anniversary on our blog!
