On March 23 and 24, 2017, network members gathered for one of our regular meetings to discuss and plan research, meetings and common objectives. Major issues at our meeting, this time hosted by the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, were our upcoming authors workshop for our special issue on democracy promotion negotiation as well as the question of how the network envisions its future after the Leibniz Association funding phase. We also discussed ideas for a joint policy paper on new perspectives on democracy promotion to be published in early 2018. Two highlights of our gathering in Erfurt were an evening presentation and discussion with Dr. Steven Schäller, Technical University Dresden, who shared his findings on populism and on how best to approach radicalized actors and voters, as well as a discussion of Jalale G. Birru’s dissertation project on peacebuilding and democratization in post-conflict Sub-Sahara societies. Jalale is one of Solveig Richter’s PhD students. We also enjoyed exchanging views with several of her PhD students at a lunch gathering at the school on Friday afternoon.