Putting social science to use for modern democracies
Putting social science to use for modern democracies
OUR MISSION
Social Science Works is a social enterprise driven by pregnant societal problems. To alleviate these problems, we try to develop and to apply usable knowledge. Our foci are democracy, participation, integration, populism and radicalization. We aim to further integration and civic participation, and to counter populism and radicalization. We try to develop new ways of meaningful citizen participation and to advance new strategies to strengthen civic and political competences.
WHO WE ARE
We are a heterogeneous, international group of social scientists, most of whom were educated in Germany and live in Berlin and Brandenburg. Our disciplinary backgrounds include sociology, political science, anthropology, economics, philosophy and communication science. More about our team here. And on our fellows here.
PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Distinctive is our combination of theory and practice, developing, implementing and researching in particular deliberation at the same time, and our connection between social and political science on the one hand and social and political philosophy on the other. We seek to develop, what Charles Lindblom calls, Usable Knowledge, and in doing so we are not shying away from normative issues and policy recommendations.
COMPETENCIES
Our core competencies include citizen dialogues, political education, deliberative integration and democracy projects, as well as multiplier workshops and trainings on various topics such as discrimination, democracy and (gender) equality. In addition, we conduct research on democracy, deliberation, migration and integration, we provide second opinions on existing research, as well as science criticism and communication. We publish regularly in English and German about our ideas, approaches, experiences and research results. A complete list of our English publications can be found here and the German publications here.
DELIBERATION
The theories and practices of deliberation play a pivotal role in our work. We see deliberation as an open and courteous exchange of ideas and values, which furthers the discovery, understanding, contextualization and development of preferences. Deliberation is not about transferring the undisputed, fixed preferences of individuals into collective decisions and policies; it is foremost about the joint development of substantiated preferences regarding the public cause. Concomitantly, deliberation strengthens the notions and emotions of political community, civility and citizenship that democracies need to thrive.
PROJECTS AND EDUCATION
Distinctive is our combination of theory and practice, developing, implementing and researching in particular deliberation at the same time, and our connection between social and political science on the one hand and social and political philosophy on the other. We seek to develop, what Charles Lindblom calls, Usable Knowledge, and in doing so we are not shying away from normative issues and policy recommendations.
Our Recent English Blogposts
New book published: Talking Politics and Society Again: Reengaging with Fellow Citizens.
Populism in Algeria: Negation of Politics
Populism in France: An overview of its history, narratives, and relationship with the media
Bolivian Populism and Clientelism
Populism in the Netherlands: tradition or trend?
Indifference to refugees in Germany: observations and explanations
Developing a social enterprise devoted to democracy, deliberation and respect in a progressively hostile and indifferent environment: Experiences and observations of a social science trying to work in the eastern part of Germany
Social media are useless for civic and political participation: experiences with a project in Germany
Resisting democratic decline: deliberation and some lessons from Germany and beyond
Politics is no Match for Business: Charles Lindblom, Elon Musk and the Privileged Position of Business
Contemptuous Encounters: How Internalised Beliefs about Work and Self-Esteem Create a System of Mutual Resentment
Our Europe for All – Civic engagement among young European citizens in Berlin and Brandenburg
Latest News
Migrationspolitik auf der Flucht reviewed by Simon W. Wolke
New book published: Talking Politics and Society Again: Reengaging with Fellow Citizens.
Ali Ghaznawi joins Social Science Works
New Project: Cooking & Gardening for Refugee Children
Interns of the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen completed their project
Populism discussed by Hans Blokland at a conference of the Humboldt-Foundation.
Akram Yahiaoui interns at Social Science Works
No one has ever asked us
Muriel Akkerman, Evelyn Callapino Guarachi, Noëlle Wendling and Eline Sap joined our team
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) continues to support our training courses on discrimination and racism.
Talking to each other: Social Science Works again organizes citizens’ dialogues
Partnership for Democracy Westhavelland & Nauen supports project “Dialogue on values with new arrivals”,
Recent interviews with refugees and migrants
Revisited: Yaqout, Syria
Ali Ghaznawi: revisited
No one has ever asked us
Idir: Algeria
Saeed: Syria
Indifference to refugees in Germany: observations and explanations
Saleh, Syria
Ahmad: Syria
Nduka, Biafra
Hamdiya, Afghanistan and Iran
Ahmed, Afghanistan
Richard, Togo
Developing a social enterprise devoted to democracy, deliberation and respect in a progressively hostile and indifferent environment: Experiences and observations of a social science trying to work in the eastern part of Germany
News home page
No one has ever asked us
Muriel Akkerman, Evelyn Callapino Guarachi, Noëlle Wendling and Eline Sap joined our team
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) continues to support our training courses on discrimination and racism.
Talking to each other: Social Science Works again organizes citizens’ dialogues
Partnership for Democracy Westhavelland & Nauen supports project “Dialogue on values with new arrivals”,
Social Science Works released a new book: Migration Politics on the Run
recent interviews refugees home page