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.

COMPETENCIES

Our core competencies include deliberative integration and democracy projects, democracy research, second opinions of existing research as well as scientific criticism and communication. On all these activities we publish blog-articles for the wider audience. On top of that we organize and implement deliberative projects and further education in our fields of expertise.

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 FURTHER EDUCATION

Every year we implement a growing number of deliberative projects for citizens, refugees, social workers, civil volunteers, civil servants, adolescents and schoolchildren. For an overview of our current and previous projects, visit the project page. For our further education on democracy, deliberation, discrimination and racism, and gender equality, visit the German part of this website here.

PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Distinctive is our combination of theory and practice, developing, implementing and researching 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.

40+

Associates

150+

Publications

40+

Projects

3000+

Participants

Latest News

German Postcode Lottery supports SSW in the coaching of children and adolescents with a refugee background in Brandenburg.

March 23, 2023

Master of Fine Arts Milad Rezaei joins Social Science Works

March 16, 2023

German SSW delegation safely returned to Berlin from Erasmus+ training in Portugal

February 24, 2023

Children’s group from SSW visits fire department

February 19, 2023

Lawyer Nadia Lejaille joins Social Science Works.

January 21, 2023

German Children’s Fund supports new project: “Strong girls in rural areas”.

January 15, 2023

First part of the project “Empowerment of Refugee Children” completed.

January 4, 2023

Our Recent English Blogposts

Politics is no Match for Business: Charles Lindblom, Elon Musk and the Privileged Position of Business

April 13, 2022Hans Blokland

Contemptuous Encounters: How Internalised Beliefs about Work and Self-Esteem Create a System of Mutual Resentment

March 11, 2022Phillip Reissenweber

Our Europe for All – Civic engagement among young European citizens in Berlin and Brandenburg

February 6, 2022Hans Blokland & Paola Perrin de Brichambaut

Exploring the many Facets of Failure in Academia

January 17, 2022Mafalda Sandrini and Kata Katz

Plattelandsjongeren, Politieke Participatie en Sociale Media: Ervaringen met een Project in Duitsland.

November 23, 2021Hans Blokland

Charles Lindblom on the Market, Elites, Inequality and our Inability to Think Clear

June 22, 2021Hans Blokland

Planning a future together: Could Eisenhüttenstadt use some deliberative democracy?

June 1, 2021Hans Blokland

Recent interviews with refugees and migrants

Adeel, Iraq

February 17, 2023Nadia Lejaille

Almar: Afghanistan

December 13, 2022Isabel Romijnders

Ali Ghaznawi, Afghanistan

November 23, 2022Social Science Works

Zahra and Farida, Syria

August 31, 2022Laila Keeling & Anjali Zyla

Meryem, Ayaz, and their daughter Esila: Turkey

July 20, 2022Nadia Lejaille

Sharif and Arezo, Afghanistan

July 19, 2022Sahba Salehi

Social Science Works on Social Media