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

Every year we implement a growing number of deliberative projects for citizens, refugees, social workers, civil volunteers, civil servants, adolescents and schoolchildren. Our work is supported by organizations like the European Union, the Federal Agency for Civic Education, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, various district administrations, the German Children's Fund, and the Federal Foreign Office. For an overview of our current and previous projects, visit the project page. An overview of our workshop and educational courses can be found here. The projects we exclusively offer for refugee children are here. For our further education on democracy, deliberation, discrimination and racism, and (gender) equality, visit the German part of the website.

40+

Associates

250+

Publications

40+

Projects

3500+

Participants

Our Recent English Blogposts

Social media are useless for civic and political participation: experiences with a project in Germany

September 29, 2023Hans Blokland,,,,,,,,

Resisting democratic decline: deliberation and some lessons from Germany and beyond

May 11, 2023Hans Blokland,,,,,,,,,

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,,,,,,,,

Latest News

Dr. Nargiza Nizamedinkhodjayeva new fellow at SSW

September 17, 2023,,,,,
Dr. Nargiza Nizamedinkhodjayeva is a seasoned researcher with over a decade of experience in international development projects and programs. Her … Continue ReadingDr. Nargiza Nizamedinkhodjayeva ...
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Yasmine Benyoussef new intern

September 17, 2023,,
Yasmine is a Gender and Diversity student from Tunisia, currently studying at the University of Applied Sciences Rhine-Waal in Kleve. … Continue ReadingYasmine Benyoussef new ...
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Anthropologist Genevieve Soucek new intern at SSW

May 23, 2023,
Genevieve is a predoctoral graduate student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, studying Cultural and Medical Anthropology. She obtained … Continue ReadingAnthropologist Genevieve Soucek ...
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The Social Science Works Podcast launched

May 7, 2023,
The number and diversity of podcasts available is growing by the day. More and more people are listening to these … Continue ReadingThe Social Science ...
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SSW participated in the Equality University in Torun, Poland

April 24, 2023,,,
The Equality University, one week of learning, understanding, and growth, just ended. The Equality University was a ERASMUS+ youth training … Continue ReadingSSW participated in ...
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SSW took part in the Deliberative Democracy Days at the European Parliament in Brussels.

April 5, 2023,,
Social Science Works was invited to present some of our experiences with deliberation at the conference “Deliberative Democracy Days: Moving … Continue ReadingSSW took part ...
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Recent interviews with refugees and migrants

Nduka, Biafra

Genevieve SoucekJuly 1, 2023
I was born in a family with seven children, three girls and four boys. One of my sisters is now … Continue ...
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Hamdiya, Afghanistan and Iran

Genevieve SoucekJune 23, 2023
I am 21 years old, married and I have one child. She was born in Turkey one year ago. My … Continue ...
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Ahmed, Afghanistan

Genevieve SoucekJune 8, 2023
My name is Ahmed, I am originally from Afghanistan and currently, I am living in the city of Potsdam. I … Continue ...
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Richard, Togo

Nadia LejailleJune 5, 2023
I am Richard and I was born on February 3, 1995, in Agomé Tomékbé. I am an only child. My … Continue ...
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Viyan: Kurdistan

Isabel RomijndersMay 31, 2023
In Germany at the age of 18, most young adults worry about their next steps in what they are going … Continue ...
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Yao, Togo

Nadia LejailleMay 23, 2023
I was born in Kpalimé. I have six siblings and my father has three wives. My father passed away in … Continue ...
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