The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has selected a network of research and university institutes for the establishment of the “Institut für gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt [Institute for Social Cohesion]”, including the Hans-Bredow-Institut. Eleven institutions from ten Länder are asked to develop a joint research programme and a steering structure for the decentralised institute. The decision was made in a science-led competition.
From the Press Release of the BMBF
“The realities of life in the city and the country are changing and partly drifting apart. New media change our communication culture. In our pluralistic society, different questions arise than before when it comes to belonging and identity. This is what citizens are concerned about,” says Federal Minister for Education and Research Anja Karliczek. “This is what we want to talk about in our society. The new institute will explore the questions mentioned above and contribute to objectify many debates. It will help us to strengthen social cohesion.”
The new Institute for Social Cohesion aims to promote research in this field. With a multidisciplinary approach, researchers will work in different locations. The institute is supposed to contribute with practically relevant proposals in order to meet social challenges. For this purpose, it will deal with current developments relevant to the cohesion of society as well as its historical roots. The selected institutions will develop a foundation concept for the institute in a preliminary phase of one year. They cover aspects such as polarisation and populism, identities and regional experiences, media and conflict culture as well as anti-Semitism and hate crime.
In addition to the Technische Universität Berlin as well as the Universities of Bielefeld, Bremen, Frankfurt, Halle-Wittenberg, Hanover, Constance and Leipzig, the following institutes were selected for this network: the Soziologische Forschungsinstitut Göttingen, the Hans-Bredow-Institut for Media Research Hamburg and the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society Jena.
“The selected institutions have prevailed in the scientific competition with their concepts. They bring in different perspectives and expertise,” says Karliczek. “Now we have to bundle this. I hope that scientific analysis, practical knowledge and concrete options for action go hand in hand.”
The whole press release of the BMBF
List of Institutes Selected for the Preliminary Phase
| Institute |
Principal Applicant |
| Technische Universität Berlin, Center for Research on Antisemitism |
Professor Dr. Stefanie Schüler- Springorum |
Bielefeld University,
Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence |
Professor Dr. Andreas Zick |
| University of Bremen, SOCIUM |
Professor Dr. Olaf Groh- Samberg,
Professor Dr. Uwe Schimank |
| Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Social Sciences – Institute of Political Science |
Professor Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff, Professor Dr. Daniela Grunow, Professor Dr. Rainer Forst |
| Soziologisches Forschungsinstitut Göttingen |
Professor Dr. Berthold Vogel |
| Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg |
Professor Dr. Reinhold Sackmann |
| Hans-Bredow-Institut for Media Research Hamburg |
Professor Dr. Uwe Hasebrink |
| Leibniz University Hannover, Leibniz Research Centre TRUST |
Professor Dr. Peter Dirksmeier |
Amadeu Antonio Stiftung,
Initiatives for Civic Empowerment and a Democratic Culture Jena |
Dr. Matthias Quent |
| University of Konstanz, Faculty of Law |
Professor Dr. Daniel Thym |
| Leipzig University, Centre for Area Studies |
Professor Dr. Matthias Middell, Professor Dr. Dirk van Laak, Professor Dr. Gert Picke |
