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Research & Working Groups

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Poststructuralist Protest and Movement Research: A Multi-Perspective Analytical Approach (POPMAP)

The academic network “Poststructuralist Protest and Movement Research: A Multi-Perspective Analytical Approach (POPMAP)” aims to develop an independent research approach for the empirical analysis of social movements and protest from a poststructuralist perspective. It brings together theoretical and empirical researchers to develop alternative models of scientific work and to promote a collaborative style of research.

© Digitale Mittelstadt der Zukunft

The DFG research group “Digitale Mittelstadt der Zukunft” is dedicated to analyzing and promoting medium-sized towns in the digital age. It looks at four key aspects - civil society and social services, administration and politics, economy and energy, and education and culture - and develops digital tools that strengthen local identity, promote urban development and thus contribute to strengthening the liveability of medium-sized towns. | More information

Journal “Soziologie und Nachhaltigkeit (SuN)”

Since January 2015, the working group on collective and sustainability research at the Institute of Sociology of the University of Münster publishes the digital journal “Soziologie und Nachhaltigkeit – Beiträge zur sozial-ökologischen Transformationsforschung” (SuN) (in English: Sociology and Sustainability – contributions to social-ecological transformation research). The journal focuses on strengthening sustainability research in the social sciences and on connecting different perspectives. In particular, the SuN aims to combine traditional theories with current theoretical discourses in the sustainability context. The journal addresses scientists and practitioners in the field of sustainability.

Working Group on Collective and Sustainability Research

The Working Group on Collective and Sustainability Research was founded in 2013/2014 at the Institute of Sociology of the WWU Münster in order to concentrate and extend already existing research and teaching activities. At first, both collective- and socio-ecological socialization research and urban and regional research constituted the main research topics. Both topics’ merging as well as the making of contacts to other disciplines and relevant communities will furthermore strengthen the focus on inter- and transdisciplinary transformation research.

  • Former Research and Working Groups

    Governance for a European Energy Union

    The interdisciplinary working group, involving political, economic and legal scientists, is part of the initiative “Energy Systems of the Future” (ESYS) and supported by acatech (German Academy of Science), the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Union of German Academies of Sciences. It aims to provide impetus for the debate on the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition in Germany.

    Trans Sustain

    Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) have evolved into key transnational governance instruments to bind international markets to fundamental principles of sustainable development. As they continue to extend their influence in international markets scholars become increasingly interested in studying the efficacy of VSS. The research group TRANSSUSTAIN focuses on the efficacy of VSS in global coffee value chains. The main research question is to what extent VSS are capable of turning global coffee production into a more sustainable industry.