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Theoretical background and objectives

Theoretical background and objectives

This project is part of a Horizon 2020 consortium of nine academic institutions to analyze the cultural, science and innovation policy of the EU in a comparative perspective over a three year period starting in March 2016 (“EL-CSID: European Leadership in Cultural, Science and Innovation policy”). It will focus on how different actors such as national governments, supra- and transnational institutions, NGOs and international organizations engage science in their external relations by looking into their respective objectives, strategies, programs and instruments for science diplomacy.

In recent years many commentators and social scientists have claimed that individuals and households in Western societies are facing increased economic insecurities. One alleged force behind this trend is the downscaling of welfare state mechanisms that ameliorate the negative economic consequences of critical events such as unemployment or separation. These claims have rarely been tested empirically, however. The project will therefore use German and US panel data to study the changing consequences of key life risks such as unemployment, illness, separation, and single parenthood.

It is well known that lower social strata participate in politics less frequently and intensely than the more well-to-do. However, international comparative studies have shown that the amount of social inequality in political participation differs strongly between societies. The project analyses causes and consequences of these differences. In particular, it focuses on the question of why are some democracies more successful at integrating the lower strata in the political system. Furthermore, it focuses on the conditions under which the so called "democratic dilemma" of unequal participation (Lijphardt) arises. Possible answers to these questions include differences in the electoral systems, as well as in the nature of the cleavages in the various societies.

The EQUALSOC project is a so-called “Network of Excellence“ (NoE) that will mobilise and develop research expertise across Europe on economic change, quality of life and social cohesion. Besides the WZB 13 other institutes or universities are participating. There are institutes from Sweden (SOFI), the Netherlands (AIAS), France (CNRS), Italy (DSRS, Biocca, University of Turin), Ireland (ESRI), Germany (MZES, WZB), Great Britain (Nuffield), Spain (UPF), Estonia (UT) and Belgium (CSB). The project is funded by the European Union.

Aim:
The research project wants to link variations of the welfare state with the living conditions, relation patterns and attitudes of different generations. Therefore, four countries (Germany, France, Italy and Sweden) have been selected which represent different welfare state arrangements.

The enlargement of the European Union has strengthened interest for a systematic record on the quality of life in different European regions. Four of our unit’s externally funded projects dealt with the development of an extensive and systematic comparison of the living conditions in 28 European countries (EU-15, new member states, Turkey). In 2002, different spheres of life were examined more closely by using specially harmonised Eurobarometer data and reports on income situation, social exclusion, working conditions, fertility, health care as well as general quality of life were prepared.