At the Göttingen Section of RISC, we examine the practice of cohesion in the world of work, in everyday life across different social milieus, and through public goods. We are involved in two long-term studies, help strengthen the data infrastructure of RISC, and bring knowledge into practice through innovative methods.
Host Institution
The Göttingen Section of RISC is based at the Soziologisches Forschungsinstitut Göttingen (SOFI). SOFI is a nonprofit, university-affiliated research institute. Its work is guided by the principle of application-oriented basic research that addresses the major challenges of our time. Current focal points include the impacts of the socioecological transformation and the development of urban and rural areas. SOFI plays a leading role in numerous interdisciplinary research consortia.
Contribution to the Overarching Theme of Social Cohesion
The Göttingen Section of RISC focuses on the world of work and the contributions of the public sector. These areas are undergoing profound transformation. Digitalization, climate change, the reorganization of public services, and the rise of social and spatial inequalities all require new responses. Cohesion plays a central role in shaping these responses democratically and in solidarity. Nevertheless, cohesion itself is being tested by these same transformations and crises. We analyze which forces strengthen or undermine cohesion and how new forms of cohesion may emerge. Our focus is on specific working and living environments – including workplaces, families, households, neighborhoods, and municipalities.
Our research on social cohesion is structured around three key areas:
Provision and use of public goods such as schools, healthcare services, and infrastructures: We focus in particular on the equality of living conditions. This includes responsibility for social places and the safeguarding of essential services in rural regions. We contribute to a longitudinal study that investigates local-level cohesion.
The role of the world of work in shaping social cohesion: We examine the digital transformation of labor, the importance of codetermination and collective bargaining, and the impact of work experiences on attitudes and ways of life.
Conceptions of social cohesion in different social milieus: As part of RISC’s Qualitative Panel, we analyze how social milieus are reflected in everyday practices. This longitudinal study enables us to observe changes over time. We are particularly interested in how life and work experiences, as well as political, economic, and social developments, shape people’s attitudes and practices.
Through these research perspectives, we contribute significantly to the organization and development of the RISC research areas “Politics of Democratic Cohesion,” “Socioeconomic Orders of Status and Distribution,” and “Infrastructures and Public Goods.”
Knowledge Transfer
We bring our research into society through innovative means. We create spaces for exchange and dialogue. From the outset, we work closely with businesses, public agencies, municipalities, and associations. Together we develop formats that make societal challenges visible and promote solutions. Our long-established event series – Göttinger Gespräche zum gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt – is carried out in cooperation with local partners and is being expanded with new transfer formats. We connect science with local and social contexts, visit Social Places, and bring people from different backgrounds into conversation. Whether through civic dialogues, interactive workshops, or staged readings at local theaters – our formats offer vibrant platforms that link research with society.