Social Participation

For democratic societies, social participation is both a basic prerequisite and a recurring challenge. On an individual level, social participation means being able to lead and shape a self-determined and independent life. It promotes diversity, inclusion and the commitment of citizens as well as the self-organization of those affected. This requires social structures and processes that enable and, if necessary, support this. The research focus "Social Participation" analyzes current problems of participation in areas of society such as education, health, the labor market, politics and culture. On the one hand, it identifies opportunities for the inclusion of individuals and social groups and, on the other, calls for the necessary structural changes to optimize opportunities for participation.