Research at the Norbert Elias Center for Transformation Design & Research

What drives social transformation, how change unfolds, and which possibilities exist for intervention and design are central questions guiding our work. At the Norbert Elias Center (NEC), we conduct interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research on social-ecological transformation—linking critical analyses of the present with historical perspectives and explorations of possible socio-ecological futures. Our research addresses key challenges such as authoritarian dynamics, transformation conflicts, society–nature relations, models of prosperity, and post-growth economies, and contributes to understanding sustainability transformations. Together with partners from academia, civil society, and practice, we develop actionable knowledge that supports sustainable and just socio-ecological change.