The Norbert Elias Center for Transformation Design & Research (NEC) at the University of Flensburg has been conducting research since 2010 on the causes, dynamics, and possibilities for shaping social change. The focus is on the question of how, in the face of worsening global crises, a socially just, ecologically sustainable, and democratic transformation of society can be achieved.
Theory-driven, critical, and practical: Our social-ecological transformation research is based on a theoretically sound, analytically critical, and practice-oriented approach.
Analysis of historical, present, and future dynamics: We investigate diachronic and synchronic processes of social, economic, and ecological transformation—from historical trajectories to present crisis dynamics to emerging socio-ecological futures.
Transformation design as an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary task: The focus is on transformation design: the democratic and participatory shaping of change processes. This work is interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary and is carried out in close cooperation with social movements and various societal actors.
From multiple crises to systemic alternatives
The current economic and social model is coming under increasing pressure. The overlapping and causally intertwined ecological, social, and political crises—from the climate crisis to social inequality to the erosion of democracy—make it clear that these are not isolated phenomena, but rather a profound polycrisis.
The causes of these crisis dynamics lie in the structural unsustainability of a capitalist, growth-based economic and social system relying on permanent expansion, the externalization of costs, and unequal use of resources. Academic research shows that strategies relying on ‘green growth’ as a way out of the multiple crises are insufficient to stay within planetary boundaries and ensure social justice globally and locally.
At NEC, we develop systemic alternatives beyond the growth paradigm. Our focus is on environmental justice, sufficiency, democratic participation, and the contours of solidarity-based post-growth societies and well-being economies. In doing so, we ask not only what a good life can look like under conditions of limited resources, but also what social, political, and cultural conditions are required to enable such transformations.
Contemporary diagnoses, historical reconstructions, and transformative futuring
Our research follows a triad of critical contemporary analyses, historical reconstructions, and the exploration of possible futures. First, we examine the multiple crises facing capitalist societies, analyze current transformation dynamics in key social areas such as housing, mobility, and nutrition, and investigate authoritarian developments and social transformation conflicts—for example, in the context of a shift to the right, fascist tendencies, or unequal power relations in post-fossil energy and material transformation processes.
A second focus is on the historical analysis of social relations with nature, economic models, and global economic development paths. Our research concentrates on the expansionary and escalatory socio-economic structures of modern societies, dominant economic paradigms, and structural global ecological inequality.
Finally, we examine theories, constellations of actors, and strategies of socio-ecological transformation. The focus is on visions of alternative futures, growth-independent economies, social conflicts, social movements, and actors of change—as well as concrete transformation strategies in the political, civil society, and economic spheres.
Transdisciplinary research, knowledge transfer, and social intervention
Research at NEC is interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary: we work closely with actors from civil society, localauthorities, businesses, politics, and education. In the spirit of public sociology, we see it as our responsibility tocontribute scientific findings to societal and political debates. In doing so, we develop actionable transformation knowledge together with our partners in the field—and make it publicly available in a variety of formats.
We are particularly committed to assuming social responsibility and not only analyzing social and ecological transformation paths, but also critically shaping them. We develop transformative narratives, actively engage in social debates, promote democratic negotiation processes, and support real-world laboratories.
The NEC has a strong national and international network. We maintain close cooperation with universities, research institutions, civil society organizations, and political institutions. These connections enable us to integrate insights from research projects into scientific and social debates. Close cooperation with practitioners also enables continuous feedback between research and social experience.
In numerous third-party funded projects, we have addressed topics such as fair energy transition, energy sufficiency, alternative forms of enterprise, sufficiency-oriented urban development, right-wing authoritarian populism, transformation conflicts, and post-fossil lifestyles in recent years. We place particular emphasis on analyzing diachronic and synchronic transformation dynamics: we examine historical developments as well as current crisis phenomena and future scenarios. In this way, we aim to better understand social change and to enhance our ability to intervene in it.
Social-ecological transformation research at the EUF and in teaching
As the NEC, we are involved in the University of Flensburg’s Center for Research on Sustainability and Transformation (CREST), where we collaborate with colleagues from the natural and technical sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
In addition to research, teaching plays a central role in our work. Since 2017, the NEC has been responsible for the interdisciplinary M.A. program in Transformation Studies, which is dedicated to the critical analysis and active shaping of social change processes. We are also involved in various bachelor's and master's programs at the University of Flensburg, for example in energy, European, social, and political sciences.
Our teaching formats are theory-driven, research-oriented, interactive, and socially relevant. Students learn to understand crisis phenomena systemically, explore alternative ways of thinking and living, and develop their own contributions to socio-ecological transformation.
Since 2025, we have been publishing selected research results and outstanding theses in the Transformation Working Paper Series – as a contribution to open science and dynamic science communication.