New working papers explore current issues and approaches to social transformation.

5/26/26

In May, five new papers were published in the Norbert Elias Center’s (NEC) Transformation Working Papers Series. The papers address current social debates and examine topics such as the AfD’s environmental policy, feminist self-defense, and approaches to the doughnut economy.

The Norbert Elias Center’s Transformation Working Paper Series is dedicated to exploring the possibilities and limits of social transformation—always with an eye toward sustainability and global justice. Once again, this issue features outstanding theses from the M.A. in Transformation Studies program as well as papers by researchers affiliated with the NEC.

The following papers have been published:

Marie Sommerhage: Democracy Takes Place. Place-Making as a Catalyst for Social Participation: the Example of Cologne’s Community Centers.

Hannah Müller: The environment in the crossfire of right-wing politics. A qualitative analysis of environmental policy programs and pat-terns of argumentation in the Alternative für Deutschland.

Maren Schumann: Resistance and self-empowerment. Feminist self-defence as a response to femicidal violence.

Barbara D. Blattgerste: Mother, Mother, Child. Effects of German Family Law on Queer Parents.

Claudius Gräbner-Radkowitsch & David J. Petersen: Doughnut Economics.

Available here.