Topic

Society

Commentary

From Measuring Research Impact to Maximising It

The way in which science and the rest of society interact with each other significantly moulds which direction our society progresses in. Once research funding better understands the non-linear nature of the social impact of research, this interaction can be greatly improved.

Fight against corruption starts from communities, not from best practices

This week I took part in event in Berlin. The event was about conceptualizing a new operational model for a Norwegian anti-corruption lab U4. Something very interesting seems to be cooking in the field of anti-corruption. Anti-corruption field is struggling, as research shows that despite efforts, global corruption has not considerably…

Only 4 in 10 citizens trust the government

Eroding trust in governments and the recent struggles of democracies dominated the discussions on the first few days of the World Government Summit 2018. We believe that over the next 5 years the world will witness the mainstreaming of several new ways of enabling inclusion, engagement and participation between people…

Reframing the future of Finland – with newcomers

Cultural diversity is on the rise in Finland, but does the institutional landscape reflect that fact? Do the newcomers – migrants of different kinds – have access to the institutions? Does their presence shape the cultural narrative of this society? These are among the questions that we have recently tried…

Seminar series about immigration: From refugee camps towards active citizenship in Finland

Recent findings and policy considerations on immigration are hard currency at the moment. The seminar series launched by the Strategic Research Council (Academy of Finland) is a great opportunity to access such knowledge. The series follows the rocky road of asylum seekers from their countries of origin or from refugee…

The NextEra Tokyo: A New Vision for Societal Progress

How do we build hope and trust in the future when we cannot count on one of the key promises of developed societies: the promise that the economy will grow and make the lives of people better? When such a fundamental premise upon which societies are built is questioned, how…

Publications

Revitalising and protecting European democracies

The European Democracy Shield is a timely and commendable initiative aimed at addressing the EU’s growing democratic challenges. However, it would benefit from a more human-centered approach focusing on citizen participation, civil society engagement, and more nuanced policies on digital regulation.

Governing with citizens: Embedding democratic innovations into societies  

The answer isn’t less democracy, but more. New participatory and deliberative processes aimed at involving citizens in decision-making are gaining traction across Europe, but their long-term success depends on how well they are embedded into the public administration and society.  

Vision Paper: Care – from crisis to transition

Public debate in Finland suggests that care is in crisis, but “crisis” and a fixation on resourcing care services do not capture the full picture of why and how our need for care has changed and how we can meet that need. This publication by Demos Helsinki identifies that the care crisis signals the need for a care transition in which care cannot be confined to industrial frameworks.

Projects

MERGE: Building economic policies beyond GDP

Despite being an established indicator of economic growth, GDP is debated to overlook the true essence of citizens’ quality of life and overall wellbeing. This project aims to improve knowledge on indicators beyond GDP, alternative and more sustainable policy options, and scenarios for a sustainable future.

CO3: COntinuous COnstruction of resilient social COntracts

The social contract encounters mounting challenges in contemporary society, leading to friction and distrust among citizens towards democratic institutions. The CO3 project is dedicated to developing and promoting a democratic, inclusive, and open model of social contracts, embodying political and social resilience amongst significant societal challenges, crises, and anti-democratic tendencies.

A new logic of care

How we care for each other is not an issue of healthcare budgets; it is an issue of a long-term, multi-sectoral change. This project seeks to show that there is no amount of money that can revert the current state of affairs. Instead, the care transition requires that we transform, disrupt and renew almost everything that we do.

People

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