SSH Cluster Publications

World and European Energy and Environment Transition Outlook (7.69MB )

The World and European Energy and Environment Transition Outlook (WETO-T) offers a new perspective on the technological, economic and social options which could lead towards a post carbon society by the end of the century.

WETO-T tackles demographic, human capital, and lifestyles issues up to 2100 and the consequent needs for energy services worldwide.

For Europe, the WETO-T report firstly addresses three technology paradigms for long-term sustainability. Secondly, it analyses the energy-environment transition in combination with land-use issues. Thirdly, it helps to understand the "social fabric" of this energy-environment transition.

WETO-T also investigates the potential innovations in the transport and building sectors in conjunction with changes in human behaviour. Finally, it looks at the policy path to the achievement of the climate change targets.
- For more information contact:
  Domenico ROSSETTI di VALDALBERO
- For more information:
  http://www.pact-carbon-transition.org/

Pluralism and religious diversity, social cohesion and integration in Europe - Insights from European research (2.94MB )
2011, EUR 24690, ISBN 978-92-79-19031-5, doi: 10.2777/44819, 103 pages

This cluster synopsis provides an overview of 19 research projects dealing with 'European pluralism, religions, tolerance and values'. The projects address issues such as the balance between individual and societal needs, notions of respect for otherness, and the role of pluralist societies in responding to increasing levels of diversity. This research will make a significant contribution to creating an evidence base to support policymaking at European, national, regional and local levels. The present publication marks a first step in the process of supporting these projects to meet the policymaking challenges faced by European societies

Gender research in the 6th Framework Programme and the first period of the 7th Framework Programme - Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities
Programme (722KB )
EUR 24517, ISBN 978-92-79-13761-7, doi 10.2777/61483, 64 pages

Gender relations are at the core of most social, economic and political experiences. Accordingly, they have been the object of policy initiatives at national, European and international level, and became a dedicated area of research decades ago. Activities carried out in the 6th and (beginning of) 7th Framework Research Programme in the field of Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities pursued both gender-specific research as well as mainstreaming of gender issues in research related to different fields such as global governance, democracy, or conflict resolution. This is also consistent with the approach developed under the Science in Society thematic programme of the 7th Framework Research Programme concerning to the gender dimension of scientific inquiry and science policy. In this respect, a wide range of activities were undertaken in order to raise awareness about issues facing women in science as well as to promote better access for women to scientific studies and career. This short compendium is intended to be a useful reference for anyone interested in gender research and also for those still sceptical about it.

European Forward Looking Activities - EU Research in Foresight and Forecast
Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities - List of Activities 2007-2010
(6.6MB ) EUR 24480, ISBN 978-92-79-16363-0, doi 10.2777/11829, 52 pages

Forward looking activities (FLA) are used for the preparation and the formulation of EU policies. Foresight and Forecasting allow to elaborate long term visions and to assess economic, social and environmental impacts of policies.

Between 2007 and 2010 around twenty research FLA initiatives have been launched by the 7th Research Framework Programme under the theme "Socioeconomic Sciences and Humanities" in the following fields: Globalisation, Europe and neighbouring countries; ERA (European Research Area), science, technology and innovation; Evaluation of policies and modelling of post-carbon society; Mapping, preferences, visions and wild cards.

European Research on Education and Training (912KB )EUR 23865, ISBN 978-92-79-11484-7, ISSN 1018-5593, DOI 10.2777/4165, 56 pages

High quality education and training systems are essential for European welfare and for developing a knowledge-based society. This publication aims to give an overview of the European research carried out in the 6th and 7th Framework Programmes.

These education and training projects deal with knowledge and skills (Lisbon Strategy), inclusion and cohesion (Social Agenda), culture, youth and migration (Citizenship), horizontal, international and support actions.

New Databases, Indicators and Tools Brussels, 2008 (715KB )
EUR 23605, ISBN 978-92-79-10156-4, ISSN 1018-5593, DOI 10.2777/24786, 108 pages
This publication highlights the major European research initiatives aimed at developing new, complete and harmonized economic and social databases and indicators in the fields of the knowledge economy, welfare, demography, sustainable development and impact assessment. This background is a pre-requisite for evidence-based European policies and for improving forecast, foresight, impact assessment and modelling in emerging policy issues related to globalisation, social trends and sustainability.

European Union Research on Human Rights, Conflicts and Security in the 6th FP and the first period of the 7th FP - Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities (1.16MB )
EUR 23723, ISBN 978-92-79-10653-8, ISSN 1018-5593, DOI 10.2777/36911, 80 pages
War and peace are as old as humankind, and violation to human dignity and integrity also - but their shapes, causes, impacts keep changing over time and in different contexts. This is surely also the present case - with factors such as globalisation, pace of technology, new geopolitical landscapes and new actors (private and public) contributing to change the way conflicts arise and are dealt with and human rights are perceived and acted upon.

Such developments need to be accompanied by analysis: independent, pluralistic and accurate knowledge is essential to inform policy and public debate. It is thus important that research on those issues be included and fostered in the context of EU research, and this publication provides a sort of easy "Vademecum" of research conducted in the 6th and first phase of the 7th Framework Research Programme (with some projects also in the 5th Framework). Hopefully this can help in both making such research better known and used for policy and debate, and can help identify gaps and future challenges to be addressed.

EU Research on Governance and Citizenship in the 6th FP and the first period of 7th FP - Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities Programme (1.1MB )
EUR 23596, ISBN 978-92-79-09971-7, ISSN 1018-5593, DOI 10.2777/16864, 103 pages
Research on the very working of the European institutions, the web of actors involved in deciding about the European 'res publica' - and the involvement of citizens in this - only started at the European level in the late nineties, in the 5th Framework Research Programme and flourished since then. In the 6th Framework Programme several projects -including large Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence- have addressed these major issues, and some more are coming in the context of the 7th Framework programme -mainly in relation to global governance, multilateralism and the role of the EU in this, and on the new challenges concerning active citizenship and participation. This means that European research on governance evolved from 'latecomer' to well-grounded, and possibly international leader.

European Research on Social Trends - Demography, Migration, Cohesion and Integration, Brussels, 2008 (1.5MB )
EUR 23478, ISBN 978-92-79-05201-9, ISSN 1018-5593, DOI 10.2777/9015, 50 pages
The ageing of population, the determinants of the birth rate in Europe, the migrations both inside and outside the European Union, the gender and cultural interactions, the factors of social exclusion, the integration of homeless and immigrants, and the development of new indicators are key policy questions in Europe that researchers are answering in the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities theme of the Seventh Framework Programme.

European Union Socio-economic Research - Sustainable Development & Territorial Dynamics, Brussels, 2008 (1.5MB )
EUR 23477, ISBN 978-92-79-09525-2, ISSN 1018-5593, DOI 10.2777/90149, 42 pages
Sustainable development and territorial dynamics are at the crossroads of the social, economic and environmental dimensions. They are key issues at the EU-level as they directly refer to Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), cohesion policy and structural funds. They provide inputs for European "Impact Assessment". They allow to identify societal model changes and paradigm shifts in the fields of energy-environment-transport-land use. The EU efforts in Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities research of the seventh Framework Programme should bring new knowledge, new data and new tools which, in turn, should bring Europe in a more sustainable and cohesive trajectory.

European Research in Economics - Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities - Growth, Employment and Competitiveness in a Knowledge Society (1.8MB )
EUR 23474, ISBN 978-92-79-09457-6, ISSN 1018-5593, DOI 10.2777/8473, 44 pages
This brochure describes EU projects mostly coming from the activity entitled "Growth, employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society" of the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities Programme. The focus of this publication is on the European knowledge society (Lisbon Agenda) but it covers also issues related to policy evaluation and economic governance. The projects included in this brochure aim at answering the following questions: How to succeed in the age of globalisation? What are the impacts of research and innovation on growth and employment? How does internationalisation affect the localisation of knowledge-intensive activities of firms? What is the overall importance of service industries in European growth? How can the intangible assets be measured? What is the optimal public spending distribution? How is "entrepreneurship" evolving in Europe?