Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung

Challenges to the International Order: Causes and Consequences

Impression of the 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary WZB Conference

A review of the 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary WZB Conference with pictures and talking points.

Impressions from the public dialogue and opening of the 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary WZB Conference 2026 at the Akademie der Künste on Pariser Platz, Berlin.

Congratulations, Robert Gorwa! The WZB researcher has been awarded a grant from the European Research Council (ERC) for his research project “ALIGNING AI.” This is the second consecutive Starting Grant awarded to WZB research.

Democracy enjoys broad support in surveys. However, as a new study shows, support for democratic rights and procedures becomes unstable in times of crisis.

Globalisierungs- und Kommunikationskonzept. Erde und Leuchtstrahlen. 3D-Rendering - Stock-Fotografie

What will the world look like in a few years' time? How are the decline of global governance, the rise of new conflict lines and the fading of the liberal international order affecting international organizations? An analysis by Michael Zürn.

Work can make people sick, both physically and mentally. For women, this risk begins even with shorter weekly work hours. This is shown by a German-Australian study by Jianghong Li and colleagues.

A review of the 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary WZB Conference with pictures and talking points.

Impressions from the public dialogue and opening of the 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary WZB Conference 2026 at the Akademie der Künste on Pariser Platz, Berlin.

Democracy enjoys broad support in surveys. However, as a new study shows, support for democratic rights and procedures becomes unstable in times of crisis.

Work can make people sick, both physically and mentally. For women, this risk begins even with shorter weekly work hours. This is shown by a German-Australian study by Jianghong Li and colleagues.

The WZB

The WZB Berlin Social Science Center investigates fundamental societal issues. Our focus is on education and work, markets and choice, migration, democracy and autocracy, international politics and law. At the WZB researchers from various disciplines work together – mainly from sociology, political science, and economics.

Working at the WZB

The WZB offers a modern working environment, where both equal opportunities and the compatibility of work and family are highly valued. Find out more about it here.

WZB-Mitteilungen

Generations

It’s all about issues of distribution. As resources become scarcer, disputes intensify. Who calls the shots? Who gets the money? Whose interests matter more? All too often, the lines of conflict run between the old and the young, which is why our new issue is titled “Generations.”

However, there are also lines that connect the generations. Parents’ decisions and experiences shape their children’s lives, even after their children have grown up. This applies to health, work arrangements, relationships, and educational opportunities. The June issue of WZB-Mitteilungen thus explores what unites and what divides us, conflict and compromise; it looks far into the future and shows which course is being set today.

News

More news

Kohli Price to Raewyn Connell

26 Oct 2026

She did not invent the concept of “hegemonic masculinity,” but she did name it. Australian sociologist Raewyn Connell, a leading figure in the field of critical men’s studies, will receive this year’s Kohli Prize. The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 3, starting at 5 p.m. at the WZB; the laudatory address will be delivered by sociologist Aeneas Zi Wang from Nanjing University.

Representation and Compromise

11 Aug 2026

David Ausserhofer

Dissent and compromise are essential to democracy. Political parties must debate and fight over the future direction of policy and the best solutions to societal issues. But they must also be able to reach compromises in parliament and within a coalition: on shared policies, on new laws or on amendments to existing legislation. ‘Representation & Compromise. Bringing Voters’ Preferences to the Floor’ is the title of Pola Lehmann’s new book.

Looks Like Democracy

30 Apr 2026

foto-ruhrgebiet / iStock / Getty Images Plus

In 2023, WZB researchers surveyed nearly 3,400 people in Germany about their political views. What made this survey unique was that it asked not only about their attitudes toward democracy, but also how they personally defined it.