CIVICA is giving a European voice to social sciences research. We are deepening research collaboration, within and beyond the alliance, to address Europe’s most pressing societal challenges.
Research priorities
Thematic priorities
CIVICA has long concentrated on specific thematic priorities, which serve as the focal points for integrated research and education activities. These thematic priorities reflect urgent global issues and the combined expertise of our alliance. Discover how we advance knowledge through interdisciplinary research, seminars, events and partnerships within each theme.
Our lives are increasingly influenced by digital tools. New technologies have significantly altered how we live, work and interact. At the same time, the enormous production of data provides unprecedented opportunities to both improve and threaten society.
Recognising that data science is fundamental to the social sciences of the future, this thematic priority aims to apply quantitative disciplines to a range of social challenges. CIVICA researchers work interdisciplinarily to study the impact of artificial intelligence and examine societal trends with the help of data analysis.
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Democracy worldwide is in a volatile situation: the quality of democracy is declining, societies are confronted with a surge in polarisation and populism, and the increase of inequality poses a major threat to the foundation of democracies. At the same time, the potential for democratic reform is higher than ever, opening up new possibilities for democratisation and democratic deepening.
This thematic priority gathers teams from across CIVICA to address the challenges and promises of democracies today from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
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In these complex and uncertain times, the European Union is facing various tensions. Phenomena such as migratory flows, (dis)integration processes, the green transition, or globalisation lead to multiple societal, political, structural and economic challenges. Understanding and addressing these challenges requires not only transdisciplinary approaches, but also reflections on the methodology itself.
Under this thematic priority, CIVICA scholars of various backgrounds address key issues about the EU from the perspective of social sciences. By examining cross-disciplinary topics such as migration or the environment, the area engages thematically with other CIVICA thematic priorities, in particular Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century, and Societies in Transition, Crises of Earth.
European societies are confronted by multiple crises. The manifestations of crises such as social inequalities, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, geo-political fragmentation or the continuing loss of nature may vary, but they are connected at the root: unsustainable development patterns.
This thematic priority brings together expertise from across CIVICA to examine interlocking crises of the Earth through the lens of societal transitions, recognising the need for integrated solutions based on integrated diagnoses.
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CIVICA Research Hubs
In 2026, CIVICA is launching four Research Hubs. Led by faculty members, each Hub brings together research teams from across the CIVICA alliance, combining expertise from different disciplines and perspectives.
The Hubs are designed to act as connecting points within a wider European research network. Through workshops, conferences and collaborative events, they draw in scholars from across the alliance and beyond. Their purpose is to support seed research and lay the groundwork for larger, externally funded research projects in the future.
Africa’s digital transformation is moving fast. Mobile services, digital trade, data centres and online public services are becoming an everyday part of life across the continent. This transformation is not just about technology, it is also political, economic, legal and historical. Decisions about infrastructure, regulation, and global partnerships shape who controls value, power, and resources in Africa’s digital future.
Migration is no longer a temporary challenge for Europe. It is a long-term force reshaping societies, labour markets, and democratic resilience across the continent. Since 2022, the arrival of millions of displaced Ukrainians has made this reality visible, exposing both the limits of existing integration models and the urgent need for new approaches to migration governance.
Digital platforms are reshaping European democracies. Social media and AI influences how people access information, form opinions, and interact with others online. These technologies affect political debates, voting behaviour, and public engagement in ways that are often complex and interconnected. Understanding these dynamics requires new research methods that combine social science, data science, and computational approaches, bringing together insights from multiple disciplines to study how digital ecosystems influence society.
European democracies are facing growing political division. Across the continent, public debate is increasingly shaped by racial, ethnic, religious, and national identities –not only for minorities, but also among members of majority populations who feel economically and socially left behind. These shifts are challenging long-standing liberal democratic norms and reshaping political competition in Europe.
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