Synthesizing Focus - Towards a Theory of Change in Times of Instability
This sub-cluster - which views the findings of A through C through a conceptual lens and proposes more general theoretical instruments for further empirical work - focuses on the development of an empirically grounded theory of social and political change. The various conceptualizations of processes of change have to be examined in an interdisciplinary dialogue and with a view to contemporary welfare societies. The explanation of change requires an elaboration of the coping perspective in light of theoretical considerations, experimental studies, and the empirical findings of other sub-clusters. Finally, our findings have to be synthesized in order to answer our third major research question: What types of aggregation of coping practices may be identified in the three-level actor constellations, and what are their institutional effects?