Research Focus Regional and Social Transformations (Focus Rural Regions)
Our human geography research perspective on spaces in Europe constantly brings with itself questions of social transformation processes: Many regions are subject to processes of change, e.g. through demographic change or regional structural change. These transformations are not only economically challenging, but they also pose new challenges to social spaces and offer opportunities that can be actively shaped. Our projects therefore deal with these regions from an observational but also analytical perspective: What processes of change are taking place? Which socio-spatial factors can promote sustainable change processes?
A particular focus of our research is on rural areas, especially small and medium-sized communities. Here, the connection of the human geography with the fields of migration research comes into play: In several projects, we investigate social transformations and negotiation processes through migration-induced diversity. In addition, we focus on civil society and aging processes as factors of transformation. In teaching as well as in research, we focus in particular on post-socialist areas, East-Central Europe or Southeast Europe as regions that are particularly strongly shaped by recent transformation experiences.
The following projects deepen the research field:
- Zukunft für Geflüchtete in ländlichen Regionen (Bundesprogramm Ländliche Entwicklung)
- WHOLECOMM Exploring the Integration of Post-2014 Migrants in Small and Medium-Sized Towns and Rural Areas from a Whole of Community Perspective (Horizon2020)
- Board Member „Sustainable practices of integration“ (SPRING) (Birgit Glorius)
- Horizont Europe Antrag „RURALMIG“
