Open societies
Challenges in sustainable community building and democracy
We want to contribute to a culture of open debate and a stronger democracy. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, we can address global social problems, promote human rights and contribute to social sustainability.
Lund University conducts research that creates a deeper understanding of today's major societal issues. By raising current societal challenges, researchers can provide orientation in an otherwise complex world and promote just, inclusive and democratic societies.
Democracy and transparency research
Researchers are focusing on research questions related to peace, democratisation, international relations, refugee and migrant movements, economic and social inequality, religion, culture, human rights and politics. They work with local, national and international organisations to develop new methods, theories and strategies that contribute to open societies.
Research in this area improves our understanding of human beings as cultural and social animals and contributes to providing citizens with a nuanced insight into their history, present and future. This provides a good basis for understanding that can positively influence social development in areas such as social organisation, social sustainability and human rights.
Solving challenges together
Researchers are developing new solutions in close collaboration with organisations inside and outside academia in areas such as:
Digitalisation and new technologies are increasing the volume and complexity of images. How can images be made accessible so that people with visual impairments can access information and use content?
Researchers collaborate in research and development of audio description, image description and accessible communication.
Audio description for accessible communication – lu.se (in Swedish)
Cultural heritage is often associated with phenomena of cultural and historical value, material objects and monuments, or immaterial expressions such as music or food from a particular place. But migration is changing what is perceived as cultural heritage and who defines it.
The researchers are collaborating with public cultural heritage institutions in the Öresund region to support their work at a time of high cross-border migration and mobility within Sweden.
Cultural heritage, migration and mobility in an open, democratic society – lu.se (in Swedish)
Older people, whether healthy or ill, need good housing to age in. But creating good living standards for an ageing population requires new knowledge about inclusive housing and residential areas.
Researchers are collaborating with the private and public sectors in order to contribute to more inclusive housing policies for older people.
Social rights and housing for the ageing population – case.lu.se
What is the best way to design a housing estate, a square or a school? Urban planning will become increasingly important as urbanisation and the effects of climate change become more tangible.
Together with several municipalities in Skåne, researchers are identifying problems and solutions that can contribute to a more sustainable urban development.
More research environments
The following links are to other websites.
- Artistic research and experimentation (IAC)
- Child rights
- Civil society elites
- East and South-East Asian studies
- European studies
- Health law
- Political psychology
- Psychological defence
- Raoul Wallenberg Institute
- Risk management and Societal security
- Social medicine and Global health
- South Asian studies
- Supportive environments for the ageing population
- Sustainability studies