Ingvill C. Mochmann

Lifestyle groups, social milieus and party preference in Eastern and Western Germany: Theoretical considerations and empirical results

The aim of this paper is to analyse the existence of political milieus in the eastern and western German electorate by using the concepts of lifestyle and social milieu. After introducing these ideas a theoretical approach will be taken which integrates them by pointing out their similarities and differences. Finally, empirical analyses of lifestyle groups and social milieus in the eastern and western German population will be carried out with the aim of ascertaining the existence of political social milieus in reunified Germany. The results indicate that the German electorate to some extent is still characterised by political milieus.

Children born of war

This paper gives a short introduction into the rather new research field of ‘Children born of war’. These are children who are born during and after conflicts and wars were the father has been a member of an enemy, allied or peacekeeping force and the mother a local citizen. ‘Children born of war’ are often stigmatised and discriminated in their home country and their particular interest and rights are overlooked in post-conflict situations. This paper presents different categories of children born of war and some results from research projects on children from Second World War are presented. Finally, the international and juridical situation of children born of war are discussed and possible guidelines to assist mothers and children introduced.

The COMPRAM Methodology and Complex Societal Problems-an Analysis of the Case of Children Born of War

The COMPRAM Methodology and Complex Societal Problems-an Analysis of the Case of Children Born of War During and after wars children are born where the father is a member of an occupation or peacekeeping force and the mother a local citizen. Securing the human rights of children born of war is often highly complex and involves researchers and practitioners from different disciplines. The Compram methodology on handling complex societal problems will be applied to analyse whether the methodology is suitable on this group of war-affected children. The Compram methodology is a multi disciplined, multi level, multi actor methodology based on the theory of societal complexity. The methodology gives guidelines to handle real life complex societal problems.

Political Trust and Disenchantment with Politics

Political Trust and Disenchantment with Politics contributes fresh empirical findings to research on the relationship between trust and participation. The results indicate that the citizens of European societies and beyond are far from an universal retreat from the political sphere.

young researchers waiting for the european research space

In this article, I discuss some of the thoughts and experiences I have had over the past decade both through my work at the ZA-EUROLAB1 and as a former Erasmus free mover student. The first idea I introduce concerns the necessary prerequisite for the enhancement of mobility in Europe: the harmonisation of qualifications. With the imminent entrance of the East European states into the EU this seems an increasingly pressing issue. Second, I address the need for interdisciplinary research in the social sciences. Third, I discuss the importance of interational vertical and horizontal networks. Finally, I highlight the role that institutions such as the ZA-EUROLAB have in addressing some of these issues. However, before turning to these topics, I would like briefly to discuss why research mobility in the early stages of ones career is so important for later mobility.