CRC 1342: Global Dynamics of Social Policy

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(c) Maximilian Hohmann

© Maximilian Hohmann

Visit Us on Social Media and Check Out the Blog Social Policy Worldwide!

The Collaborative Research Center "Global Dynamics of Social Policy" is represented on Bluesky as well as on Mastodon and X. On these channels you will always find the latest news about the CRC 1342. Furthermore, we also recommend the blog Social Policy Worldwide of the SOCIUM Research Center Inequality and Social Policy at the University of Bremen.

(c) Maximilian Hohmann

© Maximilian Hohmann

BIGSSS welcomes new CRC Doctoral Researchers

Ahead of the start of the new BIGSSS cohort in September 2026, the Graduate School welcomed the new Doctoral Researchers who recently joined the CRC 1342. In addition to Professor Patrick Sachweh, Dean of the Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences, Dr. Regina Arant, Director of Studies, and Managing Director Dr. Christian Peters provided an overview of upcoming milestones, academic requirements, and the support services available through the Graduate School.

(c) Maximilian Hohmann

© Maximilian Hohmann

Insurance Markets and Social Welfare in East and West Africa

On 17 June 2026, Prof. Martin Lengwiler from the University of Basel delivered the final guest lecture of the current summer semester as part of the CRC 1342 Jour Fixe series. The Swiss historian presented results of his research on the diffusion of commercial insurance in East and West Africa. He was invited by Prof. Delia González de Reufels, Project Director of Project B15 and Dean of Faculty 08: Social Sciences at the University of Bremen.

(c) Maximilian Hohmann

© Maximilian Hohmann

CRC 1342 at Open Campus

Together with the Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC), the Collaborative Research Centre Global Dynamics of Social Policy participated in the University of Bremen's Open Campus on Saturday, 13 June 2026, with its own information booth. At more than 40 exhibition stands, numerous visitors explored opportunities and gained insights into studying, research, internships, and working at the university. The Open Campus was held under the motto "Open Worlds – Share Knowledge."

(c) Zoom

WeSIS-Workshop for new CRC Members

On Friday, 29 May 2026, the new colleagues who joined the Collaborative Research Center 1342 as part of Phase III had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the "Global Welfare State Information System (WeSIS)". Dr. Nils Düpont, a member of the CRC since its first phase, provided a professional introduction to the system and, through five concise exercises and practical advice, successfully conveyed the fundamentals of working with WeSIS to the participants.

(c) Maximilian Hohmann

© Maximilian Hohmann

Discussion of the Curse of Highly Effective Social Policies

At the invitation of CRC Spokesperson Prof. Dr. Markus Tepe, Prof. Raanan Sulitzeanu-Kenan from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem visited Bremen. On 20 May 2026 he gave a lecture entitled "The Curse of Highly Effective Social Policies: Empirical Implications of a Theoretical Model". The event was held in a hybrid format, enabling colleagues from other universities to participate as well.

(c) Maximilian Hohmann

© Maximilian Hohmann

Phase III Kick-off Event

To mark the beginning of the third funding phase (2026–2029), more than 60 colleagues gathered on 7 and 8 May 2026 in the historic Kassenhalle at Forum am Domshof in downtown Bremen. In addition to discussions on current research projects, the meeting focused on the CRC 1342 General Assembly as well as further strategic planning activities. The welcoming address was delivered by Professor Michal Kucera, Vice President for Research and Transfer at the University of Bremen.

(c) Maximilian Hohmann

© Maximilian Hohmann

CRC 1342 participates in Excellence on-site visit

April 28 and 29 were the two most important days of this year for the universities of Bremen and Oldenburg. A delegation of international experts and representatives of the Wissenschaftsrat were welcomed to Bremen. Their evaluation will be instrumental in determining if the Northwest Alliance begins 2027 as a University Excellence Consortium. Numerous institutions from the Social Sciences were involved, including CRC 1342, RISC, the Research Data Centre Qualiservice, as well as DIFIS and BIGSSS.

(c) Maximilian Hohmann

© Maximilian Hohmann

Lecture on Digital Transformation and the Welfare State

Sophia Seung-yoon Lee, Professor at the School of Social Welfare at Chung-Ang University in Seoul, was the first speaker in our Jour Fixe series for the current summer semester on 22 April 2026. Her engaging one-hour presentation "From Melting Labour to Invisible Subordination: Algorithmic Control and Welfare State Drift in South Korea" was followed by a lively one-hour discussion with numerous colleagues from across all status groups.

(c) Moon Guy/Adobe Stock

© Moon Guy/Adobe Stock

Relaunch of the CRC 1342 Website

As part of the ongoing development of the Collaborative Research Center "Global Dynamics of Social Policy" during its third funding phase (2026–2029), the association's website has been relaunched to coincide with the start of the 2026 summer semester. In addition to technical and visual modernization, particular emphasis in the redesign was placed on meeting accessibility requirements and aligning the site with the corporate design of the University of Bremen.

(c) Felix Lanver

© Felix Lanver

Felix Lanver Successfully Defends His PhD Thesis

On 19 February 2026, Felix Lanver defended his dissertation titled "The Expansion of Unemployment Insurance in the Global South, 1980–2019". From May 2022 to December 2025, he was employed in project A02, "Global Dynamics of Coverage and Generosity in Work-Injury Compensation, Unemployment and Old-Age Pensions". The supervisors of his PhD thesis were Prof. Dr. Herbert Obinger and Dr. Nate Breznau.

(c) Frontiers in Sociology

© Frontiers in Sociology

Standard Employment and Segmentation Practices within the Automotive Industry in South Africa

Prof. Dr. Irene Dingeldey and Andrea Schäfer have published a new article on standard employment and segmentation practices within the automotive industry in South Africa, in "Frontiers in Sociology". They were part of the team working in project A03 "Worlds of Labour: Coverage and Generosity of Employment Law" from the second phase of CRC 1342 (2022–2025).