Projects

Often overlooked are the dense and multiple web of credible informal institutions that play a crucial role in enabling livelihoods and facilitating access to services within such spaces,
as opposed to the largely ineffective formal planning and governance responses

(Oranje et al., 2020: 1)

Our projects zoom in on the conundrum why certain societies, economies and polities seem to be equipped with all the “wrong” institutions (informal, common, or insecure), while at the same time, persisting over time. Media and politicians have repeatedly warned for a collapse of such institutions due to a rise in social conflict.

To analyze the paradox of “wrong” yet enduring institutions, we focus on the 4 E’s – Eviction, Ethnicity, Environment and Economy – key areas that are crucial to the survival of states and polities; that feature potentially disruptive levels of social cleavage; and that are subject to a push by states in designing, restructuring and implementing new policies and laws:

Apart from the projects listed here, we are always interested in supporting novel, innovative research. If you are interested to join our efforts, you are welcome to contact us!