PhD/Early-Career Researcher Workshop

The European Social Dimension under threat – policy, politics and law in times of polycrisis

24-25 April 2025

Faced with the intertwined challenges of climate change, rising cost-of-living and social inequality, war on the borders of the European Union and a surge of authoritarian regimes and populist parties, Europe has arguably entered the age of the polycrisis. The social objectives of the EU as embodied in the concept of the European Social Model or the more concrete European Pillar of Social Rights are under threat in this polycrisis context in which causes and consequences of multiple problems inextricably bind together to create compound effects. Paradoxically, at the same time that European solidarity is put under pressure by these intertwining crises, strengthening the European Social Dimension politically and legally would be an important response to address the various challenges emanating from the polycrisis.

We invite papers from PhD and Early Career Researchers that examine questions related to the social impacts of the polycrisis from a substantive policy, political or legal perspective. We are keen to feature a diverse range of papers from the fields of political science, international relations, law, social policy, sociology and interdisciplinary studies. We encourage submissions on all aspects of the European Social Dimension, including research on childcare, education, training, employment, life-long learning, housing, healthcare, pensions, elderly care, social inclusion, the social rights of different groups, equal opportunities and other aspects of EU social policy. We welcome a broad range of theoretical and methodological angles.

The workshop will take place in person in Edinburgh from 24-25 April 2025 and will be hosted by the multi-disciplinary Europa Institute at the University of Edinburgh.

Abstracts of 200-250 words should be submitted to europa@ed.ac.uk along with a short biographical statement (2-3 sentences) by 31 January 2025. Applicants should be either a current PhD student or an ECR (within 12 months of their PhD award) from a UK or other European institution. Reasonable travel and accommodation costs along with the workshop dinner will be covered by the Europa Institute.

Those selected to participate will be informed by the end of February 2025. Participants will send written papers/summaries (max. 5,000 words) of their project by 31 March 2025. The papers will be circulated to all participants to read in advance of the workshop.