Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung

2nd Annual Interdisciplinary WZB Conference

Key Visuel Conference ohne Schrift - ein Netzwerk von Punkten in Magenta-Farbe

“Challenges to International Orders: Causes and Consequences” is the topic of our 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary Conference, which will take place from 7–9 October.

Globalisierungs- und Kommunikationskonzept. Erde und Leuchtstrahlen. 3D-Rendering - Stock-Fotografie

What will the world look like in a few years' time? How are the decline of global governance, the rise of new conflict lines and the fading of the liberal international order affecting international organizations? An analysis by Michael Zürn.

trockener Savannenboden mit kahlem Baum im Hintergrund

Is climate change causing people to leave their homes permanently? A new study by Daniel Meierrieks and Irene Pañeda-Fernández examines the future plans of West African migrants in Germany.

Work can make people sick, both physically and mentally. For women, this risk begins even with shorter weekly work hours. This is shown by a German-Australian study by Jianghong Li and colleagues.

In 2023, WZB researchers surveyed nearly 3,400 people in Germany about their political views. What made this survey unique was that it asked not only about their attitudes toward democracy, but also how they personally defined it.

Das Bild symbolisiert den Klimawandel in Nigeria, der zu Dürren führt. Zu sehen ist ein Wassertropfen, der aus einem Rohr rint; im Hintergrund, Menschen, die in der Nähe sind.

Climate change is contributing to the escalation of existing local conflicts in Africa. The authors use the example of pastoralist conflict between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers in Nigeria to show the consequences of increasing droughts.

Social background influences how hard children try. However, incentives at school can reduce socioeconomic inequalities, as a new study by Jonas Radl and Heike Solga shows.

“Challenges to International Orders: Causes and Consequences” is the topic of our 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary Conference, which will take place from 7–9 October.

Is climate change causing people to leave their homes permanently? A new study by Daniel Meierrieks and Irene Pañeda-Fernández examines the future plans of West African migrants in Germany.

Work can make people sick, both physically and mentally. For women, this risk begins even with shorter weekly work hours. This is shown by a German-Australian study by Jianghong Li and colleagues.

Social background influences how hard children try. However, incentives at school can reduce socioeconomic inequalities, as a new study by Jonas Radl and Heike Solga shows.

The WZB

The WZB Berlin Social Science Center investigates fundamental societal issues. Our focus is on education and work, markets and choice, migration, democracy and autocracy, international politics and law. At the WZB researchers from various disciplines work together – mainly from sociology, political science, economics, law and psychology.

Working at the WZB

The WZB offers a modern working environment, where both equal opportunities and the compatibility of work and family are highly valued. Find out more about it here.

WZB-Mitteilungen

Generations

It’s all about issues of distribution. As resources become scarcer, disputes intensify. Who calls the shots? Who gets the money? Whose interests matter more? All too often, the lines of conflict run between the old and the young, which is why our new issue is titled “Generations.”

However, there are also lines that connect the generations. Parents’ decisions and experiences shape their children’s lives, even after their children have grown up. This applies to health, work arrangements, relationships, and educational opportunities. The June issue of WZB-Mitteilungen thus explores what unites and what divides us, conflict and compromise; it looks far into the future and shows which course is being set today.

News

More news

Congratulations, Kai Barron!

21 Jul 2026

David Ausserhofer

We are delighted that Kai Barron, Research Fellow at the WZB, was awarded the 2026 ESA Young Scholar Prize. The award recognizes his significant methodological contributions to experimental economics.

Director (f/m/x) for international relations

16 Jun 2026

Nadim Bazze

The WZB seeks to establish a new research department and to fill a permanent full-time position of Director (f/m/x) for the study of international relations, broadly understood. We aim to appoint a world-class scholar in political science, sociology, or economics who will establish and lead a team to implement an research agenda focused on theory-driven empirical research on transformations of the international order and shifting power relations.

On the Authority of International Courts

29 May 2026

Richterhammer auf Weltkarte als Symbolbild für internationales Recht

Nadzeya Haroshka / iStock / Getty Images Plus

When are international courts recognized as authorities—and when do they face resistance? WZB researcher Dana Burchardt has developed an analytical model that systematically examines this question.

2nd Annual Interdisciplinary WZB Conference

“Challenges to International Orders: Causes and Consequences” is the topic of our 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary Conference, which will take place from 7–9 October at the WZB.