PPE Institute for Social and Institutional Change (ISIC)

The PPE Institute for Social and Institutional Change (ISIC) was founded in 2020. The institute’s aim is to promote social and institutional change.

PPE research means ‘thinking together about what belongs together’. It brings together philosophy, political science and economics to gain a better understanding of complex social realities.

The research combines theory and practice to support political processes. ISIC is committed to excellent, internationally recognised research and promotes dialogue with the public as well as practical projects at the interface of philosophy, politics and economics.

Among other things, the ISIC organises monthly internal research colloquia, the annual PPE Conference on Social and Institutional Change in Witten, lectures, debates and the PPE Young Researchers’ Prize for Social and Institutional Change.

PPE research focuses on the interrelationships between the economy, society and politics.

The social sphere forms the basis for all coordinated human interactions. It is constantly changing through countless processes of socio-cultural evolution triggered by human action. Social and institutional change occurs when a social or institutional structure undergoes a significant transformation. Particularly when this change has far-reaching consequences – such as the growing list of environmental problems, rising inequalities, or increasing social unrest and political destabilisation – the institutions that govern social change must themselves be transformed.

At ISIC, we strive to thoroughly analyse and critically evaluate these material and ideological transformations using our comprehensive PPE approach. The exchange of new ideas and the integration of different perspectives foster new concepts and research projects. As a centre for PPE research, ISIC supports a dynamic, constantly evolving and diverse environment, whilst also benefiting from it.