Eastern Europe and political economy knowledge reinforced by SCRIPTS, with ZOiS leveraging its expertise
The Exzellenzcluster "Contestations of the Liberal Script" (SCRIPTS) based at the Free University of Berlin has announced its second funding phase, running from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2032. This research consortium brings together scholars from various disciplines, including global governance, political theory, sustainability studies, macroeconomics, and cybersecurity, to critically examine the foundations and narratives of liberalism in contemporary societies.
The focus of the second funding phase is on the resilience of democratic societal orders. SCRIPTS aims to strengthen the resilience of liberal democracies by developing deeper theoretical insights and empirical analyses on the dynamics of contestations. By understanding how liberal democratic scripts are challenged and defended, the cluster seeks to identify ways to fortify democratic institutions and practices against populist, authoritarian, and exclusionary tendencies.
Dr. Julia Langbein, the new principal investigator, will strengthen the cluster's expertise in political economy. Her research will particularly focus on Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, as well as the significance of China, Russia, and the EU in the broader region of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The cluster will also analyze how trends like polarization and radicalization reinforce each other, examining the causes, dynamics, and consequences of these developments from global, comparative, and historical perspectives.
In addition to the Free University of Berlin, the research consortium includes Humboldt University of Berlin, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB), Hertie School, Institute for World Economics (IfW Kiel), ZOiS, and 20 international partners. A professorship in "European Integration with a focus on Eastern Europe" will be established at the FU Berlin through SCRIPTS.
SCRIPTS continues to analyze Russia's and China's role as challengers of liberal norms and values and corresponding local reactions. The consortium brings diverse regional perspectives to research, aiming to understand where models have been able to withstand or adapt to challenges without endangering liberal basic principles. The research consortium's scope extends to comparative democracy research.
The Exzellenzcluster "Contestations of the Liberal Script" has received approval for a second funding phase, continuing its mission to critically examine the foundations and narratives of liberalism in contemporary societies. For more detailed official statements, we recommend consulting the SCRIPTS official communications or the German Exzellenzstrategie funding announcements.
The Exzellenzcluster "Contestations of the Liberal Script" will delve deeper into the science of political economy, particularly focusing on the regional politics of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, China, Russia, and the EU, as part of its second funding phase. As general-news unfolds, the cluster will continue to analyze and strengthen the resilience of liberal democracies against populist, authoritarian, and exclusionary tendencies, with a focus on understanding and fortifying democratic institutions and practices.
