The Institute for Social Change (ISC)
Understanding the causes and consequences of social change
Most countries are currently experiencing unprecedented social changes, changes viewed by some as threatening the fabric of society, by others as opportunities for social growth and development. The ISC is dedicated to furthering our understanding of the causes and consequences of social change, and how policy can be used to maximise the benefits of change while reducing the costs.
News
Join our mailing list to receive updates:
The Institute for Social Change (ISC) is an interdisciplinary social-science research institute at the University of Manchester, which examines the causes and consequences of social change.
Economic and Social Research Seminar Series
The election of Barack Obama as President represents a landmark in the history of racial politics in the US. The US has not only chosen a leader who embodies the union of black and white America, it has elected a President who reflects the ties between established Americans and new immigrants. The victory of Obama has triggered wider debate in Europe, and the UK particularly, as to whether someone from an ethnic minority could achieve similar success in national politics. The series will explore the prospects for ethnic minority representation in Britain and the barriers to achieving it.
Social Change in Manchester
Manchester has a long history of social change. The industrial revolution saw Manchester become one of the world's first industrial cities. In the beginning this brought the 'satanic mills', rapid population growth and great poverty to many, but ultimately forced innovation in public health, social justice and governance. Manchester is now a modern metropolis and one of the most diverse and rapidly changing cities in the UK, facing the renewed challenge of change in the 21st century.
About Robert Putnam
Robert Putnam is a Visiting Professor at the ISC, Director of "Social Change: a Harvard-Manchester initiative" and Director of the Manchester Graduate Summer Programme in Social Change. A hugely influential scholar, he is Professor of Public Policy at Harvard and winner of the 2006 Johan Skytte prize for political science.
Social Change: a Harvard - Manchester initiative (SCHMi)
Harvard and Manchester have joined forces in a major research programme aimed at studying changes in social cohesion and social capital in the US and UK.