Mission statement
The politics group approaches governance and management in society from a variety of transdisciplinary perspectives. The mission of the politics group is to observe and analyse the political in organizations, in governance and management practices, in economic reasoning, and in business and welfare alterations. The observation of the political is pursued historically as well as in relation to contemporary developments. Politics is understood as the constitutive moment of the social and the power of definition, located in any social sphere and can be found in transnational and national governmental, non-governmental and private spheres where boundaries are continuously constituted, contested and changed. In particular, our research focus is on how boundaries between logics of social fields are put at stake by ways of governing and managing rationalities i.e. economic, legal, political, moral, religious and scientific. These boundaries can, for example, be public/private, government/citizen, organization/employee, public sector/civil society, national/transnational, or secular/religious. We engage with traditional and alternative forms of organising and decision making in order to show how fundamental assumptions, values and practices are put at stake. We analyse governance and management in society but also how society is put at stake in governance and management.
The Politics group seeks to influence society and societal processes through high quality teaching, research and dissemination, through an inclusive research and teaching environment that is open and curious towards new approaches, theories and methods. We strive to educate innovative and responsive leaders in both the public, private and civil society domain that are reflexive about the political aspect of corporate and welfare management and governance.
RESEARCH AREAS
Business´ contribution to society
How private companies are woven into politically-oriented networks and fulfil specific governmental aims and objectives and how they are expected to act responsibly in relation to society or civil society. The private sphere appears as both a means and an object of governing.
Welfare management
How classical welfare institutions such as the public school, nursery homes and social institutions are granted forms of autonomy and managerial responsibility while at the same time being managed from a distance by public sector organizations and what the implications are for the character and quality of service provision.
Management of voluntary organizations
How the public sector increasingly makes partnerships and contracts with voluntary organizations in order to solve welfare tasks. How this challenges voluntary organizations in relation to management and their volunteer status.
Governance technologies and forms of practices
How new forms of management and governmental technologies emerge and are deployed. How this makes possible new forms of visibility and invisibility in the delineation of problems. How these technologies are linked to new rationalities of public, private and civil society governance including self-management of citizens, employees and citizens.
Transnational governance
How social processes, i.e. political, legal, economic, religious and scientific processes, are organised and unfolded transnationally. How such transnational processes impact on national organisational processes and establish connectivity on a global scale.
Alternative economics and forms of organizing
How alternative forms of economics and organisations emerged and are implemented. How this challenges orthodox and mainstream forms of thinking and organizing economic and societal processes
The emergence of civil society
How civil society continuously emerges as an entity within changing figurations through the rich tapestry of action, concepts and practices. How the ongoing processes of describing and practising the delineation of civil society at many levels and social processes at once have effects on which answers are given to solve a variety of societal challenges.
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