06_ECRP_FP004 Disaggregating Civil Wars

Abstract: The sheer number of internal conflicts over the past years in regions, such as the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Great Lakes of Africa, has led to a surge of interest in civil war. In recent years, political economists and quantitative researchers, partly funded by the World Bank, have told us a great deal about the conditions that make countries more likely to experience civil war. However, this does not mean that their results cannot, and should not, be questioned. We challenge some of the key assumptions and findings of the literature, in particular the putative irrelevance of ethnicity as a cause of conflict, the strong emphasis on opportunity structures at the expense of motivations, and the downplaying of transnational mechanisms.
Our project aims to re-examine these claims by uncovering relevant causal mechanisms. We do so by answering the questions about "Who?" and "Why?". A convincing explanation of conflict outcomes has to offer a disaggregated account involving real actors with real motives in their proper social and spatiotemporal context. Disaggregating conflict processes to uncover the key actor constellations driving conflict allows us to address our key research problems. First, it forces us to consider the ethnic identity of the actors involved in the centre-periphery relationship. Second, it demands a more precise understanding of the motivations and grievances of these actors. Third, we need to look beyond the boundaries of the nation-state to capture the transnational character of the actors. For more information, go to website.

Project Leader

ProfessorLars-ErikCedermanE-Mail

ETH ZürichDepartment of Social Sciences and HumanitiesCentre for Comparative and International Studies (CIS)ZürichSwitzerland

Principal Investigators

Dr.Scott GeoffreyGatesE-Mail

International Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)Centre for the Study of Civil War (CSCW)OsloNorway

ProfessorKristian SkredeGleditschE-Mail

University of EssexDepartment of GovernmentEssexUnited Kingdom

Project Members

ProfessorSimonHugE-Mail

University of ZurichInstitute of Political SciencesZürichSwitzerland

ProfessorHåvardHegreE-Mail

International Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)Centre for the Study of Civil War (CSCW)OsloNorway

Dr.Jan KetilRødE-Mail

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)Department of GeographyTrondheimNorway

Dr.HalvardBuhaugE-Mail

International Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)Centre for the Study of Civil War (CSCW)OsloNorway

Dr.HanDorussenE-Mail

University of EssexDepartment of GovernmentColchesterUnited Kingdom

06_ECRP_FP007 Citizens of the future: the concerns and actions of young people around current European and global issues

Abstract: Young people are growing up in a complex and fast changing world where local and national issues are now only comprehensible if set in a wider global context, yet we know little about their interest in such issues or about how prepared they are to engage with democratic processes to bring about change.
This study investigates the concerns of young Europeans (aged 10, 14, 17) for their personal, local and global futures, focussing on issues such as democratic processes, poverty, unemployment, human rights, the environment and conflict. It will identify whether they are optimistic or pessimistic, and whether they are willing to work for change or are uncommitted to social participation.  It examines the extent to which they are pro-social in their engagement with others, committed to acting for a common good.

Poland, Spain and Turkey are countries with different social, cultural, educational, economic and political contexts. The study will illuminate the extent to which these countries have successfully prepared young people for their role in a rapidly changing Europe. The outcomes will inform policy makers and those involved in citizenship education. The applicants have extensive experience of collaborative European projects and will use established networks for dissemination. For more information, go to website.

Project Leader

Dr.Beata EwaKrzywosz-RynkiewiczE-Mail

University of Warmia and MazuryDepartment of Special Needs and PsychologyOlsztynPoland

Principal Investigators

Dr.Melinda AnnDoolyE-Mail

Autonomous University of BarcelonaFaculty of Education SciencesCerdanyola del VallèsSpain

Dr.NilüferPembecioglu ÖcelE-Mail

Istanbul UniversityFaculty of CommunicationIstanbulTurkey

Project Members

Dr.AnnaZalewskaE-Mail

Warsaw School of Social PsychologyQuality of Life PsychologyWarsawPoland

ProfessorErol NezihOhronE-Mail

Anadolu UniversityFaculty of Communication SciencesEskisehirTurkey

Dr.Miquel AngelEssombaE-Mail

Autonomous University of BarcelonaFaculty of EducationCerdanyola del VallèsSpain

Dr.MariaVillanuevaE-Mail

Autonomous University of BarcelonaFaculty of EducationCerdanyola del VallèsSpain

Dr.AntoniLunaE-Mail

University Pompeu FabraFaculty of EducationHumanities DepartmentBarcelonaSpain

Dr.CarmenTaberneroE-Mail

University of CordobaFaculty of EducationDepartment of Social PsychologyCordobaSpain

Mr.NadiGülerE-Mail

BodrumTurkey

Dr.WojciechSiegienE-Mail

University of Warmia and MazuryDepartment of Special Needs and PsychologyOlsztynPoland

Dr.AgnieszkaPyrkaE-Mail

Warsaw School of Social PsychologyInstitute of Social Problems of Health and EducationWarsawPoland

Dr.MonsterratOllerE-Mail

Autonomous University of BarcelonaFaculty of EducationDepartment of DidacticsBarcelonaSpain

06_ECRP_FP009 The short and long range dynamics of attention

Abstract: Human attention research forms one of the cores of cognitive neuroscience. It investigates the limitations and selection mechanisms behind the human brain’s information processing capacity. However, most research has focused on what the brain selects and where it directs its attention. Relatively little is known about when certain processes operate; in other words, about the dynamics and time course of attention in response to both a changing environment and changing behavioural goals. Such changes may occur at several different time scales, from automatic processes on the level of milliseconds, to longer range drops in one’s vigilance on the level of minutes to hours. The CRP seeks to provide a comprehensive framework for pan-European investigations into the short and long-range dynamics of attention. These are tackled from different methodological backgrounds, such as accuracy and eye movement measurements, computational modeling, psychopharmacology, neuropsychological assessment and brain imaging techniques. The findings are likely to have important implications for theories of how the brain selects its input, and possibly also for clinical populations such as those suffering from attention disorders as a consequence of parietal brain damage or ADHD. For more information, go to website.

Project Leader

Dr.ChristianOliversE-Mail

Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamFaculty of Psychology and EducationDepartment of Cognitive PsychologyAmsterdamNetherlands

Principal Investigators

ProfessorRikVandenbergheE-Mail

Katholieke Universiteit LeuvenAfdeling Klinische en Experimentele NeurologieLeuvenBelgium

Dr.JenniferCoullE-Mail

CNRS CR1Université de ProvenceLaboratoire de Neurobiologie de la CognitionMarseilleFrance

Dr.IngridScharlauE-Mail

Paderborn UniversityFaculty of Cultural SciencesDepartment of PsychologyPaderbornGermany

ProfessorIanRobertsonE-Mail

Trinity College DublinInstitute of NeuroscienceDepartment of PsychologyDublinIreland

ProfessorGlynHumphreysE-Mail

The University of BirminghamSchool of PsychologyBehavioural Brain Sciences CentreBirminghamUnited Kingdom

Project Members

Dr.UlrichAnsorgeE-Mail

Osnabrueck UniversityDepartment of HumanitiesOsnabrueckGermany

Dr.MiekeDonkE-Mail

Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamFaculteit Psychologie & PedagogiekCognitieve PsychologieAmsterdamNetherlands

ProfessorJanTheeuwesE-Mail

Vrije UniversiteitFaculty of Psychology and EducationDepartment of Cognitive PsychologyAmsterdamNetherlands

Dr.KatherineJohnsonE-Mail

University of DublinInstitute of NeuroscienceSchool of PsychologyDublinIreland

Dr.IsabelleDombroweE-Mail

Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamCognitive PsychologyAmsterdamNetherlands

Mr.FredericHilkenmeierE-Mail

Paderborn UniversityFaculty of Cultural SciencesDepartment of PsychologyPaderbornGermany

Mr.Heinz-WernerPriessE-Mail

Paderborn UniversityFaculty of Cultural SciencesDepartment of PsychologyPaderbornGermany

Associated Partners

ProfessorClausBundesenE-Mail

University of CopenhagenDepartment of PsychologyCenter for Visual CognitionCopenhagenDenmark

Dr.SørenKyllingsbækE-Mail

University of CopenhagenFaculty of Social ScienciesDepartment of PsychologyCenter for Visual CognitionCopenhagenDenmark

Dr.ThomasHabekostE-Mail

University of CopenhagenDepartment of PsychologyCenter for Visual CognitionCopenhagenDenmark

06_ECRP_FP022 Constructing Regional Advantage: Towards State-of-the-Art Regional Innovation System Policies in Europe?

Abstract: Globalisation pressures force European regions to enhance their competitiveness. Regions are considered a key level where innovation processes are shaped, coordinated and governed through localized capabilities. Often competitive advantages do not emerge spontaneously, but are the results of collective actions and initiatives taken by firms, research organizations and governments at various levels. 
Policies for constructing regional advantage cannot be based on one “best practice” model but should reflect the different conditions and problems of the respective regions. These vary between types of Regional Innovation Systems (such as institutionally “thick” or “thin”; networked or fragmented) as well as the dominating knowledge base of local industries (analytical, synthetic, symbolic). So far very little is known about how policies for constructing regional advantage can work in such different settings. The project aims at filling this gap by comparing policy initiatives in different regional, institutional and sectoral settings in seven European countries. For more information, please go to website.

Project Leader

ProfessorBjørn T.AsheimE-Mail

Lund UniversityDepartment of Social and Economic GeographyCIRCLE (Centre for Innovation Research and Competence in the Learning Economy)LundSweden

Principal Investigators

Dr.FranzTödtlingE-Mail

University of Economics and Business AdministrationInstitute of Regional Development and EnvironmentViennaAustria

Dr.JiriBlazekE-Mail

Charles UniversityFaculty of ScienceDepartment of Social Gography and Regional DevelopmentPrague 2Czech Republic

ProfessorMarkkuSotarautaE-Mail

University of TampereDepartment of Regional StudiesTampereFinland

ProfessorRonBoschmaE-Mail

University of UtrechtFaculty of GeosciencesDepartment of Economic GeographyUtrechtNetherlands

ProfessorArneIsaksenE-Mail

University of AgderFaculty of Economics and Social SciencesDepartment of Working Life and Innovation GrimstadNorway

ProfessorSedefAkgungorE-Mail

Dokuz Eylul UniversityFaculty of BusinessDepartment of EconomicsIzmirTurkey

Project Members

Dr.LarsCoenenE-Mail

Lund UniversityDepartment of Social and Economic GeographyCIRCLE (Centre for Innovation Research and Competence in the Learning Economy)LundSweden

Dr.JerkerMoodyssonE-Mail

Lund UniversityDepartment of Social and Economic GeographyCIRCLE (Centre for Innovation Research and Competence in the Learning Economy)LundSweden

Dr.MichaelaTripplE-Mail

University of ViennaInstitute for Regional Development and EnvironmentViennaAustria

Dr.LukasLengauerE-Mail

University of ViennaInstitute for Regional Development and EnvironmentViennaAustria

ProfessorHans ChristianGarmann JohnsenE-Mail

University of AgderFaculty of Economics and Social SciencesDepartment of Working Life and InnovationGrimstadNorway

Dr.JamesKarlsenE-Mail

University of AgderFaculty of Economics and Social SciencesDepartment of Working Life and InnovationGrimstadNorway

ProfessorRobertHassinkE-Mail

University of OsloDepartment of Sociology and Human GeographyOsloNorway

Dr.ToniSaarivirtaE-Mail

University of TampereFaculty of Economics and AdministrationDepartment of Regional Studies/SenteTampereFinland

Dr.Kati-JasminKosonenE-Mail

University of TampereDepartment of Regional StudiesTampereFinland

Dr.PavlaZízalováE-Mail

Charles UniversityFaculty of ScienceDepartment of Social Geography and Regional DevelopmentPrague 2Czech Republic

Dr.KarelSkokanE-Mail

Technical University of OstravaFaculty of EconomicsDepartment of European IntegrationOstravaCzech Republic

Dr.PetrRumpelE-Mail

University of OstravaDepartment of Social Geography and Regional DevelopmentOstravaCzech Republic

ProfessorYaprakGülcanE-Mail

Dokuz Eylul UniversityFaculty of BusinessDepartment of EconomicsIzmirTurkey

ProfessorYesimKustepeliE-Mail

Dokuz Eylul UniversityFaculty of BusinessDepartment of EconomicsIzmirTurkey

Dr.TomBroekelE-Mail

University of UtrechtFaculty of GeosciencesDepartment of Economic GeographyUtrechtNetherlands

Project Leader

ProfessorBarbaraPfetschE-Mail

University of HohenheimInstitute of Social SciencesFG. Communication Science/Media PolicyStuttgartGermany

Principal Investigators

ProfessorFritzPlasserE-Mail

University of InnsbruckInstitut für PolitikwissenschaftDepartment of Political ScienceInnsbruckAustria

Dr.AndersEsmarkE-Mail

Roskilde UniversityDepartment of Social SciencesRoskildeDenmark

ProfessorTomMoringE-Mail

University of HelsinkiSwedish School of Social ScienceHelsinkiFinland

ProfessorJuanDiez MedranoE-Mail

University of BarcelonaFaculty of Economics and Business SciencesDepartment of SociologyBarcelonaSpain

Dr.NicklasHakanssonE-Mail

Halmstad UniversitySchool of Social and Health ScienceHalmstadSweden

ProfessorOtfriedJarrenE-Mail

Universität ZürichInstitut für Publizistikwissenschaft und Medienforschung (IPMZ)ZürichSwitzerland

Project Members

Dr.GüntherLengauerE-Mail

Media Watch Institut für Medienanalysen GmbHInnsbruckAustria

ProfessorGüntherPallaverE-Mail

University of InnsbruckDepartment of Political ScienceInnsbruckAustria

Mr.MiikaVähämaaE-Mail

University of HelsinkiSwedish School of Social ScienceHelsinkiFinland

Ms.EvaMayerhöfferE-Mail

University of HohenheimInstitute of Social SciencesFG. Communication Science/Media PolicyStuttgartGermany

Mr.PeterMaurerE-Mail

University of HohenheimInstitute of Social SciencesFG. Communication Science/Media PolicyStuttgartGermany

Ms.ClaudiaKrauterE-Mail

University of BarcelonaFaculty of Economics and Business SciencesDepartment of SociologyBarcelonaSpain

Dr.PatrickDongesE-Mail

Universität ZürichInstitut für Publizistikwissenschaft und Medienforschung (IPMZ)ZürichSwitzerland

Ms.StephanieSchwabE-Mail

Universität ZürichInstitut für Publizistikwissenschaft und Medienforschung (IPMZ)ZürichSwitzerland

Ms.LilliWeberE-Mail

Halmstad UniversitySchool of Social and Health SciencesDepartment of Political ScienceHalmstadSweden

Associated Partner

ProfessorGianpietroMazzoleniE-Mail

Università degli Studi di MilanoDipartimento di Studi Sociali e PoliticiMilanoItaly

Dr.KatrinVoltmerE-Mail

University of LeedsInstitute of Communications StudiesLeedsUnited Kingdom