Labour, social reproduction, justice and welfare
Research within the theme Labour, Social Reproduction, Justice and Welfare examines work, care, welfare and justice at the intersection of economy, ecology and the state.
Grounded in feminist, socialist and Marxist traditions, research in the theme explores how labour and working life, social and environmental justice, criminal justice systems and welfare regimes are shaped and contested in times of social and political transformation.
Key areas of inquiry
The research addresses both historical and contemporary challenges related to labour, social reproduction and care, workplace equality, welfare provision and penal systems. By analysing struggles over justice, equality and sustainability in these areas, researchers develop new theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding how social change unfolds in everyday life, locally and globally.
Empirical research and societal engagement
Empirically grounded research and close collaboration with civil society organisations, as well as local, national and international networks, are central to the theme. This work provides in‑depth insight into how the conditions, conflicts and lived experiences of work, care, justice and welfare are changing in the present, and strengthens the connection between research and society.
Field development
The research environment has attracted funding from national public and private sources and brings together scholars working across disciplines and contexts. By integrating perspectives from both the Global North and the Global South, research within this theme contributes to advancing critical scholarship on labour, social reproduction, justice and welfare.