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Maecenata / Research & Knowledge

Research & Knowledge

Research & Knowledge

If you want to strengthen civil society, you have to understand it.

How does civil society work? What does it contribute to democracy and the state? What drives it? What are the right conditions for it to thrive? What stands in its way? What can we learn from its history and from civil societies in other cultures?

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media resources in the library

Interdisciplinary, independent, network-building.

The Maecenata Institute conducts interdisciplinary research into civil society. It combines applied research with basic research. Promoting knowledge, debate and understanding – for civil society.

Through our research and teaching, we promote an understanding of civil society. We initiate academic debates and drive them forward with our expertise in the social sciences. Our research projects provide well-founded insights for all those who study or help shape civil society.

At the Maecenata Institute, full-time and volunteer researchers work alongside fellows, associate researchers and student assistants. We develop our own research projects and secure external funding for them. We also contribute our expertise to research commissions, studies, expert reports and position papers.

With an extensive network both at home and abroad, the Maecenata Institute has made a name for itself as an academic authority and a driving force in professional dialogue on civil society.

The Maecenata Institute for Philanthropy and Civil Society

Siri Hummel sw edited

Dr Siri Hummel
Director

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Rupert Graf Strachwitz sw edited

Dr phil Rupert Graf Strachwitz
Member of the Board, Senior Strategic Advisor

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Eckhard Priller sw edited

Dr sc Eckhard Priller
Research Coordinator

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Finn Buettner sw edited

Finn Büttner
Research Associate

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Ilka Kleinod sw edited 1

Ilka Kleinod
Head Librarian

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John McManus sw edited

Dr John McManus
Visiting Researcher

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Janek Oellers sw edited

Janek Toco Oellers
Student Assistant

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Areas of work

Understanding civil society

Research projects by topic

The Maecenata Institute conducts research into civil society. In doing so, it explores both fundamental questions and current developments.

Our researchers design their own projects and secure external funding for them – often in collaboration with institutions in Germany and abroad. In addition, they undertake commissioned research and produce studies, expert reports and position papers.

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Analyses, articles, debates

Publications

The Maecenata Foundation publishes research findings and specialist articles relating to civil society.

With several series covering different topics, there is a place for every type of publication – from in-depth studies to brief analyses or reviews.
All publications are available to download free of charge.

The series are also open to academics outside the Foundation for the publication of their research.

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Expertise for future experts

Education

Expertise brings responsibility: as a non-university research institution, the Maecenata Institute also contributes its expertise on civil society to teaching.

At universities such as the HTW and HWR Berlin, the University of Münster and the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences, our researchers impart specialist knowledge, research findings and a deep understanding of civil society. In programmes such as the Master’s degree in Non-profit Management and Public Governance, they thus help to train the next generation for the non-profit sector.

A platform for the next generation

Supporting young talent

Undergraduates, PhD students and postdocs will find the Research College to be a platform for academic exchange and networking.

Here, they can meet experts in the field of civil society research and receive valuable feedback on their work. They benefit from a network that extends beyond their studies.

Since 2001, it has supported nearly 100 early-career researchers.

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Resources for civil society

Library

The Maecenata Library is the largest interdisciplinary specialist library on civil society, civic engagement, philanthropy and the foundation sector in the German-speaking world.

With over 16,000 items, it offers researchers, students and practitioners access to academic literature, grey literature and unique collections of primary sources.

Open to the public, well-connected and specialised – an indispensable resource since 1997 for anyone working in the field of civil society.

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Definitions

Civil Society Philanthropy Foundations
Shrinking Civic Spaces Backsliding Democracy