About Us
Welcome to the Centre for Citizenship and Democracy (CCD) at the University of Southampton, which aims to support teaching and research that explains, interprets and evaluates the challenges and opportunities that face citizenship and democratic politics in the modern world. We hope to attract your interest and engagement in thinking about and acting on the issues of citizenship and democracy.
Citizenship
In our study of citizenship we are building on a great tradition at this University exemplified by the work of T.H.Marshall in his seminal analysis (1950) on citizenship as a development of civil then political, then social rights. In examining citizenship today it is the richness and diversity of issues that come to the fore. The impact of globalization, large-scale migration, the development of supranational institutions and revival of local and regional loyalties has created a new terrain for citizenship and at CCD we are committed to exploring the implications of this changing world for the understanding and practice of citizenship. We are interested in a better conceptual understanding of citizenship and draw on a strong tradition of social and political theory at Southampton. But we are also committed to the empirical investigation of citizenship in all its dimensions. We have several projects that are underway and welcome your ideas for further opportunities for research. At a practical level we are interested in how to re-energise citizenship in all its positive dimensions and forms.
Democracy
The focus on democracy, which fits neatly with that of citizenship, is on the challenge and practice of democracy in today’s world. The Centre addresses issues ranging from citizen participation, democratic innovation, new forms of governance at local, national and international levels and a better understanding of political disengagement. Governance in today’s world is a process that goes beyond government and incorporates the activities of the private and third sectors. We are interested in understanding how major issues of political concern over public policy can be debated and decided upon in the context of today’s multifaceted world of governance. Our concerns again are both theoretical and empirical and draw on a strong dynamic of research and programmes in this area. At a practical level we are interested in contributing to the debate about how to make democracy more meaningful and powerful in today’s complex world.
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