Centre for the Study of Social and Humanitarian Crises
The Centre for the Study of Social and Humanitarian Crises (CSSHC) is the first academic centre in Greece, and one of the few globally, dedicated to interdisciplinary research, policy impact and teaching on Social and Humanitarian Crises.
Located at the University of West Attica, Greece, adjacent to the historic Plato’s Academy in Athens, the Centre provides a unique scholarly environment for understanding and, most importantly addressing historic and ongoing crises.
Crises are understood, in the broadest sense, as complex socio-political, environmental and cultural phenomena that cause individuals, communities and countries to experience unprecedented uncertainty, suffering, insecurity but also resilience, solidarity and far-reaching transitions. It is exactly for this reason that crises, profound as they can be, do provide a context for better understanding social systems and ultimately re-shape the world. Global and social justice is key to this process.
Members of the Centre currently engage with research and scholarly work the following themes:
- Climate Change and Environmental Crisis
- Covid-19 as a social crisis and public health crisis
- Armed conflict, displacement and refugee journeys
- Historical wrong-doings of social services
- Institutional racism and structural homophobia (gender and sexually diverse)
- Restorative, retributive and transitional justice
As the nature of most social and humanitarian crises surpasses borders, the Centre prioritises collaborations that are truly international and diverse. CSSHC has already established meaningful links with international scholars and research institutes. CSSHC welcomes proposals to work with networks, institutes and research centres. We also welcome people wanting to work with us, whether as potential students, as visiting faculty, or collaborative researchers.
Objectives
The research and educational activity of the Centre places a special emphasis on the following objectives:
i) Investigation of historical, political, economic and psychosocial factors that contribute to the creation of crises.
ii) Preparedness and prevention of social and humanitarian crises
iii) Crisis management
iv) Post-crisis/ post-disaster disaster support of communities (populations) that have been affected by the crisis.
v) Understanding/ mapping of the vulnerability and resilience of communities, groups and individuals experience.
People
The centre is home to a number of experienced and early career researchers and also offers exciting opportunities for taught/ research postgraduate study in a welcoming and supportive environment. The centre aims at offering a rich and varied programme of events, conferences, workshops and activities to create a lively setting for those working in the centre and to bring issues of social crisis and global justice to the attention of a wider audience.
For further information please visit the Centre’s website, at the link: https://crises.uniwa.gr
