Research

The New Democracy.
This is a project about democratic reform and the future of democracy. The twentieth century's confrontation between democracy/capitalism and authoritarianism has been resolved (for the time being) in favour of democracy and capitalism. Democracy stands at a crossroads: decline or growth?

- How governments rule?
- What is democratic quality?
- Is liberty a shallow concept of freedom?
- The powerlessness of powerful government.
- The democratic use of money.
- Why are there poor children in rich countries?
- The new welfare state: a welfare state for investment?

The Political Economy of Norway.
Norwegian political economy is exceptional and unique: ultra-rich, oil dependent, the state the all-dominant economic actor, vibrant democracy, egalitarian society. How does this system work? How is it governed? Is continued affluence and equality assured or is this a rich economy thriving on windfall income and on its way to long term economic decline? For more information, see the Norwegian language section of the home page.

State and Welfare in Korea
A project of DPhil projects, in all eight doctoral projects, some finished and some ongoing. These projects deal with various aspects of the emergence of a modern welfare state in South Korea in the period since about 1960. The objects of research are the Korean state, Korean social policy, the welfare state in general and the relationship between social policy, economic development and political modernisation.