How do bottom-up initiatives address societal challenges such as climate change, healthcare issues and structural inequality? How do these initiatives impact existing institutions and contribute to societal change?

The challenges of our current society are characterized by their complexity, interdisciplinary nature and ethical discussion. Issues surrounding climate change, healthcare and inclusiveness towards migrants are just a few examples of these challenges.

What we observe is that not only do top-down government institutions tackle these issues, but rather bottom-up initiatives organised and led by citizens emerge to contribute to their local or regional community concerning these challenges. We study how these initiatives, in their efforts for change, contribute to changing our society from the ground up.

Together with scholars from various departments across the university and societal partners, we study these initiatives and their impact while trying to realise our own impact through research, education and collaboration projects.

Creating open and resilient societies

Interested in research on themes such as bottom-up initiatives, social entrepreneurship and citizen collectives? The Bottom-up Initiatives for Societal Change platform is part of Institutions for Open Societies, Utrecht University's unique research expertise. Here, all our interdisciplinary research on open and resilient societies is brought together.  

Highlights

  • Bottom-up Initiatives Research Grant

    After our official kick-off, we granted a research fund to three projects relating to bottom-up initiatives; imaginaries of just and sustainable futures, entrepreneurs on societal change in history, and community-based initiatives for climate change-related action.

    Read more about the projects
  • Collaborate with us
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  • Our educational pursuits

    As a platform, we engage with scholars as well as students and non-academic professionals on the topic. Curious how?

    Read about our Educational Programmes