The OX/BER Centre for Advanced Studies group "Transitions and Social Cohesion in Context of Multiple Crises" consists of Dr. Annette Idler, Prof. Dr. Markus Hochmüller, Prof. Dr. Sérgio Costa and Dr. Jan Boesten and investigates social cohesion in the ever-changing contexts of multiple crises around the world, with a particular focus on the Latin American region and its borderlands.

The researchers examine social cohesion in the context of multiple crises (political crises, emergencies in border areas and the Covid 19 pandemic) in Colombia and South American border areas. Among other things, they ask how institutional transformations are influenced by other parallel processes and crises and what impact these have on the social cohesion of communities in border areas. The interdisciplinary project works at the intersection between sociology and peace and conflict research.

The project will conduct surveys in Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, focusing primarily on understanding migration in contexts influenced by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, refugee crises and drug cartels. This research should thus enable generalisable conclusions to be drawn about the global context of other refugee crises in border areas such as Afghanistan and Myanmar.

The project is funded by the OX/BER Research Partnership.