Profile

Philosophy

Since 1987, the ISÖ – Institute for Social Ecology has been developing practice- and theory-based research-, development- and consulting services in the field of social sustainability.

The ISÖ approach is development-oriented, systematic and context-related. Methods of applied social research and scientific research are complemented by methods of the experimental practice of measures that can be used in different organizational forms and in various social fields. This results in a combination of social and sociopolitical analyzes, which is characteristic for the research conception of ISÖ, which leads to the development of new options for action by the actors or stakeholders responsible in the various fields.

The special interest of the ISÖ is the scientific support of a Guaranteed Basic Income, voluntary commitment and the development of contemporary forms of Community Promotion.

History since 1987

The ISÖ – Institute for Social Ecology was founded in 1987 on the initiative of Michael Opielka by social scientists, who sought an alternative to the growth-based paradigm of the classic welfare state model and thus to a response to the “eco-social question”. Among the personalities in the founding phase were André Gorz, Georg Vobruba, Gunnar Adler-Karlsson, Christian Leipert, Peter Gross, Gisela Erler, Klaus Dörner, Adalbert Evers, Eberhard Göpel, Peter Grottian, Menahem Rosner, Wolf-Dieter Narr, Philippe Van Parijs, Alf Trojan, Christoph Sachße and Helmut Hildebrand.