Insights is the annual publication from Understanding Society that explores research that is particularly relevant for policymaking. Alongside the report, there will be two events where you can hear from researchers and policy analysts working in these key areas. With a general election looming in 2024, this year we’ve chosen to focus on themes particularly relevant in an election year – political engagement, life transitions in the UK population, and environmental behaviour.
Insights events are free to attend, but you do need to register in advance. You can book for each event below. Our Insights 2024 report will be published online on Monday 12 February.
Political engagement in Britain: taking back control?
Wednesday 14 February, 9.30 – 16.30, Broadway House, London (in person only).
Understanding what conditions drives people to engage with politics, and how political behaviour changes across events, the life course and generations, is vital for building a long-term healthy democracy. Most people are spectators or sceptics rather than activists in political affairs, and while voting is the primary route to political expression for many, decisions by voting are not ‘solving’ major issues. What additional political stimuli is needed to drive change? With a decline in deference, can a societal shift in political expression through routes such as petitions and campaigns, imaginative or generative local democracy and community participation, stimulate change on substantive issues – or simply raise expectations of influencing decisions difficult to deliver?
This event will examine the substantial factors at play that shape our political attitudes and participation. As we head into a highly contested national election, what are the key messages for politicians, policymakers, commentators, campaigners and local communities?
See the full programme and book your place here.
Transition to Net Zero: a shared public journey?
Wednesday 28 February, 9.30 – 12.00, online.
Half the emissions reductions identified to reach Net Zero actively involve people, whether by choosing to purchase low-carbon technologies like electric cars, or by making different choices, for example on their diets or air travel. It is thus vital to understand how best to secure public support and participation in this politically and economically challenging transition. This second Understanding Society Insights 2024 virtual event takes a closer look at public support or opposition to climate change – in what has been described as the decade for action.
How are views changing across time, and how effective are environmental protests or weather events in raising public awareness of the severity or imminence of the environmental crises? Even if public understand the need to tackle climate change urgently, and support Net Zero by 2050, are they attaching different levels of risk to the impact of climate change? With strong fairness and equality dimensions to design in, how important are economic circumstances and economic conditions in explaining support for or opposition to mitigation and adaptation policies? How socially just are taxes on air travel?
See the full programme and book your place for this online event here.
Family and householdsPolitics and social attitudesTransport and environmentYoung people
