Die Physik des sozialen Wandels 
Thomas Kron, RWTH Aachen
In this article I try to transmit the theorem of selforganized criticality, that is founded in physics, to society in order to explain social transformations. I demonstrate the explanatory power of this approach by discussing the outbreak of World War I.
Societal Security – The Development of the European Social Model during the Cold War
Thomas Hörber, École Supérieure des Sciences, Commerciales d'Angers (ESSCA)
This paper will show how the three biggest European nation states, i.e. France, Germany and Britain, adapted their national welfare policies to changing emphases in the European social agenda and vice-versa. It will show that convincing its citizens that the political system was effective and just, not least through the welfare state, was an important objective of post war politics, in which European social initiatives sometimes supported national efforts financially or ideologically. In particular, in the field of social justice and welfare, the Communist system promised the weakest segments of the Western populations a better life than under the Capitalists. Hence, societal security was an area of intense ideological competition which also found its reflection in the aspirations for the European integration process, manifest in the many Socialist ideals in early European institutional development, such as workers’ participatory rights under the ECSC. The main question of this essay will seek to provide an answer as to the impact of European social legislation on national policies. It is the thesis of this essay that despite weak European institutions – in comparison to the powers of the nation states - in the first decade of the integration process, a convergence of national social policies happened. It will also be shown that this convergence process had a European component on the basis of which it will be argued that European social legislation provided reference points for national legislators leading to the convergence of national social policies.
Counter-(T)error - The Role of Immigration in the Fight against Terrorism
Alexander Spencer, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Traditionally immigrants have been made responsible for a rise in a country’s crime rate, a state’s employment market or a nation’s cultural identity. However, since the events of 9/11 immigrants have evolved into a new kind of security concern. As a result of the terrorist attacks in 2001 by nineteen foreigners, the issue of immigration has become a central aspect in counter-terrorism as nations around the world scrambled to implement policies in reaction to the unprecedented situation. However, one has to question the validity and effectiveness of using immigration measures in the fight against terrorism. Is there an error in current counter-terror policies? The paper will critically discuss whether immigration policies are a useful means of addressing the global threat of terrorism.
Discussion
In this section, you will find articles on topics of contemporary relevance in which authors venture to take a clear position. The editors particularly invite responses and comments, as well as new contributions to this section.
Revisited and Brand New
In this section, we publish reviews of one classical text and one momentous new book on the same topic. Please contact the editors if you can suggest a classic that deserves renewed attention along with an interesting new publication!
Books on Social Mobility
Roland Verwiebe : Sorokins Horizontale und Vertikale Mobilität
Nico Vonneilich und Janne Grote: Migration und soziale Mobilität