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The Social Sciences investigate phenomena of social action and social interaction in the context of groups, institutions and social systems, both theoretically and empirically. Like the other sciences the social sciences evolve through the interplay of ideas and theories of academics and the empirical evidence that supports or refutes them.

The term “social sciences” covers a broad range of academic disciplines, each focussing in a particular aspect of human interaction and each using different concepts and methods in its studies: anthropology, sociology, economics, political science, social psychology, social history, cultural studies, just to name some of them.

Social Sciences in Germany provide an essential contribution to the understanding of the deep structural transformations modern societies are going through: the changing demographic and cultural specificities of societies in Europe, the transformation in the way these are governed, challenges to the human condition from advances in the field of technology, different temporalities of social life and last but not least the social dimensions of adaption and mitigation strategies in the context of climate change.

As in general the German research landscape for the social sciences is highly diversified, consisting of a complex structure: institutions of the higher education sector and public sector institutions, which are financed both by the federal state and the Länder, and by industry and private foundations.

Important research institutions in this area are those from the Max Planck Society (MPG), and the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Science Association (WGL). Six institutes of the MPG concern with topics from the field of social science and eighteen of the institutes in the WGL work in this area. One example of a WGL institute is the Social Sciences Research Center Berlin (WZB) – it is the largest institution of its kind in Europe and is funded by the federal government and the Land Berlin since 1976. Around 140 social scientists conduct research on the developmental trends, problems of adaptation, and possibilities for innovation in modern societies.

Significant support for Social Sciences research is provided by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the central research funding organisation in Germany and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the key policy body for social science in Germany.

Funding for Social Sciences is also provided by private foundations. Important players are the Volkswagenstiftung – a relevant activity is the initiative “Future Issues of our Society” and the Fritz-Thyssen-Stiftung.