The Progressive Politics Research Network brings together a core team of six independent researchers from leading European universities: Tarik Abou-Chadi and Jane Gingrich at the University of Oxford, Macarena Ares at the University of Barcelona, Björn Bremer at Central European University, Silja Häusermann at the University of Zurich, and Hanna Schwander at Humboldt University Berlin. Hosted at Nuffield College in Oxford, the network examines the evolving landscape of progressive politics in post-industrial societies, emphasizing actors like social democratic parties, green movements, labor groups, and the far left that back universal access to protection and opportunity, inclusive democracies, and ecological sustainability.
Launched in recent years as a non-partisan collaboration, it addresses how these groups adapt their goals, organizations, and policies amid 21st-century challenges. The network uses empirical social science methods, blending quantitative data analysis with qualitative insights to produce original findings.
Its activities center on annual themes. For instance, it has released five research briefs plus an introduction on the political viability of climate policies, exploring voter responses and policy trade-offs. These briefs, published in English, feed into a podcast series discussing real-world implications. An annual conference gathers scholars for paper presentations and debates, while outreach efforts include partnering with journalists for national translations and events across Europe to engage policymakers and the public. With a focus on global contexts but rooted in European transformations, the network fosters scholarly exchanges without aligning to any party.