The Network was funded from September 2005 to November 2009.

For project outcomes, please visit the CINEFOGO database.

Summing-Up CINEFOGO Network of Excellence

In the ongoing debate about the relationship between civil society institutions and the welfare state, CINEFOGO, in particular, developed an input to the making of European citizenship. This was done in two ways

• By coordination and integration of the scientific work done by the network and its members concerning civic participation, governance and social protection.
• By initiating debates among European scholars, politicians and in the general public. The aim was to intensify the impact of social sciences and to provide public opinion and policy-makers with points of reference for the debate civic participation, governance and social protection.

CINEFOGO Network was focusing on the importance of improving citizens’ participation in governance. This required new knowledge on the importance of social and cultural diversity, active citizenship, civic participation and organised civil society - issues that have become more pressing with the on-going enlargement of Europe. A Europe characterised by growing inequality in economic and social conditions of the citizens but also increased diversity in the perception of what is meant to be the European House and in how to proceed in the process of economic, social and political integration of the European nation-states.

In the research and dissemination activities of the CINEFOGO network took advantage of the strategy papers coming from the European Commission such as Shaping the New Europe, the White Paper on Governance and communication strategy Action Plan for Improve Communicating Europe, the so-called ‘Plan D’ for democracy, dialogue and debate in Europe. Issues, which have been even more important after the rejection of the EU Constitution in France and the Netherlands in 2005.

Objectives, perspectives and themes

The overall objective was to provide knowledge about the relationship between civil society and citizenship in an increasingly diversified and multi-cultural Europe that is simultaneously trying to achieve greater integration.

The intellectual background of CINEFOGO can be expressed by three theoretical perspectives forming an integrating platform for research which addresses thee thematic areas.

The Network

43 institutions involving more than 300 researchers and PhD students in Europe became part of the Network that was co-ordinated by the University of Roskilde, Department of Society and Globalisation (Denmark). The work was distributed among 50 Work Packages (WPs). The CINEFOGO Network of Excellence was supported by the Sixth Framework Programme, Priority 7: New Forms of Citizenship and Cultural Identities of the European Union.

• CINEFOGO description on CORDIS

Contacts

International coordination office - located at Roskilde University (Denmark).