- Studium
- Forschung
- Universität
- Online-Dienste
Emergence, Conditions, and Actors of Transnational Fields. The Case of European Consumer Policy.
This study analyses the historical development, the actual condition, and the actors involved in shaping a transnational field taking European Consumer Policy as an example. The first European efforts to establish a political agenda particularly dedicated to consumers date back to the early 1960s. Since then, different consumer units have been established within the European Union (EU). Today, the “Directive General for Justice and Consumers” (DGJC) is mainly responsible for consumer concerns within the EU. Together with the European Commission and the European Parliament, DGJC formulates relevant guidelines for European Consumer Policy and enforces national consumer protection by means of mandates or by setting minimum standards. Besides the establishment of European institutional units setting consumer policies “from above”, “extra-institutional” actors have founded: European consumer organisations (e.g. BEUC, 1962), European business associations (e.g. Confederation of European Business, 1958), and European social movement organisations (e.g. Greenpeace Europe). These organisations seek to influence European consumer policy “from below”. And indeed, they regularly take part in political hearings and seek to informally influence European Consumer Policy, e.g. trough lobbying, public campaigns and coalition-building with institutional actors. Furthermore, national and federal consumer affair ministries, national extra-institutional organisations, and (some) local initiatives are active within European Consumer Policy. In sum, the transnational field of European Consumer Policy comprises of transnational (e.g. European Institutions, European consumer and business organisations, and European social movements), national (e.g. national governments, national consumer, business, and social movement organisations), and local (e.g. federal governments and local social movement organisations) actors. Interestingly, however, there are no clear-cut coalitions or conflicts between these diverse actors. Instead, depending on the issue and the concrete situation, both coalitions and conflicts can be found between these groups. This study analyses how the historical emergence and the actual developments of the transnational field of European Consumer Policy can be traced back, which actors contributed and contribute to its shape, and how the field can actually be described in terms of its central logic. Theoretically, this study deploys a field analysis approach and combines it with insights from social movement theory. Doing so, conflicts and power resources as well as political opportunities, coalition building, and external shocks are analysed to better understand the historical emergence, the actual shape, and the logic of European Consumer Policy. Empirically, this study deploys a mixed-method framework comprising of document analysis, qualitative interviews, and correspondence analysis. Furthermore, to better understand the mechanisms behind the development and the actual condition of the field, two case studies of recent European Consumer legislations are analysed in more detail. Building upon this theoretical and empirical approach, this study seeks to provide new insights into the mechanisms that explain the historical emergence and the actual conditions of transnational fields. Finally, this insights are analysed with respect to their explanatory power to analyse other transnational fields.
Seit 2014: Post-doc (Universitätsassistent mit Doktorat) am Institut für Soziologie der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (Forschungsbereich "Wirtschaftssoziologie")
2014: Promotion zum Dr. rer. soc. oec. in Soziologie an der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
2010-2014: Universitätsassistent am Institut für Soziologie der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (Forschungsbereich "Wirtschaft, Organisation, soziale Probleme")
2009-2010: Wissenschaftlicher Projektmitarbeiter und Lehrbeauftragter am Institut für Soziologie der Universität Münster
2008-2009: Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft am Institut für Soziologie der Universität Münster, Lehrstuhl für vergleichende Sozialstrukturanalyse
2001-2008: Studium der Soziologie, Politik- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften (M.A.) an der Universität Münster
Wirtschaftssoziologie (Geld- und Finanzmarktsoziologie, Kapitalismusanalyse, Feldanalyse). Spezielle Wirtschaftssoziologie und Konsumsoziologie (Verbraucherorganisationen, Verbraucherbeschwerden, Verbraucher und Unternehmen). Organisationssoziologie (Organisation von Unternehmen und NGOs). Soziologie Sozialer Bewegungen (Solidarische Ökonomie, Fairer Handel, Verbraucherorganisationen).
Zum aktuellen Entwicklungsstand der Verbraucherforschung in Österreich. (gemeinsam mit Michael Jonas, IHS Wien. Fördergerber: AK Wien, Laufzeit 06/20016-02/2017;
Kooperationspartner im Projekt „(Un-)Knowing Food: Herkunft, (Un-)Sicherheit und die Moral des Essens am Beispiel von Fleischprodukten in der Steiermark“ (Projektleitung: Ulrich Ermann, Universität Graz. Fördergeber: Land Steiermark).
"Vertrautes Geld? Eine soziologische Untersuchung über Geldwissen, Geldvertrauen und Geldverwendung." Projektteam: Klaus Kraemer (Leitung), Luka Jakelja, Florian Brugger und Sebastian Nessel, Laufzeit: 2016-2018, Fördergeber: Jubiläumsfonds der Österreichischen Nationalbank?