BROWSE OUR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Family and Society

Focusing on how public policy can be better designed to give people and families more power over their lives, this programme brings together research into parenting, ageing and the impact of social change on young people. Led by Louise Bazalgette and Matt Grist, our projects are based on expert analysis of trends, innovative research methods and a progressive vision of social change.

Current Past
All
Openlandscapeproject

Open Landscape

Matt Grist

This project will investigate how open approaches to higher education can spur growth and innovation.

More
Fundingfutureproject

Funding the Future

Matt Grist

This project will investigate how to put the financing of higher education in England on a sustainable footing.

More
Project_thumbnail

For Starters

Louise Bazalgette

This project draws together existing and new evidence and present practical policy recommendations for improving nutrition for children aged 0-3.

More
Eu_ageing_project_thumb

Ageing Across the EU

Louise Bazalgette

Demos is investigating the different experiences of older people across EU countries.

More
Paper_chain_1

Ageing Sociably

Louise Bazalgette, Claudia Wood, Phillida Cheetham

This project will identify ways that private companies can make use of their local presence and existing operating structures to generate new social opportunities for older people.

More
Masculinity

The Modernisation of Masculinity

Jen Lexmond, Julia Margo, Aaron Peters

This project explores how society and public policy could better support men’s changing roles in their relationships, in their workplaces and in their homes.

More

Citizens

Decades of policymaking framed around consumer choice and economic growth have left those formulating policy unsure on how best to balance public and private interests. Led by Jonathan Birdwell, our work in this area seeks to understand the public interest and determine what implications it has for relationships between the state, citizens, business and civil society.

Current Past
All
Charity300

Sweet charity

Jonathan Birdwell, Ally Paget

This project aims to quantify and measure the actual economic and social value of Britain's 5,500 charity shops within communities.

More
Scoutknot300

Be prepared: Scouts and employability

Jonathan Birdwell

This research will seek to explore the extent to which the Scouting movement helps impart employability skills such as team work, confidence, interpersonal skills and leadership

More
Alcohol_project

Families, parenting and harmful drinking

Jonathan Birdwell, Emma Vandore

This project examines how a parent's problematic relationship with alcohol can impact on parenting and children’s perceptions of alcohol.

More
Faith_project

Faith and society

Jonathan Birdwell

This project explores the role of faith groups in 21st century British society – in particular, their role in progressive politics.

More
Youth_and_eu_project

Eurovisions

Jonathan Birdwell

This project will investigate young people's attitudes towards the EU across Europe.

More
Sliders_project

Backsliders: measuring democracy in the EU

Jonathan Birdwell, Sebastien Feve

This project will explore how the European Union can prevent 'backsliding' on democratic commitments among member states.

More

Violence and Extremism

The last decade has seen a rapid growth in extremist and violent behaviours. There are growing incidences of gang membership, gun and knife crime, religious and political radicalism, and violence motivated by intolerance of others. Led by Jamie Bartlett, our work on violence and extremism seeks to understand what drives such behaviour.

Current Past
All
Resilientplace300x200

Resilient Places

Samuel Jones, Pippa Read

This project will investigate how infrastructure contributes to making places resilient and what opportunities infrastructure might provide in the future.

More
Edge_of_violence_proj_sum

On the edge of violence?

Jamie Bartlett, Jonathan Birdwell

This project looks at the relationship between violent and non-violent radicalisation by mapping the flow of ideas, people and money through violent and non-violent radical groups.

More
Nophotography300x200

Basra Journal

Charlie Edwards

In October 2008, Charlie Edwards, Head of Security at Demos made a trip to Basra, Iraq.

More
Mandms300x200

Connecting the Dots

Charlie Edwards, Simon Hampson

Tackling the causes of risks and the drivers of insecurity is complex, time consuming and rarely has an immediate or obvious impact.

More
Missing

Resilient Nation

Charlie Edwards

This pamphlet calls for a radical rethink of resilience. Instead of structures and centralised services, it argues that citizens and communities are the true source of resilience for our society. People must learn adapt and work together to make Britain a resilient nation.

More
Wasteland300

Wicked Jihad

Jamie Bartlett

Counter terrorism policy is increasingly about preventing violent extremism before it arises but we are still a long way from understanding what that appeal is. This think-piece explores some explanations which are often overlooked.

More

Political Ideas

Alongside and connected with our research programes, Demos has political projects focused on the burning issues in current political thinking.

Current Past
All
Missing

Futures Thinking

Charlie Edwards

Thinking about the future is tough – it’s all too easy to take a fatalistic approach and assume there’s nothing we can do to shape impersonal global forces, or to cling to ‘official’ versions of the future set out in government visions and policy documents.

More
Missing

Story.Org

Grahame Broadbelt, Tony Manwaring, John Grant

John Grant and Tony Manwaring, two senior Demos associates, are working with us to produce a pamphlet about leading change in modern networked organisations.

More
Childrenmakeplacesb300x200

Children Make Places

Peter Bradwell, Celia Hannon, Joost Beunderman

Children’s access to the public realm is currently heavily restricted – as much by physical barriers as by adult attitudes and anxieties. As heavy investment in play provision is currently set to deliver physical improvements, there is a need to address the wider social, cultural and political context in which the children’s public realm is being shaped.

More
Missing

An Underwhelming Truth

Molly Webb

2006 was the year of the eco-issue, Priuses on back-order, "An Inconvenient Truth" and Arnold Schwarzenegger's green coup. But is sustainability’s new look only skin deep?

More
Missing

Culture Online

John Holden, Samuel Jones

Culture Online has pioneered a project-based approach to bring new audiences to arts and culture using new technology. In this it differs significantly from the portal approach of many cultural websites. Demos is working with Culture Online to place their achievement in a wider context of policy development, and to articulate lessons for practitioners and policymakers.

More
Missing

Northern Lights Seminar Series

Catherine Fieschi

A seminar series to discuss social innovation and explore the secrets of the Nordic Model

More

Public Services

The Coalition Government is facing the most significant fiscal challenges of postwar Britain. Led by Claudia Wood, our work on public finance will interrogate how the radical action needed to rebalance the budget can be undertaken without abandoning progressive goals.

Current Past
All
Placeandtime300

Time and place

Claudia Wood, Ally Paget, Jo Salter

This research aims to identify precisely what values people associate with dying in a home environment and establish why so many more people say they want to die at home.

More
Generationwelfare300

Generation strains

Duncan O'Leary, Jo Salter

This project will analyse the generational shift in attitudes towards the welfare state and its far-reaching implications.

More
Sueryder300

Transitions at the end of life

Claudia Wood, Ally Paget, Jo Salter

Demos is exploring the possibility of personalised end of life care that reflects personal values and also involves maximum choice and control for care users and their families.

More
Quarrier300

A wider lens

Duncan O'Leary, Jo Salter

Through this project, Demos hopes to paint a detailed and evidence-based picture of the lives of families who are struggling with the cumulative effect of multiple disadvantage in Scotland today.

More
Cardsproject

The Power of Prepaid

Jo Salter, Claudia Wood, Ally Paget

This research is exploring the potential of prepaid card technology to achieve a personalised, integrated, empowering state.

More
Reablement_photo

The Home Cure

Claudia Wood, Jo Salter

This project looks at the role social housing providers can play in helping people back to independent living following a period in hospital.

More

Centre for London

A new think tank exploring the great economic, social and environmental challenges facing London. The capital is the most productive economic region in the UK, but it also faces great challenges such as a severe housing shortage, child poverty, unemployment and demographic change. Centre for London, led by Ben Rogers, acts as a critical friend to London government, to develop rigorous and radical solutions to London's problems.

Current Past
All
Running_track_150x150

Olympics Scorecard

Jess Tyrrell, Rob Whitehead

The London Olympics are on track to regenerate a vast swathe of East London, turning a poisonsed industrial site into the biggest new park since Hyde Park, but how will Londoners really benefit and have the goals been met?

More
Smart_city2_150x150

Smart London

Ben Rogers, Jess Tyrrell

Smart city technologies promise to make cities more efficient, liveable and productive. There are real implementation challenges on introducing new technologies at scale in an established city. What are the costs and benefits for London?

More
Picture_8

Getting London Working

Rob Whitehead

Despite being one of the most prosperous cities in the world, London has among the UK’s highest rates of worklessness: one in three working age Londoners is out-of-work. What will be the impact of welfare reforms on London and how London can get the best from this new system? How can models of localism and devolution boost employment in the capital?

More
Picture_23

London's Calling

Rob Whitehead, Stephen Evans

This project focusses on access to higher education in London's schools and boroughs and looks at high skills as a key economic driver. 

More
Small_map

The Thames: Making More of the Heart of London

Ben Rogers

The Thames is one of London's greatest assets but also presents one of its more pressing challenges. How can improvements to the quality of the architecture and public spaces, and more use of the banks and the river itself be financed, managed and delivered?

More
Developing-the-capacity-to-use-information-technology

East London Tech City

Rob Whitehead, Max Nathan, Emma Vandore, Jess Tyrrell

The plans for East London Tech City have generated a good deal of excitement. But the way ahead is far from clear. This project looks at how these plans can be best achieved, by comparing East London to other international tech based regenerations and by talking directly to entreprenuers.

More