Philosopher Phil Robichaud is one of the researchers involved in the project on behalf of VU Amsterdam. He explains why this research is so important and how it aims to make a lasting impact.
A real threat
The SOCION researchers are currently focusing on three key areas: migration, ageing populations, and climate change. Robichaud explains: “Empirical evidence shows that these issues can lead to polarisation or a lack of cohesion, which makes them a real threat to social unity.”
Societal partners
The SOCION consortium brings together several universities and research institutes in collaboration with societal partners, such as the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB), the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), and the Advisory Council on Migration. Robichaud says: “It’s precisely these people—those working in the heart of society, in reception centres or at local councils—who directly face the challenges that stem from a lack of social cohesion. For instance, if the Advisory Council on Migration reports, ‘We see daily that municipalities with high numbers of migrants face specific challenges,’ then those are exactly the data and questions we want to take as the starting point for our research.” He continues: “Every researcher—whether a PhD candidate or a postdoctoral fellow—is effectively embedded in this network from the outset, ensuring that their research remains grounded in practice and generates relevant knowledge.”
Interdisciplinary supervision
The SOCION consortium has deliberately chosen an interdisciplinary supervision structure. Robichaud explains: “Each researcher has one supervisor from a discipline like philosophy at the VU Amsterdam— myself, for example—and a second supervisor from a different research group and academic background. We’ll examine the ethical and normative dimensions of how newcomers perceive and experience social cohesion. I contribute the philosophical dimension to that work. In this way, the disciplines learn from one another, which can lead to new insights and, just as importantly, helps prevent fragmentation.”
Ivory Tower
Robichaud is enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with other disciplines on a shared theme.“Not just with fellow researchers, but also through the broader infrastructure we're developing. Usually, we conduct our work from our office chairs. And there’s always that criticism— ‘Academia lives in an ivory tower.’ This project is a chance to break through that perception and demonstrate what social scientists and humanities scholars truly have to offer. SOCION also presents the opportunity to build something lasting. It could mark the beginning of a long-term collaboration with societal partners.”
Valuable
The project will span ten years. What does Robichaud hope to have achieved by then? “What I hope most of all is that the outcomes will prove valuable to the Netherlands, Europe, and even beyond. Results that emerge from a close connection with society. Scientifically top-tier, yet socially relevant—precisely because the research was set up from the beginning in and with society.”
This interview was previously published in idea, the alumni magazine of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities