New research project to investigate Danes' experiences of powerlessness

With support from VELUX FONDEN, a new research project led by anthropologist Mikkel Rytter will focus on the phenomenon of "powerlessness" in Danish society. The goal is to identify and find solutions to the various forms of powerlessness in Denmark that can potentially develop into a crisis for our democracy and the trust-based welfare society.

26 September 2024 by Anja Kjærgaard

Where, how and why do citizens in Denmark experience powerlessness? What characterizes these experiences and how can they be remedied? These are some of the key questions a new research project is delving into. The research project is called: "Powerlessness in Denmark: A humanistic study of the forms, manifestations and potentials of powerlessness in the 21st century".

Mikkel Rytter, Professor of Anthropology at Aarhus University, will lead the project, which is supported by a grant of DKK 8,996,198 from the VELUX FOUNDATION for the period 2024-2029.

"There are many phenomena in the world that can result in powerlessness - from our body, its appearance, changes and illness to our close relationships in the family. Economy, bureaucracy, racism, social media or a bad working environment. Not to mention external events on a large scale such as wars, disasters or climate change. Powerlessness has many dimensions and manifestations. Experiences and experiences of powerlessness are perhaps in many ways a characteristic of the times we live in. However, it is important that powerlessness does not only paralyze or pacify us – we also want to understand in the project group what new communities and change potentials can arise from powerlessness," says Mikkel Rytter.

The project brings together 15 humanities researchers from different disciplines
The project brings together 15 humanities researchers from different disciplines at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, and together with external partner organisations, will bring powerlessness up for discussion in Danish society.

"We are interested in providing a strengthened theoretical understanding of powerlessness as a phenomenon, experience, experience and structural position, but also in experimenting with and developing together the kind of knowledge creation that can be called 'applied humanities'," says Mikkel Rytter.

The research project thus aims to both raise the theoretical understanding of the phenomenon of powerlessness and find solutions to pressing challenges related to various forms of powerlessness in Denmark.

This is supported by VELUX FONDEN, which sees a topicality and relevance in relation to the foundation's vision of a democratic and sustainable society:

"The project addresses a central problem for today's democracy and welfare development. It is a highly relevant project that matches VELUX FONDEN's work to promote democratic and social sustainability on an informed and inclusive basis. The project team will contribute to giving the groups that experience powerlessness a democratic voice and the ability to act. The humanities and methods have special opportunities to investigate and make visible the experienced, experienced and expressed powerlessness. We look forward to following the project and the ambitions to create sustainable change, both for the groups that experience powerlessness and for society as a whole," says Henrik Tronier, Head of Grants for Research and Culture in the Humanities and Social Sciences and responsible for research policy at VELUX FONDEN.

The project will continuously open up to the public through a wide range of dissemination and debate events as well as a book series of 15 volumes, which will be published from 2026 by Informations Forlag. The ambition is to make knowledge available to a broad audience and put powerlessness on the agenda of the Danish public.

About VELUX FONDEN

VELUX FONDEN is a non-profit foundation that wants a democratic and sustainable society on an informed and inclusive basis. VELUX FONDEN works to improve people's lives and opportunities for action in a democratic and sustainable society by supporting research and initiatives within or across social conditions, age levels, transitions of adulthood, society and culture, and the marine environment. VELUX FONDEN's 2030 strategy thus addresses four significant societal challenges: Increasing mental health problems and vulnerability, the need for humanities and social science research to solve the challenges of our time, significant pressure on our oceans and increasing life expectancy.