This research area examines how public negotiation processes—from popularity rankings to populist movements—shape and challenge the social, political, and cultural order. Whether in political debates, media discourse, or institutional structures, who gains influence and which values dominate are part of a complex interplay of social dynamics. This research area analyzes these mechanisms and their interactions with institutions, particularly against the backdrop of global interconnections and mobility processes.

By combining perspectives from literary studies, cultural studies, and the social sciences, this research focus offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of contemporary society. The goal is to shed light on the structures, mechanisms, and potential for conflict in public negotiation processes—and thereby contribute to a better understanding of processes of social transformation.