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Welcome to CRESC

CRESC was a joint initiative between The University of Manchester
and The Open University.

Research projects

Construction at night photograph

Infrastructures of Social Change

We explore the infrastructural dynamics and material dimensions of social relations and address the fluidity and elasticity of social life.
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Reframing the Nation

Focusing on the changing meanings of the nation in contemporary societies.
Modern office buildings photograph

Remaking Capitalism

Our distinctive approach combines follow the money research with political and cultural analysis.
Abstract of matrix-style computer code in various shades of blue.

Social Life of Methods

Exploring how methods act not simply as technical toolkits, but also as vital players in creating and changing the social world.
Ferris wheel at night photograph

Trajectories of Participation and Inequality

Analysing social involvement and cultural participation within a long-term historical context.
A blurry time-lapsed photograph of a London bus and cityscape

Urban Experiments

Exploring city processes of cultural, material and mobile change.

Publications

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Working papers

Over 100 refereed papers covering all the areas of our research interests.
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Book series

Innovative, empirically-based, and theoretically informed publications.
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Research reports

Policy and user-relevant research reports and briefings.

Discover

Our people

Browse our staff list

News and events

Latest updates on our activities

Contact us

Get in touch with CRESC