The Contemporary Relevance of the Social Sciences

The Campaign for Social Science was launched in 2011 to advocate social science to the UK Government and to the public, at a time of significant change in the higher education system. It campaigns for the restoration of the post of Government Chief Social Science Advisor and the retention of large-scale longitudinal research programmes. It also promotes social science in the media and on the web and organises road shows and other events to emphasise the value of social science. As of January 2015, the Campaign was supported by 80 universities, learned societies, charities and publishers.

• Why the social sciences matter: eight principlesPrinciple 1: The social sciences are the understanding of people, society, economy and placesPrinciple 2: The UK is a social science powerhousePrinciple 3: The social sciences bring economic valuePrinciple 4: The social sciences serve societyPrinciple 5: The social sciences facilitate innovationPrinciple 6: The social sciences improve people’s lives by guiding good decision-makingPrinciple 7: Social science subjects are open and available to allPrinciple 8: Social science skills are valued by employers and lead to well-paid careersDrawing it all together: conclusions and recommendations