Balancing Agendas Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe

Taking as its starting point the European Commission's agenda for promoting collaborative, interdisciplinary research that includes the Humanities as well as the Social Sciences, this article argues that arts and humanities research needs greater integration into that research agenda and more, as well as more imaginative and incentivizing, funding and support. Utilizing the issue of the London bombers as an example, the article indicates that the Arts and Humanities can provide both insights into and perspectives on the challenges Europe faces in the 21st century. It suggests that a trans-disciplinary approach to research issues is required that is, inter alia, best supported by the establishment of advanced interdisciplinary research institutes that include the Humanities and Social Sciences.