The Cluster of Excellence Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS) examines why the liberal script for the organization of societies is increasingly contested, how these contestations unfold, and what consequences they have for the resilience and future of liberal democracy.

In its first funding phase (2019–2025), SCRIPTS identified a global trend of growing polarization and radicalization. These developments are closely linked to the perception that the liberal script increasingly fails to deliver on its own promises — such as equality, prosperity, and freedom.

In the second funding period (from 2026), the Cluster will focus more closely on the consequences of deepen contestations. Key questions include: How do polarization and radicalization affect the resilience of the liberal script? How do external crises interact with internal tensions within liberal societies? And under what conditions can liberal democracies respond to deepening contestations without compromising their core principles?

SCRIPTS addresses these questions through interdisciplinary and international collaboration. The Cluster expands its global partnerships, supports early-career researchers, and advances research data management, particularly to safeguard data from authoritarian and unstable contexts. Furthermore, SCRIPTS strengthens its engagement with policymakers, cultural institutions, and civil society through transdisciplinary exchange and dialogue.

Involved Institutions:

• Berlin Social Science Center (WZB)
• Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS)
• Hertie School
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Kiel Institute for the World Economy