Akteuren

Akteuren is the plural form of Akteur, a term used in sociology, political science, and related fields to refer to individuals, groups, and organizations that have the capacity to act within a social or political system. An Akteur is an agent who pursues interests, mobilizes resources, and interacts with other actors to influence outcomes. The concept emphasizes agency and purposive action rather than mere structure.

In German-language usage, Akteur (singular) is widely used, while in English-language literature the equivalent terms are actor or agent; Akteur/Akteuren may appear in multilingual works to indicate German sources or contexts. Actors can be human beings, such as politicians, entrepreneurs, journalists, civil society advocates, or they can be non-human but organized entities, including firms, government agencies, NGOs, or international organizations. They can operate at different levels, from local communities to global systems, and often participate in networks, coalitions, and institutions.

Akteuren play several roles in social processes: setting agendas, formulating proposals, negotiating terms, implementing policies, and shaping norms and practices. They may compete, cooperate, form alliances, or contest power through discourse, resources, and legitimacy. The concept is central to actor-centered and network approaches and is often contrasted with structural explanations that grant power to impersonal forces or macro-structures.

In practice, actor analysis involves identifying relevant Akteuren, mapping interests and resources, and examining how interactions among actors produce outcomes. See also actor-network theory, stakeholder analysis, governance, and policy process literature.