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Research

The Department of Political and Social Sciences (SPS) is committed to advancing problem- and theory-driven research in the political and social sciences, grounded in academic freedom, methodological pluralism, and scientific integrity. Our research spans four broad and interconnected areas: international relations, comparative politics and political behaviour, public policy and institutions, and sociology. We deliberately sustain this broad and interdisciplinary combination of fields that we have built strength in to ensure the continued intellectual diversity and wide supervision capacity.

Within these areas we maintain the agility to adapt to evolving disciplinary developments, theoretical and methodological advances, and a changing world. Equally, we place high value on maintaining a productive balance between qualitative and quantitative approaches, cultivating a methodologically heterogeneous environment. This diversity of perspectives will allow SPS to remain a vibrant and adaptive community where pluralism in methods, theory, and subject matter underpins research excellence.

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Research Themes:

Analytical sociology

Micro foundations of social life: trust; conflict & cooperation; collective action; norms; status, and social networks – and how they explain employment, gender differences, development, crime, corruption, informal economy, migration, ethnic conflict, movements, science practices.

Bayesian Analysis for Qualitative Evidence

Applications of Bayesian probability for inference to best explanation in qualitative and multi-method research, analytical transparency, research design, systematic knowledge accumulation, and reliability of inference.

Comparative politics and political behaviour

Trends and patterns in institutional design (also historical); electoral and party competition, electoral behaviour, the rise of populism and authoritarianism; political protest, contentious politics, political events; policy responsiveness.

Computational Social Science

Digital media and politics; computational text analysis; machine learning; AI and social science; registry data linkage; meta-science.

Inequality & social demography

Trends and patterns of educational, labour market and health inequalities by social class, gender and ethnicity; social mobility; cumulative and compensatory advantage; family change and family dynamics; life course research.

IR and security

International relations theory; humanitarian intervention; civil wars; comparative foreign policy; international and European security; Europe’s external relations and “Europe in the world”.

Political Economy of Development

How political institutions change with economic development; politics and policy issues in developing nations; interactions of politicians and voters in developing nations; differences between developing and developed countries.

Welfare state and political economy

Impact on welfare states of globalisation, deepening EU market integration and financialization; Changing life-course risks; Dynamics and consequences of fiscal and regulatory competition; Diversity of European political economies and their capacity for adaptation to post-crisis challenges; the EU’s perma- and poly-crisis.

 

Some key publications:

Page last updated on 30/06/2026