Hauptseminar: Inequality and Political Conflict in Comparative Perspective [30211]

Montag 14:00 – 16:00 Uhr | Swen Hutter

In this seminar, we examine political inequality in contemporary democracies and its relationship to political conflict. We distinguish between horizontal inequalities among citizens, i.e., differences in resources, participation, and political voice, and vertical inequalities between citizens and political decision-makers. The first part of the course focuses on political participation and asks whether rising economic inequality and the weakening of collective organizations have led to more unequal patterns of participation and voice. Who participates, who abstains, and under what conditions does inequality translate into political mobilization or political disengagement? The second part turns to representation and responsiveness. We ask whether political decisions reflect the preferences of different social groups equally, and how social background and institutional contexts shape policy outcomes. Taking a comparative perspective, the seminar brings together research from political sociology and comparative politics to understand when inequality generates political conflict and when unequal voice becomes a durable feature of democratic politics.

Literaturhinweise

Elsässer, Lea and Armin Schäfer (2023). Political Inequality in Rich Democracies. Annual Review of Political Science. 26: 469–87

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Hauptseminar: Coping with Affective Polarization [30218]

Montag 16:00 – 18:00 Uhr | Swen Hutter

Affective polarization refers to the extent to which citizens feel attachment to their political in-group and dislike toward political out-groups. It captures partisan identity and social distance more than disagreement over policies and has become a defining feature of many contemporary democracies. In this seminar, we examine core definitions and measurement approaches and discuss competing explanations for its rise. The first part of the course focuses on its consequences for social cohesion and democratic life. We analyze how affective polarization shapes everyday interactions, political participation, and judgments about political conflict, including protest and the boundaries of acceptable contention. Particular attention is paid to forms of inter-citizen escalation such as avoidance, intolerance, and support for norm-breaking behavior. The second part turns to coping. Drawing on sociological and social-psychological literature, we assess how individuals, civil society actors, and institutions respond to polarized environments and examine different strategies of depolarization, including contact and dialogue initiatives, reframing, norm-setting, and institutional interventions.

Literaturhinweise

Torcal, Mariano and Eelco Harteveld (eds.) (2025). Handbook of Affective Polarization. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar

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Hauptseminar: From Question to Answer: Analysing Survey Data with R [30203]

Dienstag 10:00 – 12:00 Uhr | Alexander Pries

This seminar provides an applied introduction to key topics in the analysis of survey data using large European representative surveys such as the European Social Survey (ESS) and the European Values Study (EVS). Theoretically, students are introduced to research questions and the measurement of concepts in the context of survey methodology: What questions can we ask, and what concepts can we measure using survey data? Students apply this knowledge by navigating the documentation of these surveys.

In the applied part, the course introduces tools for analyzing survey data using R and RStudio. It guides students through the main steps involved in the early stages of survey data analysis, from data preparation to descriptive and inferential statistics. By the end of the seminar, students will have a basic understanding of the key considerations when analyzing survey data, as well as a foundational toolkit for conducting applied survey data analysis in R and RStudio.

Prior knowledge of R, R Markdown (or Quarto), and basic statistics is advantageous but not required.

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Hauptseminar: Researching the Far Right: Methods, Challenges, and Ethical Reflections [30219]

Montag 16:00 – 18:00 Uhr | Christin Jänicke und Rebecca Kittel

Since the 2000s, the far right has gained increasing success in parliament, and broadened its influence in civil society. In this seminar, we will focus on the so-called fourth wave of postwar far-right politics, which is characterized by the mainstreaming and normalization of far-right actors and ideas, and how we can counter these developments.

This seminar explores the methods, challenges, and ethical considerations involved in researching the far right. Students will examine the various actors and movements within the far-right spectrum and learn how to empirically study these politically and socially significant phenomena. The course covers both qualitative and quantitative research methods, such as text-as-data or fieldwork approaches, addressing issues of access to hard-to-reach groups and the complexities of interpreting potentially problematic data.

A key focus of the seminar is the ethical dilemmas that arise when researching far-right ideologies. How can researchers engage with hate-filled content while maintaining their scientific integrity and social responsibility? How should research findings be presented to avoid amplifying harmful narratives? And how can researchers protect their mental health while engaging with potentially traumatic and highly distressing content related to the far right?

Through practical examples and case studies, students will gain insights into real-world research projects and engage critically with state-of-the-art literature on far-right movements. The course also encourages students to develop their own research questions, taking into account the methodological and ethical challenges inherent in studying the far right.