The aim of this project is to understand the interplay between economic inequality, social relations and collective action through behavioural experiments informed by sociological theory as well as philosophical perspectives. Currently, this relation is unclear: inequality is sometimes argued to promote collective action, but it may also undermine networks of social relations necessary for collective action.
Your jobThus, the project seeks to understand the causal mechanisms through which inequality in resources and social relations interact in the emergence or breakdown of collective action. This particularly applies to societal challenges that require wide societal buy-in and have long-term effects. The project will situate this research within philosophical discussions and discuss its implications for the value of (in)equality and its relationship to collective action and community.
In this PhD project you will develop and tests theory on the interplay between inequality, social cohesion, and collective action. These theories will be at least partly formalized, for example, game-theoretical models, but will also be informed by philosophical (normative) perspectives. Empirical tests will primarily rely on behavioral lab experiments but may also include other empirical approaches depending on how the project develops. During the PhD, you will:
- Learn how to combine theory-driven empirical sociology with philosophical approaches;
- Learn to derive hypotheses from deductive theoretical reasoning through formal methods on sociological phenomena;
- Develop strong skills in experimental methods, data analysis and critical thinking;
- Grow into an independent scientist while expanding your knowledge through your own research;
- Contribute to a collaborative, enthusiastic, and respectful research environment in the Department of Sociology, the interdisciplinary programme SOCION and the interuniversity research school ICS.
This PhD project is part of the SOCION consortium.
SOCION addresses a pressing challenge of our time: fragmentation in societies. Social cohesion is society’s fabric and is key to sustainable societies and citizens’ well-being. However, it is increasingly undermined by erosion and polarization between communities, factions, and groups. In this project, psychologists, social historians, demographers, philosophers, and sociologists collaborate with civic organizations to generate and integrate insights into how connections between individuals, groups, and institutions contribute to new pathways to and forms of social cohesion.