Research Clusters and Centres

A welcome from Dr Stacey Scriver, School Research Committee Chair

The School of Political Science and Sociology has a rich tradition of research in the social sciences. Social Science research is fundamentally guided by the question of ‘why’ – which is used by sociologists, political scientists and theorists to explore questions of justice, inequality, political and social structures, sustainability, social reproduction and the production of policies and operation of practices.

The four research clusters/centres in the School are:

• Centre for Global Women's Studies
• Governance and Sustainable Development Cluster
• Power, Conflict and Ideologies Cluster
• UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre

While each cluster/centre engages in focused research in their topic areas, they contribute, holistically, to an engaged research environment that tackles critical societal issues through applied, empirical, and theoretical work. Research in the School has influenced policy, practice, and legislation, in Ireland and internationally, in areas including domestic and sexual violence, child protection, youth agency and family support, as well as shaped thinking and approaches to the study of conflict, political engagement, sustainable communities and equitable education.

The research in the School contributes directly to all four of the Signature Research Areas (SRA) of the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies through research on equality and social justice (Transnational Encounters and Global Legacies, SRA 2), policies and practices for inclusion (Creativity, Culture and Inclusion, SRA 1), life course and social change, health activism, institutions and democracy (Childhood, Youth and Family, SRA 3) and sustainability studies (Human and Environmental Health, SRA 4). Research in the School also contributes towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

We invite you to further explore research in the School of Political Science and Sociology taking place within the clusters and centres through the tabs below where you can learn more about research projects, publications, and other research-related activities.