Ph.D. and Doctoral studies at the IGN normally fall into the following broad research areas:

• Political sociology

• Environmental sociology

• Eco-political theory

• Theory of modern society

• Social movement research

• Actor analysis and political party research

• Policy analysis

• Democracy research

• Transformation research

• Environmental history

Possible research topics might include, for example:

• Social capital

• Citizen engagement

• Social networks and collaboration

• Social movements and political parties

• Democratic systems and sustainability

• Sustainability discourse

• Sustainability governance

• Sustainable consumption

• Post-growth society

• Social value change

• Ecological citizenship

• Political participation

Your proposal should be ten pages long cover the following:

• Title

• Relevance of research topic and relationship to the Academic Mission Statement

• Connection/relationship to ongoing academic debates

• Research question(s)

• Methodology

• Provisional structure/chapter breakdown

For a better understanding of the IGN’s research areas and approaches, please refer to our Academic Mission Statement.

Once completed, please send your proposal to Prof. Ingolfur Blühdorn. Requests for supervision may be submitted at any time throughout the year.

Potential applicants should look at the doctoral admission requirements of the WU prior to submitting a proposal to the IGN.

For more information on the application process, including admissions requirements and deadlines, please click here.

For more information on the structure and content of the doctoral program, please click here.