Home | MPI for Political and Social Science

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Welcome to the Max Planck Institute for Political and Social Science

At our institute, we explore pressing questions of social and political change. Drawing on political science and sociology, our research is grounded in a broad interdisciplinary perspective. The institute succeeds the former Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity and officially began operating under its new name in March 2026.

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Join us

Explore the career opportunities at our Institute.

Newsroom

Stay up to date about research news and events.

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Media

Our researchers are regularly featured in the media. Find selected articles, podcasts, radio broadcasts and TV reports here.

Latest News

Photo collage featuring Steffen Mau and the audience

taz lab 2026

As Part of this year’s program, a panel discussion moderated by Jan Feddersen, brought together the sociologists Steffen Mau, who is our Director, and Nils C. Kumkar. Kumkar challenged the idea that society is deeply polarized. Their key point: conflict is amplified by media logic, while broad areas of agreement receive far less attention.

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Neue Köpfe für die »Blätter«

Steffen Mau has joined the editorial board of 'Blätter für deutsche und internationale Politik' - one of Germany’s most renowned journals for German and international politics. Following the passing of Jürgen Habermas, who was a co-editor for nearly three decades, the journal is welcoming eight new editorial board members as it celebrates its 70th anniversary.

In_equality Research Award 2026

The Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality" at the University of Konstanz presents the In_equality Research Award 2026 to sociologist Steffen Mau in recognition of his exceptional research achievements and their social relevance.

Graffiti message "Save Diversity" on a concrete wall, surrounded by orange and black paint strokes with green plant and spiral illustrations.

Futures of Difference

Steven Vertovec has launched Futures of Difference, an initiative exploring the processes, discourses, and possible trajectories of key social categories worldwide through essays, podcasts, and short films by leading scholars. New content is published weekly on Substack, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

European Political Science Society conference, June 2026, with a map of Europe and network lines.

EPSS 2026 | Belfast, UK

Ursula Daxecker will present two papers at the EPSS: Understanding Political Elites’ Support for Democracy: Evidence from Indian Politicians and The Persistence of Political Violence in Democracy: Evidence from Micro-level Data in India

Information about the ERC project Elections, Violence & Parties (EVaP) concluding workshop and book discussion on "The Logic of Party Violence," organized by Ursula Daxecker from the University of Amsterdam and Max Planck Institute, and Neeraj Prasad from the University of Amsterdam, scheduled for May 27, 2026.

Concluding Workshop for the ERC Project EVaP and Book Discussion

On 27 May 2026, Ursula Daxecker and Neeraj Prasad organize a concluding workshop at the University of Amsterdam to discuss their book manuscript The Logic of Party Violence. The workshop concludes the ERC Starting Grant project Elections, Violence, and Parties (EVaP), which examined how and why political parties use violence during elections and how this violence shapes democracy and political competition.

Publications

Cover for "Der große Umbruch" featuring Ricarda Lang and Steffen Mau, discussing crises, conflicts, and compromises; Spiegel Bestseller Author label.

Title page of a study on misinformation effects in India, listing authors and affiliations.

Book cover with title "Trigger Points" and authors Steffen Mau, Thomas Lux, Linus Westheuser.

Cover of "Ungleich vereint" by Steffen Mau, featuring Germany map and bestseller label.

Special issue on political violence in democracies, guest editors Andrea Ruggeri, Ursula Daxecker, Neeraj Prasad

Book cover with colorful puzzle pieces, title "Superdiversity" by Steven Vertovec.

Book cover with a soldier on a boat at sunset, text about piracy.

Book cover titled "Sorting Machines: The Reinvention of the Border in the 21st Century" by Steffen Mau.

Red cover featuring "Ethnic and Racial Studies" with the article title "The social organization of difference" by Steven Vertovec.

Looking for Information about the former Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity?
Visit our former Institute website.