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Inequality and Distributive Conflicts

Resources in most societies are distributed in ways that can be considered unjust according to most theories of justice.  In this research area, we focus on how societies deal with this conflict over resources, focusing particularly on inequality, policies, and political behavior. We study questions such as: When do citizens protest for a fairer distribution of resources? When do citizens instead stay home, or sell their vote, instead of voting for redistributive parties? Which type of citizens do governments favor in their policymaking? Do politician connections to the elite bias their policymaking for the benefit of wealthy citizens? For more information on our research on these questions and additional resources, click here.

Social movements who address inequalities, particularly in the Global South, do not only address distributional injustices in their countries but also on a global level. Frequently mirroring former colonial lines, distributional conflicts accordingly dominate many debates in international politics. Civil society organizations and social movements address international organizations to stake their claims. We study the resulting interactions: How are distributional politics contested in international politics? What are the strategies and repertoires of transnational social movements? How do they affect economic policymaking? And what are the outcomes of these interactions, both regarding policy and the mobilizing capacities of civil society organizations and social movements?