Social inequality is one of the defining challenges of our time. It manifests in disparities of wealth and income, unequal access to education, information, and rights – and is profoundly shaped by political decisions. The Cluster of Excellence “The Politics of Inequality” studies the causes, perceptions, and consequences of inequality from an interdisciplinary perspective, combining political science, sociology, economics, and linguistics.

At the heart of our research lies the question of how perceptions of inequality, political participation, and policy decisions are interconnected and mutually influential. Our findings show that political and social processes often generate self-reinforcing inequalities.

We seek to understand how this dynamic can be transformed in a direction that reduces inequality. The research area Perceptions explores how ideas about the causes of inequality – for example, whether it is seen as deserved or unjust – shape perceptions of fairness and influence solidarity. The Participation research area examines how inequality shapes the global resurgence of social movements and the conditions under which it leads to resistance against reforms, for instance in climate policy or broader social change.The Policies research area analyzes the political conditions under which actors are willing to forgo short-term benefits in favor of long-term measures to reduce inequality.

Through our research, we deepen the understanding of the political causes and dynamics of social inequality and provide knowledge that serves as a solid foundation for public debate and political decision-making.