Our Research 

Welcome to the research home page of the Department of Sociology and Centre for the Study of Politics, a gateway to the research underway in the department. We provide world-class leading research that impacts on both a micro and macro level, and aids in developing policy-making decisions both nationally and globally. Our research combines theoretical concerns and critique with sustained empirical research, that speaks to issues of public concern. We are committed to directly engaging with the transformations in contemporary Irish and global society, and politics.   
 
Our research covers a wide range of intellectual areas including but not limited to:
  • Political sociology, the state and social movements.
  • Globalisation, identities and cultural practices.
  • Political economy, work and working lives.
  • Communities, families and social relationships.
  • Social inequalities and power relations of gender, class, race, and sexuality.
Read more in the University Research Reports. Click on the tabs below to learn more about our research themes, clusters, projects, contributions and affiliations.  
 

 Current Research Events

- Department of Sociology Seminar Series

The first departmental seminar for 2023 will be about the Far Right in Ireland. 
Dr. Barry Cannon from the Department of Sociology will present the findings of an IRC funded Stopfarright project, which aimed to identify the broad outlines of a national anti-far right strategy.
Orla O'Neill will be sharing her experience and insights working for St Stephen Green Trust funder in areas targeted by the Far Right. 
The seminar is open to all university staff and postgraduates.

 
- Brown Bag Initiative: Career Support Workshops
 


The Brown Bag initiative has been created to address specific needs for early career researchers within the Department of Sociology.
Experts in the identified areas will share their insights and experiences with staff and postgraduates in an informal round table sort of setting
On March 7th, publishing challenges for early career researchers and posgraduates will be discussed by both professor O'Brennan from the department of Sociology and Mr. Quinn for the university library.
Topics such as the process of publication, deciding on where to publish and looking at Journal Impact, Predatory Publishing and Open Access Publishing will be covered.
All researchers and postgraduates are encouraged to attend.
 

Global Connections 

At Maynooth Sociology & Politics, we collaborate both nationally and globally. Staff in the department are involved in a range of national and international networks and conferences, and major decision-making bodies. The map below illustrates the global ties of our current staff in terms of where they have studied, carried out research, their research and teaching partners, and connections:
 

 

Research Funding  

We work closely with different national and international research grant and funding agencies, some of which include: