Sociology

Find out more about sociology research at CNRS Humanities & Social Sciences and its laboratories.

Sociology researchers study the organisation and structuring of societies and the links between the individuals and groups that make them up. Sociologists are thus interested in a range of issues that can enhance our understanding of relationships between social groups or between individuals within societies, life paths, social initiatives (social involvement, work, etc.) or social groups, organisations and networks. Sociologists apply their observation methods and analytical frameworks to a wide range of social phenomena. Thus they may focus on subjects like social stratification and mobility, inequality, discrimination, socialisation, education, rural and urban life, health, the stages of life, disability, identity, gender, sexuality, mobilisation and collective action, mobility and migration, religion, law and justice, science, innovation and technology, culture, the media, fashion, professions or work. Any subject or issue that brings up questions about the relationship between individuals and society can in fact be studied from a sociological standpoint. The work of sociologists provides us with a better understanding of how societies function and change and can shed light on many of today's important issues.

Comparative approaches and the use of quantitative data alongside qualitative data are now taking on an increasingly important role in research projects which are themselves taking on an increasingly decisive role in many interdisciplinary projects.

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Research centers and networks

CNRS Humanities & Social Sciences laboratories

Laboratories in other countries

Innovation and outreach

  • Science/society :

The CNRS takes part in the Institute for Studies and Research on Law and Justice (IERDJ), a public interest grouping (GIP). This institute succeeded both the MRDJ (Law and Justice Research Mission) jointly set up by the French Ministry of Justice and the CNRS in 1994 to construct a research corpus dedicated to law and justice and also the IHEJ (Institute for Advanced Studies on Justice), an association created by the National School for the Judiciary (ENM) in 1990 to provide a think tank for thought on judicial practices. Over the last three decades, over five hundred collective and multidisciplinary research projects have been conducted under the auspices of the MRDJ while the IHEJ's work has produced varied focus groups and publications on pioneering themes.

 

CNRS Humanities & Social Sciences post-doctorate

The InSHS provides financing for a post-doctorate position dedicated to the "role of European law in public health and the development of medicines". This post is located at the DICE (International, Comparative and European Law) joint research unit and is attached to a Junior Professor's Chair at Aix-Marseille University.

Chaire de professeur junior

  • CNRS Sciences humaines & sociales a proposé une chaire de professeur junior sur les « Inégalités éducatives : mesures dans le temps long et expérimentations situées et à grande échelle (InEducaME) » en 2023. Cette chaire a débouché sur le recrutement d’un agent, affecté au Centre Max Weber à compter de 2024.