Delia Zollinger

Dr. Delia Zollinger is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich in the Department of Political Science. Her work bridges political sociology, political economy, and comparative politics, focusing on how economic and social transformations in post-industrial knowledge societies drive long-term shifts in political conflicts and party systems.

• Education: PhD (2023) and BA (2015) from the University of Zurich, MSc (2018) from the London School of Economics and Political Science
• Research Stays: Harvard University (2022), European University Institute (2021)
• Fellowship: Doc.CH from the Swiss National Science Foundation

Her research investigates how voters interpret their societal positions through group belonging, life opportunity perceptions, and changing status hierarchies. Key trends include: analyzing cleavage theory via Bourdieu’s lens, mapping place-based identities in the knowledge society, and quantifying collective identities using open-ended survey responses. Collaborative work explores voter cognition in contexts of electoral realignment and inequality perception.

• Scientific Award: Doc.CH fellowship (Swiss National Science Foundation)

Delia collaborates with scholars like Simon Bornschier, Silja Häusermann, and Marco Steenbergen on projects related to structural change, identity formation, and cleavage consolidation in 21st-century politics. Her work appears in journals like American Journal of Political Science and Comparative Political Studies, emphasizing methodological innovation in political identity analysis.