About
Dr. Sebastian Kurtenbach is a researcher at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research (IKG) at Bielefeld University. With a doctorate in Sociology from the University of Cologne, he has held visiting scholar roles at institutions like Wayne State University and actively contributes to research on urban sociology, migration, and social inequality.
- Education: PhD in Sociology (University of Cologne, 2016); MA in Social Sciences (Ruhr University Bochum, 2013); BA in Social Work (University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf, 2010).
- Current Roles: Coordinator of the IKG research line on Migration, Marginalisation, and Social Space; Associate Editor of the International Journal of Conflict and Violence (IJCV).
His research focuses on context effects in residential areas, deviant behavior and youth violence, and spatial aspects of right-wing extremism, often employing qualitative methods and cross-cultural comparisons. His work explores neighborhoods like Cologne-Chorweiler, Dortmund Nordstadt, and Plovdiv-Stolipinovo, analyzing poverty, transnational family dynamics, and integration challenges.
Key trends in his publications (2014-2018) include:
- Neighborhood effects and social disorder
- Transnationalism and family life under poverty
- Ethnic segregation and social work strategies
- Migration patterns from Eastern Europe to Germany
He contributes to academic discourse through conference participation (e.g., European Sociological Association, Eastern Sociological Society) and serves on the board of the ESA Research Network 37 - Urban Sociology. His affiliations include the Center for Interdisciplinary Regional Research (ZEFIR) and the Rat für Migration.
