Simon Bornschier

Dr. Simon Bornschier is a faculty member at the Department of Political Science (IPZ), University of Zurich, and Head of the Research Area Political Sociology. His work bridges comparative politics, political sociology, and polarization studies, focusing on party system dynamics and the role of social identities in electoral realignment.

• Education: PhD in Political Science

His research explores how ideological polarization shapes substantive representation, with regional expertise in Latin America and Western Europe. He investigates historical legacies, extractivism, and institutional responsiveness to social resistance.

Recent publications emphasize cleavage formation, identity dynamics, and protest politics. Key themes include the universalism-particularism divide, electoral behavior, and the interplay between new social movements and traditional party systems.

Simon Bornschier teaches courses on Political Behavior, Democratization, and Party Systems at both undergraduate and graduate levels.