Troels Schultz Larsen

Troels Schultz Larsen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences and Business at Roskilde University, specializing in Social Dynamics and Change. With a PhD and MSc in Public Administration, he has been with Roskilde University since 2005, progressing from PhD fellow to his current position as Associate Professor since 2014. His work focuses on urban sociology, territorial stigmatization, and the dynamics of marginalized urban areas within the Danish welfare state context.

Dr. Schultz Larsen's academic journey includes:

• 2014-Present: Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University
• 2009-2014: Assistant Professor/Post-Doc, Department of Society and Globalization, Roskilde University
• 2005-2009: PhD Fellow, Department of Society and Globalization, Roskilde University
• 1998-2005: MSc (Public Administration equivalent), Department of Social Science, Roskilde University

Identifying his theoretical position as "Historically-Specific Praxis-Theory," Dr. Schultz Larsen draws inspiration from Bourdieu, Wacquant, Gramsci, and other critical theorists. His research spans urban sociology, territorial stigmatization, welfare state dynamics, and public innovation. He examines how marginalized urban areas are produced and maintained through intersecting social, economic, and political processes, with particular attention to the Danish context and its "ghetto list" policies. His work challenges simplistic interpretations of urban marginality, emphasizing the complex interplay between housing markets, labor markets, education systems, and family structures in reproducing spatial inequalities.

Dr. Schultz Larsen's recent publications reveal a deepening focus on territorial stigmatization as both a theoretical concept and practical policy issue. His 2024-2025 work, including the book "Fragmenting Cities: The State, Territorial Stigmatization and Urban Marginality," develops a comprehensive framework for understanding how state policies actively produce spatial inequalities. He critically analyzes Denmark's controversial "ghetto list" policy, demonstrating how such classifications function as mechanisms of dehumanization and social exclusion. His research increasingly adopts comparative perspectives, connecting Danish urban marginality to broader European and global patterns of spatial inequality.

Dr. Schultz Larsen's scholarly contributions include:

• Active participation in major research projects including EU-HORIZON24's RURALITIC
• Membership in the Royal Danish Academy (2025-2027)
• Extensive media engagement on urban policy issues

With over 15 years of teaching experience at Roskilde University, Dr. Schultz Larsen has supervised numerous student projects across social sciences, politics, and public administration. His supervision spans diverse topics including urban policy, social integration, housing, labor market policies, and public innovation. He has been involved in several significant research grants, most notably as a participant in the CLIPS project (Collaborative Innovation in the Public Sector), a major multi-institutional collaboration examining innovation in public services. His current research includes the EU-HORIZON24 project RURALITIC and the BOSID project on housing stigmatization in Denmark.

Dr. Schultz Larsen is actively involved in research networks focused on urban marginality and territorial stigmatization. He collaborates closely with Dr. Katrine Nørgaard Delica on multiple projects and publications, including their forthcoming book "Fragmenting Cities." His work with the North Seeland Police Department on the "TRYK Politi" initiative represents a significant practice-oriented research partnership examining citizen engagement in crime prevention. As a member of the Royal Danish Academy (2025-2027), he contributes to national scholarly discussions on urban policy and social governance.