Achim Goerres

Achim Goerres is Professor of Empirical Political Science at the University of Duisburg-Essen, where he is affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Institute of Political Science. He is also a member of the Priority Research Area 'Transformation of Contemporary Societies' (which he chaired from 2014-2018) and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Immigration and Integration Research. Since May 2021, he has been a founding board member of the German Centre of Social Policy Research based jointly in Duisburg and Bremen, and since September 2021, he has been part of the International Max Planck Research School on the Social and Political Constitution of the Economy.

Goerres is a comparative political scientist and political sociologist working at the intersection of political behavior and welfare state research. His primary research interests include:

• Political Demography
• Political Integration of Immigrant-origin Citizens, particularly Electoral Behaviour
• Comparative Politics of Ageing
• Political Solidarities
• Survey Research Methodology

His research focuses on how large-scale social changes manifest themselves in the politics of individuals, with particular emphasis on population ageing and immigrant political behavior. Empirically, he employs both qualitative and quantitative approaches with a strong focus on survey research, including the Immigrant German Election Study (IMGES) that he co-founded.

Goerres has published over 150 scholarly works and secured significant research funding, most notably a prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant in 2019 for 'POLITSOLID – The Ties that Bind: Experimental Analyses of Political Solidarities in Modern Democracies.' His recent publications examine immigrant voting patterns, political solidarities across demographic groups, and the political consequences of demographic change.

Among his scientific recognitions, the ERC Consolidator Grant stands out, identifying him as one of only eight political scientists in Germany to receive an ERC Starting, Consolidator, or Advanced Grant between 2007 and 2020.

As an educator, Goerres teaches empirical methods for political science and supervises PhD students including Paul Vierus, Hayfat Hamidou-Schmidt, and Jonas Elis. He has also received grants for the Immigrant German Election Study I and II, and projects on societal risk perception. His work on political integration and electoral participation provides valuable insights for democracies navigating increasing electorate diversity.