Oded Marom

Oded Marom is a cultural and political sociologist currently serving as a Dornsife Fellow in General Education at the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California. He specializes in the Department of Sociology, where he conducts research on political polarization, partisan intolerance, and radical extremism as they manifest in everyday life.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Southern California (2024)
• M.A. in Sociology from the University of Southern California (2018)
• M.A. in Political Science from Bar-Ilan University, Magna Cum Laude (2010)
• B.A. in Comparative Literature & Communication Studies from Bar-Ilan University, Summa Cum Laude (2005)

Marom's research focuses on how complex social problems take shape in people's everyday lives. Using qualitative methods such as participant observation, focus group discussions, and content analysis, he explores the cultural mechanisms that guide political behaviors and attitudes. His work particularly examines the American libertarian movement as a case study to understand how cultural variations in local civic groups lead to different political outcomes. He investigates how interaction patterns within groups establish distinct cultural settings that influence political tolerance, discourse standards, and radical practices. His current book project develops an ecological model for the relationship between culture and action in cultural sociology.

Marom's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on understanding how cultural contexts shape political behavior. His most recent works examine radicalization processes in far-right movements, patterns of political tolerance in libertarian groups, and the interaction patterns that determine standards for public discourse. Collectively, his research reveals how seemingly similar ideological groups develop distinct interaction cultures that produce varying political outcomes.

Marom has received numerous awards for his research, including:

• Herbert Blumer Award for Best Student Paper in Symbolic Interaction (2024)
• American Political Science Association's Civic Engagement Section Best Paper Award (2023)
• Virginia Gray Award for Best Graduate Papers from APSA's Political Organizations and Parties Section (2023)
• Best Student Paper Award Honorable Mention from ASA's Theory Section (2024)

As an educator, Marom teaches GESM-130: "Why are We Polarized?" at USC and has previously served as a Teaching Assistant for various sociology courses. He has secured multiple research grants, including funding from the Social Science Research Council, Institute for Humane Studies, and USC Dornsife. His professional memberships include the American Sociological Association and American Political Science Association, where he participates in multiple sections related to political sociology, cultural sociology, and theory.