Steven Vertovec

Steven Vertovec is Founding Director of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity in Göttingen, Honorary Joint Professor of Sociology and Ethnology at the University of Göttingen, and Supernumerary Fellow at Linacre College, Oxford. Previously, he was Professor of Transnational Anthropology at the University of Oxford and Founding Director of COMPAS. He remains an active academic leader in migration and diversity studies.

Research Interests: His work centers on globalization, transnational social formations, international migration, ethnic diasporas, and urban diversity. He is best known for pioneering the concept of super-diversity, which examines the increasing complexity of migration patterns and urban populations. His research integrates sociological, anthropological, and policy-oriented perspectives.

Recent Publications Trends: His most recent articles focus on super-diversity, complexity thinking in migration studies, visualization of urban diversity, public attitudes toward diversity and refugees, and the societal impacts of the pandemic on transnationalism. These works emphasize interdisciplinary and systemic approaches to understanding migration and integration.

Scientific Awards:

• Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences, Université de Liège (2018)

Advising and Grants: While no direct students are listed, Vertovec has led major research projects funded by foundations and public agencies. He has advised the Volkswagen Foundation, UK government departments, the European Commission, UNESCO, the World Bank, and the G8. His leadership in COMPAS and the Max Planck Institute reflects extensive grant management and team supervision.

Labs and Teams: He leads the GlobaldiverCities (GloDiv) project and the ProDiv initiative on diversity assent in urban Germany. His teams include researchers from multiple institutions and countries, working on topics such as asylum seekers’ needs, intergroup contact, and urban integration. The Max Planck Institute serves as a hub for interdisciplinary migration research in Europe.