Thomas Aguilera

Thomas Aguilera is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Sciences Po Rennes and a researcher at the Arènes UMR 6051 laboratory, where he serves as Deputy Director. He is also an Associate Researcher at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics (CEE) at Sciences Po Paris, LaSSP at Sciences Po Toulouse, and the Territoires et mutations de l'action publique chair. His academic work bridges political science, sociology, and urban studies, with a strong focus on public policy analysis.

His educational background culminates in a PhD in Political Science from Sciences Po Paris, where he studied under Patrick Le Galès. His thesis, Governing Urban Illegalities, was awarded prestigious prizes including the Prix Dalloz and Prix Caritas-Institut de France.

Thomas Aguilera’s research centers on the sociology of public action, territorial governance, and social movements. He employs mixed methods to explore urban informality, housing policies, squatting, platform capitalism, and short-term rentals. His work critically examines how marginalized communities are governed, particularly through displacement, confinement, and selective policy implementation in cities like Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona. He has also pioneered research on the political economy of toleration and the methodological integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches in political science.

His recent publications reveal a sustained focus on platform capitalism, urban regulation, and the political uses of cartography. Articles in Environment & Planning A, Revue française de science politique, and City demonstrate his engagement with cutting-edge debates on urban governance and digital platforms. His 2025 forthcoming book on Housing under Platform Capitalism further solidifies this trajectory.

His scientific awards include:

• Prix Dalloz (2017)
• Prix Caritas-Institut de France
• Prix spécial de thèse sur la ville

Thomas Aguilera advises four PhD students—Mathias Seguin, Adrien Mével, Pierre Burban, and Fabien Meslet—and has directed numerous master’s theses. He has secured research funding through national and international projects, including the WHIG project on urban governance. He co-organizes the annual Summer School on Mixed Methods for Social Sciences in Rennes, reflecting his commitment to methodological innovation and training. He is also a key member of the ‘Cities are back in Town’ research group and leads a transversal research group on mixed methods at Arènes.

He is actively involved in scientific life, having coordinated panels at international conferences (ISA, AFSP), organized thematic seminars and colloquia, and contributed to collective publications. His work extends beyond academia through media engagement, public conferences, and policy-relevant reports for organizations like Oxfam France and APUR.