Thomas Kampen

Thomas Kampen is a Researcher at Universiteit voor Humanistiek, focusing on the intersection of citizenship, public sector humanization, and welfare policies. He leads and collaborates on projects addressing sheltered employment, working relationships, and solidarity in diverse communities. His research emphasizes street-level bureaucrats, social assistance frameworks, and moral dilemmas in social work.

Key research interests include the ethics of welfare conditionality, bureaucratic practices, care-dependent populations, and the impact of political changes on social services. He critiques systemic barriers in welfare systems and advocates for more humane, equitable policies.

Projects

• Principal Investigator for Levensverhalen over werk (2023–2025): Exploring transitions from day care to employment.
• Principal Investigator for In de dichter bij stand (2022–2025): Analyzing work relationships and dilemmas.
• Researcher in SOLiDi: Solidarity in diversity (2021–2024): Examining justice, education, and policy in diverse contexts.

His work critiques policies like mandatory volunteering in social assistance, emphasizing dignity and fairness. He has supervised 9 research projects, focusing on welfare clients’ experiences and professional ethics.

Labs/Teams Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams across sociology, law, and political science, emphasizing fieldwork and policy analysis.