The research area Migration and Diversity combines sociological, political science and social-psychological perspectives to study how societies cope with immigration and the increased cultural and religious diversity resulting therefrom. A keen focus is on the role of policies and institutions. Immigration policies, citizenship, assimilation requirements, church-state relations, and the welfare state are among the policies and institutions of core relevance to the research area. The current research outputs and projects include the integration of immigrants along various dimensions (political, socio-cultural and socio-economic aspects), the reactions of native populations to immigration as well as the impacts of immigration and diversity on social trust, cooperation and solidarity in society at large. The research area further includes the examination of both structural and cultural conditions and motivations that induce decision-making processes of potential migrants in their countries of origin.  In particular, the main focus is on migrants from predominantly African countries.

The research area is divided into the research unit Migration, Integration, Transnationalization and the research group International Citizenship Law (ICL). The objective of the research is to increase the current state of research regarding policies and institutional effects in the areas of migration and diversity.

The research group International Citizenship Law (ICL) mainly focuses on issues arising in relation with the granting of citizenship against the background of global migration. In essence, the project seeks to formulate international standards for naturalization and for granting citizenship for migrants. The research outcome can serve as a basis for future reforms in international law, EU law, and national legal systems.

Projects within the research area are mostly cross-nationally comparative, and include quantitative, qualitative, as well as (quasi-)experimental research methods.