Society
University of Alberta researchers have made major contributions to research in the social sciences, education, law, and business.
Our researchers study the ideas, institutions, structures, and interactions of past and modern societies—creatively engaging with how people live together in democratic, just, and flourishing societies.
Douglas Roche is an example of this commitment. A former professor of Political Science, Roche became a Member of Parliament and chair of the United Nations Disarmament Committee.
Roche focused on development and disarmament issues and is widely credited for Canada’s international reputation for peacekeeping, disarmament, and development.
Gordon Hirabayashi, a former chair of Sociology, resisted the US government curfew and "evacuation" orders for people of Japanese descent in Spring 1942.
He was convicted and imprisoned, but much later, in the 1980s, was granted a highly publicized judicial vindication.
His lifelong engagement with social justice is reflected in his sociological research and continues to inspire people across the globe.
The University's social scientists give tangible expression to the vision of our first President Henry Marshall Tory—that the University seek "the uplifting of the whole people."
What's in this Section?
Research in faculties and centres