Founded in 1973, the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study takes as its mission the analysis of societies and social change, and is devoted to a multi-disciplinary, comparative and international approach to social research. Professors in the School have participated actively in the most important contemporary debates about the meaning of the “interpretive turn” in anthropology, history, and political theory; about the centrality of culture, language, ritual, and moral understandings in the study of society; about the character and direction of social change; and about the explanatory power of rational choice in the analysis of political decision-making and economic exchange. Although each faculty member is rooted in his or her own discipline, all do work that transcends disciplinary boundaries.

Each year the School invites as Members some fifteen to twenty visiting scholars with various perspectives to examine historical and contemporary problems, providing a space for intellectual debate and cross-fertilization to flourish. A completed doctorate or equivalent is required by the application deadline of November 15, and Memberships are awarded at both the junior and senior levels. Visiting Members are expected to pursue only their own research, while the School organizes a weekly seminar at which Members as well as invited guests present their on-going work. Visiting scholars are drawn from a wide range of fields including political science, economics, law, psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, philosophy, and literary criticism.

In an attempt to create a sense of community among the Members, the School designates a theme for each year. The theme for 2009-2010 is Education, Schools, and the State. The thematic focus is neither an exclusive or excluding theme, however; it is expected that only one-third of the accepted scholars will pursue work relating directly to the theme. Applications are strongly encouraged from scholars across the social science spectrum, regardless if their research corresponds to the year’s theme. An archive of past themes is available here.

Fellowship support is provided by funds from private donors and foundations, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation and the Institute for Advanced Study.