The area „Comparative Sociology“ is concerned with the historical and comparative analysis of current changes in social structures, social institutions as well as social organisation. This focus aims at a thorough, comparative and empirical analysis of the changes in the post-industrial employment system and welfare state, the historical and institutional analysis thereby being the centre of attention. Main emphasis is placed on the labour market, gender regimes, industrial relations and social policy. The theoretical focus is concerned with the conceptualisation of economic and industrial changes, varieties of capitalism, liberalisation tendencies and globalisation as well as the occurrence of transnational institutional spheres and new forms of mobility. The main regional focus areas are Europe, in particular the member states of the European Union, East Asia and North America.