Prof. Dr. Volker Bornschier, born in 1944, worked at the University of Zurich since 1976. Starting as a lecturer, has was appointed an assistant professor in 1981, specializing in economic sociology. In 1988, he was appointed an associate professor and from 1994 on he was professor of sociology. His research focuses on world society, globalization, social change, sociology of conflicts and economic sociology. Volker Bornschier was instrumental in firmly establishing world society as a topic on the institute’s research and teaching agenda. From 1983 to 1996, he was president and since 2005 he is vice president of the World Society Foundation (Stiftung Weltgesellschaft).