Kenneth R. Vaughan

I am a political sociologist and sociologist of religion at the University of Connecticut. My specific research interests include democratic deconsolidation, the new far-right, attitudes toward immigrants, authoritarianism, refugee policies, and social capital. I often investigate how religious cultures and institutions contribute to these.

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I have published research on religious disparities in Lebanese politics, anti-immigrant and anti-democratic sentiment in liberal democracies, religion and attitudes toward refugees, the effects of anti-religious persecution on mental health in China, religion and Asian immigration to the United States, education and health, and religiosity among Korean Americans.

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I am currently involved in research on experiences of discrimination among Muslims in the United States, assessing the state of post-Islamism in the aftermath of the Arab Spring in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia, and how religion shapes national migration policies in Europe. 

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I teach courses on the sociology of religion, society in an international perspective, and race, class, and gender under a joint appointment between the University of Connecticut's Storrs and Waterbury campuses.

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I am a full-time nerd. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, exercise, video games, and watching professional wrestling--the most intellectually and athletically stimulating sport. I am currently failing at taking up the guitar and electronic drums.