Paul Joosse

Paul Joosse is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Hong Kong. His work examines Weber’s theory of domination as it interacts with social movement theory and (critical) criminology. Recent projects have included theorizing the link between gender and charismatic power, using the example of Trump to develop a typology of charismatic counter-roles, and weaving Stanley Cohen’s concept of moral panic with Weber’s theory of charisma to show how charismatic acclamation is intimately liked to the aspersion of ‘folk devils.’ This work has been published in Social Forces, Sociological Theory, Theory and Society, Journal of Classical Sociology, and Sociology of Religion, among others. In connection with his sociological work, he is Chair of the American Sociological Association’s Section for the History of Sociology and Social Thought and he currently serves on the executive board of the International Sociological Association’s Sociological Theory research cluster (RC16).

A second strand of research falls broadly within critical criminology. Specifically, Paul has used a variety of research methods (including ethnographic fieldwork) to explore the fringes of social movements as a site for criminal engagement and criminalization.　This has led to analyses of the cultural narratives that give rise to rebellion, the social construction of “ecoterrorism,” and a critical assessment of the origins of the “lone wolf” phenomenon. A further project has contributed to understandings of resilience to radicalization within the Somali-Canadian diaspora. This criminological research has been published in British Journal of Criminology, European Journal of Criminology, Crime Media Culture, and Terrorism and Political Violence, among others. In connection with this work, he is currently Chair of the Society for the Study of Social Problems’ Theory Division, an Associate Fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) at King’s College London, and a Senior Research Affiliate with the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security, and Society (TSAS).

Earlier on in his career, Paul was happy to serve as an editorial assistant at the British Journal of Sociology.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) University of Alberta
• Master of Arts (MA) University of Alberta
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) The King's University College

Companies

• Assistant Professor The University of Hong Kong (2015)
• Postdoctoral Fellow University of Alberta (2014)