The AISSR unites all social science research of the UvA. The research programme focuses on the functioning of contemporary societies and their interrelationships from historical, comparative and empirical perspectives.

The research programme is organised into thematically focused groups with an anchor in one or more of the represented disciplines: sociology, geography, planning & development studies, political science and anthropology.

Cooperation across these programme groups is institutionalised in five interdisciplinary centres: the Centre for Urban Studies (CUS), the Centre for Social Sciences and Global health (SSGH), the Centre for Inequality Studies (AMCIS), The Centre of Gender and Sexuality (ARC-GS) and the Centre for Migration and Ethnic Studies (IMES).