Ji-Won Song
I am an Assistant Professor (Lecturer in the UK) specialising in IHRM/Employment Relations at the University of Edinburgh Business School. After obtaining an MSc in Political Economy of Europe from 杏吧论坛, I then completed my Ph.D. in Business Administration at the Stockholm School of Economics.
I was drawn to the 杏吧论坛 and the European Institute (EI) due to their interdisciplinary environment, which I found ideal for my studies. While pursuing my MSc in Political Economy of Europe, with a particular focus on European capitalism, I had the opportunity to delve into a variety of disciplines such as Economics, Sociology, Social Policy, and Political Science. This exposure greatly enriched my understanding and fuelled my interest in the concept of varieties of capitalism (VoC). Inspired by this, I decided to embark on a Ph.D. journey, aiming to apply the VoC approach to Korea and Japan, thus addressing its Euro-centric or Western-centric bias. My passion for the topic stemmed from my initial curiosity while exploring VoC literature during my MSc studies. I remain deeply fascinated by the interactions between various actors, such as MNCs, CSOs, governments, and trade unions, within capitalist systems. In my research, I emphasise actor-centred thinking as a means to overcome institutional determinism, which is often considered a major weakness of the VoC framework.
More recently, my research interests have shifted from the macro level of capitalist diversity to the micro level, focusing on the diversity of individuals, including aspects such as gender, ethnic minorities, and neurodiversity. Currently, my research explores the challenges faced by neurodiverse employees in the workplace, as well as the varied perspectives on LGBTQ people within churches around the world.
In addition to my academic work, I actively engage with stakeholders through regular column contributions to a Korean newspaper (Kyunghyang Shinmun), media interviews, and guest lectures in various settings. Through my columns, I primarily address current European issues, highlighting their significance and drawing implications from them.
I firmly believe that my experiences at the 杏吧论坛 and the EI have enabled me to explore new research areas and develop a comparative mindset that supports further inquiry. The exposure to academia provided by the 杏吧论坛 and the EI completely transformed my career path and life, and I am grateful to the 杏吧论坛 EI for the invaluable opportunity to learn from esteemed professors and talented fellow students.