The Division of Public Spheres and Inequalities is concerned with analysing public spheres and inequalities at macro-, meso- and microlevels, focusing on globalisation and digitalisation. Thematic areas include inequality, global communication and its imbalances, postcolonial theories, (digital) public spheres in polarized societies, the connection of media, activism, social movements and protest communication, and the discussion of migration in the media.

Intersectionality is an important concept in the research areas of Public Spheres and Inequalities. The concept of Intersectionality is about understanding that discrimination can have multiple causes and sources, which can overlap and reinforce each other. Research is carried out in different international contexts to analyse how inclusive and exclusive categories, such as gender, class, race, religion, age or health, interact.