About
Dr. Varga is Associate Professor of Labor Studies at Indiana University. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the New School for Social Research. His first book, Hell's Kitchen and the Battle for Urban Space, was published in 2014. He is currently working on a second book, Breaking the Heartland, examining the processes of de-industrialization in the American Midwest.
Research Interests
Working Class Politics
De-Industrialization in the US
Global Labor Organizing
Policing and Public Space
Teaching Interests
Labor History
Global Labor Issues
Working Class Sociology
Unions in Contemporary Society
Publications
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Varga, J. J. (2020). Post-Fordist Affect: Unions, the Labor Movement, and the Weight of History.
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Varga, J. J. (2019). Social Haunting and Deindustrialization. In Journal of Working Class Studies: Vol. Volume 4 (Issue Issue 2). View Publication For Social Haunting and Deindustrialization
Presentations
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Varga, J. J. (2019). Labor is a ‘Queer Thing’: Anti-Capitalism as Non-Binary Practice.
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Varga, J. J. (2019). Magic Words and Haunted Spaces: NAFTA and the UK Miners’ Strike in Comparative Perspective. UALE, Philadelphia, PA United States.
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Varga, J. J. (2016). The Future of Work. Political and Civic Engagement (PACE).
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Varga, J. J. (2016). Union Workers and the Precariat. American Sociological Association Work and Labor Section, Seattle, WA United States.
Paper delivered as part of one-day symposium on precarious labor.
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Varga, J. J. (2016). Can Police Be Labor Allies/Labor Movement Members. Working Class Studies Association, Stony Brook, NY United States.
Roundtable discussion on the role of police and police unions in labor struggles.
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Varga, J. J. (2016). The Flint Water Crisis and Working Class Political Power. Poynter Center.
Contract Fellowship Grants
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Shutter, Shuttered, Shudder
Joseph Varga
Institutional Services
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Faculty Advisor/Mentor
2016 - Faculty AdvisorFaculty advisor for student organization, UndocuHoosiers, advocacy group for undocumented students at IU. -
Committee Chair
2016 - AAUPChair of AAU Committee A on Academic Freedom -
Faculty Governance
2016 - Bloomington Faculty CouncilAt-Large elected member of the Bloomington Faculty Council, elected on the Faculty Governance Caucus slate. -
Committee Member
2016 - Diversity and Affirmative Action CommitteeMember of BFC Diversity and AA Committee -
Organizer/Coordinator
2016 - Labor Studies Lunch Talk SeriesOrganized four 1.5 talks with presentations followed by group discussion, as part of the LS Department's ongoing Brown Bag Lunch Series. -
Committee Member
2016 - Search CommitteeMember of successful search committee for tenure-track assistant professor of social work, IU Bloomington.
Media Appearance
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Labor Unions and the Election
2016 - WFHB Community Radio
Memberships
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American Association of University Professors
2016 to Present
Professional Services
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Conference-Related
2016 to 2016 - Working Class Studies AssociationPrimary organizer of program committee for 2017 Annual Conference.
Public Services
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Organizer
2016 to Present - Bloomington City CouncilCoordinated community effort to successfully pass a City Council resolution opposing passage of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
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Organizer
2016 to 2016 - Jobs with Justice Wage Theft Committee/Worker's Rights BoardServed as principle organizer for convening Worker's Rights Board and Wage Theft Committee.
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Committee Member
2016 to 2016 - Wage Growth Task ForceWage Growth Task Force appointed by Mayor Hamilton (Bloomington).