Rate My Professor Rod Fopp

Dr Rodney Fopp serves as a researcher in the School of Society and Culture, College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences at Adelaide University, where he is eligible to supervise Masters and PhD students and is available for media commentary. His scholarly interests span political philosophy, particularly absolutism versus relativism, cross-cultural perspectives on human rights, and the concept of tolerance. Fopp delves deeply into social theory, engaging with foundational thinkers including Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, the Frankfurt School, Hannah Arendt, Karl Mannheim, and Sandra Harding. His work examines the nature of science and social science methodologies, with a focus on standpoint epistemologies. Additionally, he explores the sociology of religion, addressing secularization and its broader implications. A significant portion of his research centers on public policy and analysis concerning housing, homelessness, and shelter provision. Key projects include investigating pathways to independent living—best practices and critical interventions for homelessness in South Australia—the sustainable housing project, and a study on vulnerable adults.

Fopp has produced a substantial body of publications that reflect his interdisciplinary expertise. Among his books are "Enhancing Understanding: Advancing Dialogue" (2008, ATF Press) and "Introduction to Australian Society: A Sociological Overview", co-authored with L. Earle (1999, Harcourt Brace). Notable book chapters include "Homelessness Policy: Benign Neglect or Regulation and Control?" (2014, in Homelessness in Australia) and "Gnostic Messianism and Catastrophe of the Twentieth Century in Eric Voegelin's Political Thought" (2006, in Messianism, Apocalypse and Redemption). His journal articles feature "Problematising Aspects of Evidence-Based Policy: An Analysis Illustrated by an Australian Homelessness Policy 1985-2008" (Australian Journal of Social Issues, 2015), "'Repressive Tolerance': Herbert Marcuse's Exercise in Social Epistemology" (Social Epistemology, 2010), "Metaphors in Homelessness Discourse and Research: Exploring Pathways, Careers and Safety Nets" (Housing, Theory and Society, 2009), and "Social Constructionism and Housing Studies: A Critical Reflection" (Urban Policy and Research, 2008). Previously serving as a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of South Australia, Fopp continues to supervise doctoral candidates on diverse topics, such as identity challenges for Kazakh Christians converted from Islam, the agency of food waste, and the evolution of political campaigning exemplified by Robert Kennedy.