Junior Professorship for Comparative Politics

The professorship analyses politics from a comparative perspective. Our research and teaching focuses on the theory-driven empirical analysis of democratic systems, processes and the behaviour of citizens and political elites. To this end, we draw on a range of tools, including traditional quantitative research methods, text analysis, digital data and computational methods.

The work of the professorship focuses on three topics: Democracy and democratic backsliding; migration and right-wing populism; and the digitalisation of politics. Research questions include: How and why are democratic systems criticised? Is democracy in crisis in Europe? How does immigration shape political conflicts in Europe? Can right-wing parties influence politics? How is digitalisation changing opinion-forming processes and communication between elites and citizens?

Prof Dr Theresa Gessler

Room: LH 104
Logenstraße 11 | 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
+49 (0)335 5534 2474
gessler@europa-uni.de

Office hours

You can register online for consultation hours:
https://calendly.com/theresagessler/officehours

Administration: Jacqueline Haake-Schulz

Prof Dr Theresa Gessler

From 2009 to 2013, BA studies in Sociology, History and Philosophy of Science in Frankfurt (Main) with stays in Madrid and Exeter. Master's degree in Political Science (2013-2015) at the Central European University in Budapest. PhD on 'Political conflict on immigration and democracy in Europe' at the European University Institute in Florence, completed in December 2019. Postdoc at the Institute of Political Science and the Digital Democracy Lab at the University of Zurich (2019-2022). Appointment as Junior Professor of Comparative Politics at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) in July 2022.

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