Current Research Areas

Democratic resilience between self-defence and renewal

How can democracies respond to the rise of anti-democratic forces while preserving their openness? This research area examines democratic resilience both with regard to legal and institutional strategies of self-defence and to its civil-society, civic, and spatial preconditions. Alongside conceptual work on resilience itself, particular attention is given to democratic innovations and practices that strengthen democratic agency and enable new forms of democratic participation.

Political theory of the city

How does our understanding of fundamental political concepts such as publicity, citizenship, or community change when we see them from the perspective of the city rather than – as is usually the case – that of the state? This research area aims to urbanise political theory and its core concepts, and to develop a theoretical understanding of the city as a distinct site of political association, conflict, and democratic practice. In this context, Verena Frick is currently co-editing the Oxford Handbook of the Political Theory of the City in cooperation with Dr Nir Barak. The handbook seeks to consolidate political theory of the city as a distinct field of theoretical inquiry.

15.12.2026 | 18-19.30h | KGA-106

Dr. Sven Altenburger, Blavatnik School of Government University of Oxford: What Makes a Good Military? Normative Evaluation and Institutional Design 

The lecture addresses the normative evaluation and institutional design of the military in democratic societies. Its main focus is on questions of civil-military relations, normative standards for assessing military institutions, and the institutional preconditions for a democratically accountable military. All those interested are warmly invited.

13./14.01.2027 | 18-19.30h and 9-13h | Senatssaal

Dr. Joe Hoover, Queen Mary University London: Living Just Enough for the City

In cooperation with the Research Training Group Practicing Place, the Chair is organising an “Author Meets Critics” workshop on Joe Hoover’s newly published book Living Just Enough for the City (Oxford University Press, 2026). The event will begin on 13 January with a public evening lecture by the author. On the morning of 14 January, a workshop will follow in which selected chapters of the book will be discussed together with additional guests. All those interested are warmly invited to attend the evening lecture. For participation in the workshop on 14 January, prior registration is requested.