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History and theory of political thought

Political Science
History and Theory
of Political Thought

Photo: frei (Badische Landesbibliothek)

Prof. Dr. Olaf Asbach

Olaf Asbach

Photo: privat

Professor of political science, especially history and theory of political thought (retired)

Address

University of Hamburg
Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
Social Sciences
Political Science

Contact


Curriculum vitae

  • 04/2009–09/2026: University professor for Political Science at the Department for Political Science at Universität Hamburg

  • Speaker of the Department of Social Sciences (2015–2017)

  • Program Director BA/MA Sub-degree Programs in Social Sciences (teaching training) (2013–2026)

  • Deputy member of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences (2013–2015)

  • Member of the Teaching and Study Committee (LuSt-Ausschuss) (2010-2014)

  • 04/2009 to 11/2012: DFG-Heisenberg-Professorship for Political Science at Universität Hamburg, focus on "Europe and Modernity"

  • 05/2008: Granting of a DFG Heisenberg Professorship for Political Science with the focus on "Europe and Modernity"

  • 10/2005 to 09/2007: Substitute professor for the C 4 Professorship for Political Science at the University of Augsburg

  • 12/2006: Approval of a Heisenberg scholarship by the DFG

  • 05/2005 to 09/2005: Research fellow at the German Historical Institute, Paris

  • 02/2005 to 04/2005: Guest researcher at the Research Centre for European Enlightenment, Potsdam

  • Summer term 2004 to winter termin 2004/05: Lecturer for Political Theory and History of Ideas at the Department for Political Science at Universität Hamburg

  • 05/2004 to 09/2004: Research fellow at the German Historical Institute, Paris

  • 04/2002 to 03/2004: Substitute professor for the C 4 Professorship for Political Theory and History of Ideas at the Department for Political Science at Universität Hamburg

  • 2000 to 2002: DFG research project: Political Science in the French Enlightenment

  • 10/2001: Habilitation in Political Science at Universität Hamburg

  • 01/2000 to 06/2000: Research assistant at the Department of Philosophy at the Philipps-Universität Marburg

  • 05/1999 to 12/1999: DAAD Research fellow at the Maison des Sciences de l'Homme (Paris) and the Université de Paris VIII

  • 1999 to 2001: Lecturer at the International Summer-University at Marburg

  • 1999: Adjunct lecturer at Universität Hamburg, Department for Political Science

  • 1996 to 1999: Research assistant within the research project "The Idea of Peace, Constitution and European Federation. The Reception of the Constitution of the Old Empire in 18th Century French Political Theory and its Influence on the Formation of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Philosophy of Law and State" This project was part of the Franco-German cooperation project (Marburg/Leipzig/Paris) Les représentations françaises de l'Allemagne en Europe, 17e - 18e siècles / The French Image of Germany in 17th and 18th Century Europe

  • 1996: Doctorate (Dr. phil.) with a thesis on the philosophical beginnings of Max Horkheimer

  • 1995 to 1996: Research assistant at the Department of Philosophy at the Philipps-Universität Marburg

  • 09/1994 to 10/1994: Guest stay at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris

  • 1993 to 1995: Scholarship holder of the Hessian Graduate Scholarship

  • 1991 to 1993: Assistant at the Department of Philosophy at the Philipps-Universität Marburg

  • 1991: Graduated in political science (diploma)

  • Studied political science, sociology and philosophy in Marburg

Research

The Professorship "Europe and Modernity", later denominated "History and Theory of Political Thought" at Universität Hamburg was dedicated to researching and communicating the social, discourse and idea-historical foundations as well as the appearance and course of political institutions and forms of thought as they have developed in Europe since the modern era. The epistemic interest is based on the relevance of these developments for understanding and shaping current transformation processes of state, politics and democracy at national, European and global level.

The profile of the Professorship was thus characterized by an integral program that encompasses both conceptual and real history as well as historical, systematic and contemporary questions and problems as well as approaches. This results from the conviction that the parallel consideration of these different dimensions is indispensable in order to understand and process the historicity and contingency of the conditions and problems of the present and future. Research and teaching conducted by the staff of the Professorship are therefore committed to an interdisciplinary approach that integrates theoretical, historical, and contemporary approaches to the extent required for adequate knowledge of their subjects.

Focal points in research and teaching

  • Focus I: The emergence of modern Europe and European thinking
  • Focus II: Foundations of state and politics in the modern age
  • Focus III: State, democracy and law in the globalized world
  • Focus IV: The political thinking of the Enlightenment

Teaching

For my teaching history please refer to my German profile and to the StiNE course catalog.

Publications

Please refer to my German profile.