Dr. Martin Sauber

Welcome to the website of the Department of Socioeconomics at the University of Hamburg. Dr. Martin Sauber has been a long-standing member of the department.

Dr. Sauber began his professional career as a trained electronics technician and subsequently studied economics and social sciences in Hamburg (HWP), Tanzania, and at the Bradford Centre for International Development, UK. He completed his doctoral studies on an economic development theory topic. Since 2010, Dr. Sauber has been teaching in the field of economics at the Department of Socioeconomics at the University of Hamburg. He is also a liaison lecturer for the Hans Böckler Foundation and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and is actively involved in social movements.

His academic focuses are in the areas of development economics and international economics. In his courses, he places particular emphasis on analysing the interactions between the economy and society, always prioritizing practical relevance. He considers it important to apply scientific theories to real, socially relevant problems and enable students to develop their own perspectives and solutions.

Dr. Sauber is passionately committed to socioeconomic and interdisciplinary teaching, emphasizing the integration of sociological, economic, business, and legal questions and research methods. He is guided by a pluralism in theory and method, aiming to raise students' awareness of global processes, interests, normativity, and political paradigms.

In 2023, he was awarded the Hamburg Teaching Award. This recognition honors his dedication to teaching and confirms that his didactic approaches and content are particularly appreciated by the students. The award underscores that he not only possesses exceptional expertise but also conveys enthusiasm for his subject and high commitment, successfully transferring this to the students.

Dr. Sauber looks forward to engaging discussions and stimulating exchanges in his courses.

Dr. Martin Sauber pursues a specialized teaching philosophy and clear teaching goals. He connects science, academia, and studies with the skills of critical and analytical thinking, which he specifically develops and imparts to transfer the generated knowledge to professional, research, and social practice.

His teaching goals encompass professional, methodological, self, and social competencies. Dr. Sauber promotes the acquisition of expert knowledge and the reflection on social aspects. He opposes discrimination in teaching and offers high-quality courses for students with diverse socialization backgrounds in the spirit of "Managing Diversity."

As a learning guide, Dr. Sauber uses appropriate teaching methods to activate and support the learning processes of a heterogeneous student body. He combines self-directed learning and participatory elements with structured courses and specific support offerings. In master's programs, he particularly emphasizes research-based learning.

The digitization of lectures and seminars is another element of his teaching philosophy. Dr. Sauber aims to provide students with a critical overview through theoretical foundations and politico-economic phenomena. Learning objectives include understanding, critically assessing, and verbally discussing the content, methods, and contexts of scientific readings.

Participatory teaching methods ensure sustainable learning success and foster professional, self, social, and methodological competencies. BNE competency concepts (Education for Sustainable Development) are integratively included.

The subjects are comprehensive and complex, hence critical engagement is particularly encouraged. Students should learn to question information and analyse different perspectives to make informed judgments and act responsibly.

Dr. Sauber encourages trying out participatory teaching methods as they offer valuable opportunities for active engagement and deepening of the material as well as skill development. Open approaches and new experiences are viewed as opportunities for personal and academic growth.

• Interdisciplinary Introductory Course (various topics)
• Introduction to Economics
• Macroeconomics
• Development Theory and Policy
• International Trade
• History of Economic Thought
• Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Work, Economy, Society
• Pluralist Economics
• Paradigm Diversity in Economics
• Economic and Financial Crises from a Plural Perspective
• The Relationship between Society and Nature
• Neoliberal Beliefs
• Degrowth: Perspectives and Practices
• Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Work, Economy, Society
• Current Issues in Economic Policy
• Transformation Conflicts
• Socioeconomic Controversies in Development Theory and Policy
• The Added Value of Socioeconomics
• European World Trade
• Socioeconomic Research Perspectives on Work and Economy in Digitalized and Financialized Capitalism (Research Learning Lab)
• National and International Aspects of Poverty and Precarization (Research Learning Lab)

• B.A. Socioeconomics
• M.A. Work, Economy, Society
• Economic and Sociological Studies
• M.Sc. Interdisciplinary Public and Nonprofit Studies
• M.Ed. Master’s in Social Sciences Education (Teaching Degree)
• M.A. European Studies (until 2005)

The important features of socioeconomic teaching and research for him include:

• Analysing the interaction between economy and society: This includes understanding how economic processes influence social structures and vice versa.
• Practical relevance: Addressing topics with real, socially relevant problems, requiring the development of perspectives and utopias and justifying a need for action. This ensures that research topics are not only theoretical but also socially applicable and address societal issues.
• Interdisciplinarity: Promoting the integration of sociological, economic, business, and legal questions and research methods. This approach recognizes that complex problems often require insights from various disciplines to be fully understood and addressed.
• Consideration of Internationality: Focusing on globalized processes. This acknowledges that many economic and social problems not only cross national borders but are fundamentally global in nature and require a global perspective for effective analysis and intervention.
• Pluralism in Theory and Method: Advocating for diversity in theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches. This enriches the analysis by incorporating a broad range of perspectives and techniques.
• Increased awareness of interests, normativity, and political paradigms: Fostering a critical stance towards the underlying interests, normative assumptions, and political beliefs that shape economic and social policies and practices.

In this context, he would like to discuss socioeconomics as a pluralistic, integrative, and interdisciplinary program and a counter-hegemonic paradigm. The envisioned socioeconomics would not only include various academic disciplines and methods but also challenge dominant paradigms and power structures, aiming to create a fairer and just society.