Chair of Political Systems and Comparative Politics

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News

Jul 16, 2025

Jul 16, 2025

SHK/WHK-Stelle im REDEMOS-Projekt

Jul 03, 2025

Feriensprechstunden von Frau Prof.’in Kneuer am 29.08. und 05.09. (online)

Topics and People

Research projects of the chair

Since the early 1990s, the chair has been active in a variety of research projects. The spectrum includes the analysis of political institutions, research on the quality of democracy and extensive work on (East German) political culture. Prof. Dr. Marianne Kneuer has been the new holder of the professorship since 1.10.2021. She conducts research on aspects of democratization and autocratization, digital politics and solidarity in crisis situations such as the migration crisis or the corona pandemic. Further information can be found here.

Professur für Politische Systeme und Systemvergleich

The Team

Our chair employs three research assistants, a secretary and a number of students who support us as tutors and assistants in research and teaching. Here you will find the contact details and office hours of our team as well as information on the research activities of our academic staff.

The Secretary: Kerstin Belke

Kerstin Belke is where everything comes together. Appointments are made, certificates are issued, letters and parcels are received and small and large problems of students, employees and professors are solved. If you would like to visit us or have an inquiry for the professorship, you will find all the information you need here.

Welcome to the Chair of Political Systems and Comparative Politics

Understanding how political systems function, which construction processes and structural features of political reality are behind the daily news in newspapers and television, is the central concern of the Chair of Political Systems and Comparative Politics.

The Chair therefore deals with all relevant aspects of current and past political systems on the basis of a solid social science methodology. Our teaching and research focuses in particular on the study of democracies and autocracies, comparative systems analysis and various processes of change, e.g. towards digital politics, improved (e-)participation or reactions to crises and upheavals. Each semester, the Chair's academic staff offer courses that serve both to provide classical basic training and - with the participation of students - to deepen these core research areas.

We present the results of our research in our publications, in various research networks in which we collaborate with specialist colleagues and across disciplines, in political education events and in the media.

Information for Students and Researchers

Examinations & Theses

Here we give you an overview of the most important requirements that are placed on you in the courses offered by our chair. It is best to think of these requirements as sporting exercises: The better you train, the better your chances of success in the competitions of your later professional life.

Expert opinions and letters of reference

It is often needed for an application for an internship, a scholarship or a stay abroad - a reference from a university lecturer. If you need such a reference letter and think you have made a good impression on the professorship so far, we will be happy to issue one for you. You can find all the necessary information here...

Publications of the Professorship

The staff at the Chair of Political Systems and System Comparison have published and edited a large number of academic papers. On this page you will find a brief summary of the most important publications of recent years.

Information for Students

Here you will find important information for your studies, examinations and theses as a collection of downloads.