Paul Nolte

Prof. Dr. Paul Nolte is a Professor of Modern History at Freie Universität Berlin, specializing in German and transatlantic history. His research focuses on democracy theory, urban history, and the history of public intellectuals. He holds the Gerda Henkel Visiting Professorship at the German Historical Institute London and LSE (2024–2025). His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary political discourse, emphasizing societal transformations and cultural memory. Nolte has authored over 20 books, including Demokratie. Die 101 wichtigsten Fragen (2015) and Riskante Moderne (2006). He is editor of Geschichte und Gesellschaft and chairs the Public History program at FU Berlin.

• Education: PhD (1993), Habilitation (1999), Johns Hopkins University (MA 1987)
• Key Positions: Member of Berlin Program for Advanced German Studies, Chair of multiple historical foundations
• Fellowships: Harvard (Kennedy Memorial), Oxford (Weizsäcker), UC Berkeley (Gerda Henkel)

Research Interests: Democracy's evolution (18th–21st centuries), transatlantic relations, urban development, and public history. His recent work addresses pandemic governance and neoliberalism's societal impacts. He advises PhD students on topics like urban nonprofit housing and neoliberal populism.

Publications highlight critical analysis of German constitutional history, modern capitalism, and historiographic methods. He actively engages in public debates on historical memory and democratic theory through media contributions and foundation leadership roles.