Rudi Wurzel

Rudi Wurzel is Professor of Comparative European Politics and Jean Monnet Chair in European Union Studies at the University of Hull's Department of Politics within the School of Criminology, Politics and Law. He has been with the university since 1993, progressing from lecturer to senior lecturer (2003), reader (2005), and ultimately professor. He currently serves as Director of the interdisciplinary Centre for European Governance (CEG), having previously directed the Centre for European Union Studies (CEUS) from 2004-2020.

Wurzel's educational background includes a PhD from the University of London (LSE), an MA in European integration with distinction from the University of Hull, and an MA in Politics, Law and German Literature from the University of Augsburg. He studied at multiple institutions including Würzburg, Augsburg, Hull and London, supported by DAAD scholarships and research grants from the University of London and ESRC.

His research focuses on environmental policy and politics, European Union affairs, comparative European politics, German politics, new modes of governance, public policies, and offshore wind and green economy developments in structurally disadvantaged cities. His work demonstrates a consistent pattern of examining governance structures, policy implementation, and the intersection of environmental concerns with European integration.

Wurzel's publication record shows strong engagement with European environmental governance, climate policy, and the role of cities in green transitions. His work spans comparative analyses of EU member states, examinations of polycentric governance structures, and studies of how structurally disadvantaged cities navigate ecological modernization. Recent work increasingly focuses on offshore renewable energy and the green economy in post-industrial port cities.

• Reviewer prize 2023 from the Journal of European Public Policy (JEPP)
• Organizer of numerous international workshops including for HIKE funded project (2024)
• Co-convener of the Political Studies Association's German Politics Specialist Group (2015-2020)
• Editorial board member for Environmental Politics and Journal of European Public Policy
• Recipient of DAAD scholarships for both MA and PhD studies

Wurzel has successfully secured funding from prestigious bodies including the British Academy, ESRC, EU, Nuffield Foundation, Leverhulme Trust and Anglo-German Foundation. He actively supervises PhD students and has completed numerous doctoral supervisions, often focusing on environmental governance, European policy, and urban transitions. His work connects academic research with practical policy applications, as evidenced by his presentations to government officials in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands.