Simon Fink

Prof. Dr. Simon Fink holds the Chair of the Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany at the Institute of Political Science (University of Göttingen). His research focuses on theory-driven empirical analysis of the German political system, policy diffusion, European multi-level governance, and the intersection of politics with technology and religion.

• Comparative Politics
• Policy Diffusion Mechanisms
• Political Methods & Network Analysis
• Citizen Participation in Energy Transitions
• Religion's Influence on Policy

Academic Background:

• M.A. in Political Science, Law, and Psychology (University of Konstanz)
• Ph.D. in "Markets and Social Spaces in Europe" (University of Bamberg)
• Habilitation on Privatization Policy Diffusion (University of Bamberg, 2014)

His recent research examines energy transition governance through 13,000km+ grid expansion, analyzing citizen participation patterns in seven key theses: early engagement effectiveness, emotional language in consultations, procedural learning effects, and EU directive implementation paths. He also explores ethical dimensions of digital participation in health policy as co-editor of Ethics of Participation (2024).

Key methodologies include discourse analysis, policy document analysis, and multi-step participation frameworks as shown in his 2018-2025 publications.