Thorsten Winkelmann

PD Dr. Thorsten Winkelmann serves as a scientific researcher at the Institute of Political Science at Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU). His academic position reflects his substantial contributions to political science research, particularly in infrastructure policy, political extremism, and comparative politics. With active consultation hours and ongoing teaching responsibilities extending to future semesters including Wintersemester 2025/26, Winkelmann maintains a prominent presence in the academic community.

Winkelmann's research interests span multiple interconnected domains of political science. His primary focus areas include infrastructure policy and the social resistance to infrastructure projects, political extremism (particularly right-wing extremism and the Reichsbürger movement), local politics in Germany, the political system of South Africa, and federalism. His work demonstrates a consistent pattern of examining how political systems respond to societal challenges, particularly regarding public infrastructure development and political extremism. Through his publications and teaching, Winkelmann has established himself as a specialist in understanding citizen resistance to infrastructure projects and the dynamics of political extremism in contemporary Germany.

His extensive publication record reveals a clear trajectory of scholarly development, with recent work increasingly focusing on political extremism, infrastructure policy challenges, and South African politics. The publications demonstrate methodological diversity, employing comparative analysis, case studies, and theoretical frameworks to address practical political challenges. His 2022 habilitation thesis "Die 'bewegte' Republik: Zum Stillstand verdammt?" represents a significant scholarly contribution to understanding social movements in infrastructure policy.

Winkelmann actively supervises academic theses, as indicated by his invitation for students to contact him regarding final projects within his research focus areas. His teaching portfolio is extensive and current, covering both undergraduate and graduate courses across multiple semesters. He regularly offers introductory courses for first-year students in political science bachelor's and master's programs, along with specialized seminars on political extremism, Russian foreign policy, South African politics, and infrastructure policy. His consultation hours are held weekly via Zoom, demonstrating his commitment to student engagement.