Alexander Wohnig

Prof. Dr. Alexander Wohnig is a junior professor of Social Science Didactics at the University of Siegen, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Social Sciences. He serves as Federal Chairman of the German Association for Political Education (DVPB) since 2021 and leads Subproject B08 ('The Popular in Schools') within the Collaborative Research Center 'Transformations of the Popular'. His research focuses on political education, democracy education, and the interplay between formal and informal learning spaces. Wohnig holds a PhD from Goethe University Frankfurt and has held academic positions at Heidelberg University and the Heidelberg University of Education.

Education:

• Studies in Politics/Economics, History, and German (Goethe University Frankfurt, 2004–2011)
• Doctorate in Philosophy (Goethe University Frankfurt, 2015–2016)
• PostDoc at the Heidelberg School of Education (2017–2019)

Research Interests: Wohnig explores how political and social learning occurs in extracurricular settings, the dynamics of political participation among youth, and the role of democracy education in fostering civic engagement. His work bridges social theory, political sociology, and qualitative research methods.

Articles Trends: His publications analyze educational partnerships between schools and youth organizations, the role of experience in political learning, and critiques of educational neutrality. Recent work emphasizes crisis-driven educational adaptation and the functionalization of learning spaces.

Awards: 2018 Walter Jacobsen Prize for his dissertation on social and political learning dynamics.

Advising & Grants: Leads the DFG-funded network 'Democracy Education and Political Education' (2021–2024), focusing on interdisciplinary dialogue between fields. Supervises projects on youth participation and democratic education.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Collaborative Research Center 'Transformations of the Popular' and chairs the 'AG6 The University and the Popular' working group. Collaborates with institutions like the German Adult Education Association and the Democracy Center Vienna.