Armin Schäfer

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Armin Schäfer is a Professor of Political Science specializing in Comparative Politics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. He leads the Comparative Politics Department and has held academic positions at institutions including the University of Münster, Osnabrück, and Frankfurt am Main. His research focuses on democratic representation, political inequality, and the rise of authoritarian populism.

Education includes a PhD from Bremen University (2004) and postdoctoral studies at the Max Planck Institute for Social Research. His career includes visiting fellowships at the Max Planck Institute in Cologne and guest researcher roles at leading institutions.

Research interests emphasize democratic decline, electoral behavior, and welfare state dynamics. Key publications include The Democratic Regression (2023) and studies on voting age reforms and populism’s impact on democracy. His work critically examines how socioeconomic inequality undermines political equality and shapes policy responsiveness.

Teaching includes courses on comparative political systems, data visualization with R, and electoral politics. Current roles involve leading the Mainz Comparative Politics research group and advising PhD candidates. His research has influenced debates on democratic sustainability and European integration challenges.