معرفی
Prof. Dr. Birte Förster is a faculty member at Bielefeld University, affiliated with the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology and the Department of History. She holds the position of Professor of General History with a focus on the 19th and 20th centuries since December 2024 and is the Spokesperson for the profile area Global and Interconnected History since 2021. She is also an Associate Member of the Collaborative Research Center 1288 "Practices of Comparison" and a member of the Center for Uncertainty Studies (CeUS) and the Bielefeld University Press Steering Committee.
Her research interests include decolonization of Africa, the global history of hydropower, the cultural history of politics, media and gender history, and literary constructions of the past. She explores how historical narratives are shaped through media, gender, and comparative practices, often engaging with public history through contributions to major German newspapers.
The recent publications reflect a strong engagement with themes of monarchy, memory, gender, and comparative historical methodologies. Her work spans biographical studies (e.g., Queen Elizabeth II, Jane Addams), literary history (e.g., Dante), and contemporary political commentary, all grounded in a deep understanding of modern European and global history.
- Research Fellow, Gerda Henkel Foundation (2015–2016)
She has advised and contributed to public discourse through editorial roles, including as Editor-in-Chief of Neue Politische Literatur, and through participation in interdisciplinary research centers focused on comparison, uncertainty, and global history. She is not indicated as part-time, retired, or deceased, and remains an active academic leader in her field.