Carsten Müller

Prof. Dr. Carsten Müller is a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer, affiliated with the Department of Social Work and Health. His research focuses on societal and socio-political aspects of social work, including critical historiography, visual sociology, community organizing, and democracy/participation. He has authored or co-authored multiple books, such as Geschichte der Sozialen Arbeit (2017) and Handbuch Community Organizing (2014), and contributes to journals like Zeitschrift für Sozialpädagogik. Müller’s work bridges theoretical discourse with practical applications, emphasizing historical analysis and contemporary social challenges. His recent projects include visually oriented historical narratives like Emden unter der roten Fahne (2021). He is active in academic governance, serving on committees and promoting social cohesion initiatives.

Education & Academic Career: Müller holds a Ph.D. from 2005 (Sozialpädagogik als Erziehung zur Demokratie). His academic trajectory includes collaborative research on critical historiography, community organizing, and the political dimensions of social work.

Research Interests: His work explores societal-political dimensions of social work, historical reconstruction, visual methodologies, and democratic engagement. Key themes include:

• Critical analysis of historical social work theories
• Community organizing as a political tool
• Visual representation in social work (e.g., urban art, historical imagery)
• Democratization and civic education
• Resistance to economicization in social services

Grants & Activities: Müller collaborates with institutions like FOCO e.V. and contributes to interdisciplinary projects. His work often intersects with local civic groups, emphasizing participatory democracy and social justice.

Labs/Teams: Active in the university’s Master’s program in Social Cohesion and research groups focusing on community organizing and historical social work.