Christoph Lorke

Christoph Lorke is a historian and lecturer at the Department of History, University of Münster, and a researcher at the Institute for Westphalian Regional History. His work focuses on binational marriages and cross-border relationships in modern German history, particularly during the German Empire, Weimar Republic, and divided Germany.

His research lies at the intersection of legal history, gender studies, and transnational social history, examining how state institutions, public discourse, and individuals negotiated love and marriage across national boundaries. Key themes include marital regulation, agency, state control, and racial and gendered inequalities.

Lorke's recent publications analyze binational relationships in the GDR and the evolution of marriage policies from the 1870s to the 1930s. His work reveals how administrative systems professionalized over time, laying groundwork for later discriminatory laws. The articles reflect a strong transnational and interdisciplinary approach, combining archival research with cultural and legal analysis.

• "Liebe verwalten" (2020), Schöningh/Brill
• "Binationale Paarbeziehungen..." in Geschichte und Gesellschaft (2022)
• "Ist es ein Verbrechen..." in Jahrbuch Sachsen und Anhalt (2024)

He has presented his research in academic forums such as the CIH VII: Uncertain Boundaries program, highlighting the enduring significance of boundary negotiation in international history. While no formal advising or grant information is available, his scholarly output demonstrates sustained engagement with critical questions of identity, belonging, and institutional power.