Hauke Brunkhorst

Prof. Dr. Hauke Brunkhorst is a Professor of Sociology at the Europa-Universität Flensburg, Germany, holding a full-time position within the Department of Sociology under the Philosophical Seminar. His academic work focuses on social evolution, sociology of constitutions, legal theory, and political theory. He earned his Dr. phil in Sociology from the University of Frankfurt (1978) and completed his Habilitation there in 1982, becoming a Privatdozent.

Research Interests: Brunkhorst's work explores the interplay between legal revolutions, democratic capitalism, and global governance. His influential books include Critical Theory of Legal Revolutions – Evolutionary Perspectives (2014), Das doppelte Gesicht Europas (2014), and Legitimationskrisen (2012). His recent publications address crises in European democracy, cosmopolitanism, and constitutional evolution.

• Education:
  • 1978: Dr. phil, University of Frankfurt
  • 1982: Habilitation, University of Frankfurt

Publications: Recent works include analyses of European constitutional crises, critiques of managerial governance, and explorations of solidarity in global contexts. His 2015 essays highlight themes like global cosmopolitanism and legal revolutions, while 2014 publications address Kantian frameworks and European legislative power dynamics.

Key Contributions: Brunkhorst’s research bridges critical theory with historical sociology, examining how legal systems evolve through revolutionary and evolutionary processes. He has held visiting professorships at institutions such as the New School for Social Research (2009–2010) and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Vienna (1985).

Professional Activities: Current roles include teaching Culture and Social Change seminars and supervising doctoral programs at Flensburg. His work frequently engages with transnational legal structures, democratic legitimacy, and the intersection of capitalism and democracy in Europe.