Hedwig Richter

Hedwig Richter is a Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the Bundeswehr University Munich. Her academic journey includes studies at Heidelberg University, Queen’s University Belfast, and the Free University of Berlin, culminating in a doctorate from Cologne University (2008) and habilitation from Greifswald University (2016). She has held teaching and research positions at Bielefeld, Greifswald, Heidelberg Universities, and the Hamburg Institute for Social Research. Her fellowships include stints at the German Historical Institute (Washington, D.C.) and the Institute for Contemporary History (Prague). She currently serves as liaison professor at the German National Academic Foundation and contributes to editorial boards of academic series and journals.

Her research focuses on German and European history (19th–20th centuries), transatlantic history, democracy and dictatorship studies, migration, gender studies, and church history. Notable awards include the Anna Krüger Prize (2020) and the Offermann-Hergarten Prize (2010). She frequently publishes in leading journals and writes for major newspapers like the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Her work explores themes such as democratic institutions, migration integration, gender in political movements, and the intersections of religion and politics. Recent publications include Aufbruch in die Moderne (2021) and Demokratie. Eine deutsche Affäre (2020), which critically examines democratic evolution in Germany. Her articles analyze electoral systems, historical memory, and the role of women in political history.

Richter’s contributions extend beyond academia through roles in think tanks like the Green Academy (Böll Foundation) and editorial advisory boards. Her research bridges historical analysis with contemporary debates on democracy, migration, and societal integration.