Matthias Lemke

Dr. habil. Matthias Lemke is an academic staff member and lecturer at Akkon Hochschule, a private institution in Berlin specializing in health, emergency response, and social sciences. He teaches in the B.Sc. Management in Emergency Response and M.Sc. Leadership in Threat Prevention and Crisis Management programs, focusing on scientific work, operations research, and procurement and service management. His academic background includes political science with a focus on political theory from the University of Münster and Sciences Po Paris, a joint German-French doctorate, and a habilitation at the Bundeswehr University of Hamburg on "Democracy in a State of Emergency."

His research interests lie at the intersection of political theory, constitutional law, and crisis governance. He investigates the implications of emergency powers on democratic systems, with particular attention to emergency federalism, the normalization of exceptional rule, and far-right ideologies within security institutions. His work combines theoretical rigor with practical insights from his over 25 years of service as a volunteer firefighter in Gelsenkirchen, where he has held leadership roles including deputy fire brigade commander (2019–2023) and fire brigade commander (since 2025).

The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on the state of exception as a governing technique, examining its legal, political, and social dimensions across German federalism, public security discourse, and European counterterrorism frameworks. His interdisciplinary approach draws from law, political science, and public administration, often in collaborative, international contexts.

• Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Science and Democracy Foundation, Kiel
• Volunteer Fire Brigade Commander, Gelsenkirchen Fire Department (since 2025)
• Former Deputy Fire Brigade Commander (2019–2023)
• Advisor to academia, civil society, and security agencies

Dr. Lemke has advised institutions in science, civil society, and public security sectors. While no formal grants are listed, his involvement in institutional research and advisory roles suggests active engagement in policy-relevant scholarship. He is affiliated with the Institute for Research in International Assistance (IRIA) and the Institute for Applied Innovation in Healthcare (ITAC), though specific project leadership is not detailed. His practical experience deeply informs his academic work, bridging theory and emergency response practice.