Matthias Middell

Matthias Middell is a Professor of Modern Cultural History at Leipzig University, specializing in Global Studies, Cultural Transfer, and World Historiography. He has held significant leadership roles including Vice-Rector for Campus Development (2022–present) and Director of the Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics (2020–present). Previously, he directed the Graduate School Global and Area Studies (2013–2022) and the Global and European Studies Institute (2008–2022).

• PhD, 1989: French counter-revolution at the end of the 18th century
• Habilitation, 2002: World History writing in the 20th century

His research focuses on global processes, historiography of globalization, and cultural transfer studies. He has significantly shaped the discipline of Global Studies through the Erasmus Mundus Masters program and contributions to the European Network in Universal and Global History (ENIUGH).

Key publication themes include:

• Globalization and spatialization
• Transnational and comparative history
• Intercultural transfers
• Respatialization of historical events
• Global historiography
• Academic collaboration in Global Studies

Scientific awards:

• Chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (2011)
• Fellow in Residence at the Dutch Centre for Advanced Study in Wassenaar (2010–2011)
• Guest Professor at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris (1996–1997)

Middell has supervised over 100 PhD students and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Comparativ. Journal of Global History and co-editor of the Palgrave Handbook of Global History. He is a board member of the International Committee of Historians and the International Commission for Philosophy and the Humanities, leading the Global History of Humankind project.

He contributes to institutional development as Vice-President for Campus Development: Cooperation and Internationalisation at Leipzig University, emphasizing international collaboration and academic innovation in Global Studies.