Ronja Herrschner

Ronja Herrschner serves as a Researcher and Junior Lecturer within the Department of Political Science at the University of Tübingen's Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences. She is an integral member of Professor Schlumberger's research group focusing on Near and Middle Eastern Politics and Comparative Political Science.

Educational Background:

• B.A. in Islamic Orient and Jewish Studies, University of Bamberg
• M.A. in Comparative Middle Eastern Politics and Societies, University of Tübingen (including a semester at the American University in Cairo); thesis examined succession mechanisms in personalist regimes

Research Focus: Herrschner investigates state formation and statehood, processes of autocratization and democratic backsliding, nationalist movements, and legitimacy construction in political systems. Her scholarship demonstrates a regional specialization in Middle Eastern politics, particularly analyzing how authoritarian regimes maintain power and manage succession crises through institutional and ideological mechanisms.

Publication Trends: Her co-authored 2024 study on regional security dynamics in Syria reflects her methodological approach of subnational analysis to understand state fragility. This work contributes to broader scholarly conversations about conflict persistence, territorial control, and the challenges of post-conflict governance in divided societies, highlighting how local conditions shape political outcomes even within seemingly monolithic authoritarian systems.

Academic Activities: As a Junior Lecturer, Herrschner teaches Political Science fundamentals (Seminar P0120c) and maintains office hours for the 2024/2025 winter semester. Her collaboration within Professor Schlumberger's research team demonstrates active engagement with contemporary Middle Eastern political challenges, though specific grant funding or student supervision details are not documented in available materials.