New Political Theories and Ideas
PD Dr. Veith Selk is a political and social scientist specialising in political theory and intellectual history. His research focuses on democratic theory, the history of political thought, populism, political ecology, and social conflicts in socio-technical transformation. He was visiting professor and deputy director of the Institute for Social Change and Sustainability at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Most recently, he worked on current issues in democracy research as part of the Hessian research network "Challenges of Democracy in Times of Regression." He currently holds the acting professorship for Political Science at the University of Vechta.
In addition to his academic work, he is active in civic education, democracy education, and citizen science. He lives in Hamburg.
Upcoming Events
Congress of the German Sociological Association
"Alte Mensa" at the University Campus in Mainz
Current Books
Demokratiedämmerung
A Critique of Democratic Theory (October 2023)
»Maybe a good idea in theory, but unfortunately fails in practice«
What was once said about communism now applies to democracy — it is becoming increasingly implausible.
In his sharply analytical book, Veith Selk shows why both democratic politics and the democratic theories that accompany it are failing in the face of reality.
Two theses are pursued: The decline of democracy is not due to regression but is the result of social evolution. The resulting end of democracy also leads to the decay of democratic theory, which is becoming anachronistic as an academic discipline. (Text: Suhrkamp)
Reviews
- Review in ZEIT by Thomas Assheuer
- Review in REPUBLIK by Daniel Binswanger
- Review in FAZ by Christoph Möllers
- Review in FALTER 6/24 by Robert Misik
- Review at politischebildung.at by Tamara Ehs
- Review in Psychologie-Magazin
- Review by Frithard Scholz
- Review at soziopolis by Dagmar Comtesse
- Review at Ethik & Gesellschaft by Moritz Fromm
- Review at Theorieblog.de by Reinhard Mehring
- Review at Wissenschaftsdebatte.de by Wolfgang Goede
- Review in Jahrbuch Extremismus & Demokratie (36), 473-475 by Isabelle-Christine Panreck
- Review in Politik & Ökonomie by Matthias Ubl
- Review at kritisch-lesen.de by Thore Freitag
- Review at Francia Recensio by Werner Bührer
- Review in Merz. Zeitschrift für Medienpädagogik by Daniel Aberl
- Review for GWP Gesellschaft. Wirtschaft. Politik by Manfred G. Schmidt
- Review for pro Zukunft by Josef Hörmandinger
- Review for ifz. Wissenschaft für Menschen by Birgit Bahtic-Kunrath
In the Media
- Interview in ND with Alex Struwe
- Interview WDR5/Politikum
- Conversation at Kreisky Forum Vienna with Robert Misik
- Conversation at TAZ Talk with Aaron Gebler
- Interview at SEIN UND STREIT with Stephanie Rohde
- Discussion at DIE NEUEN ZWANZIGER by Stefan Schulz & Wolfgang M. Schmitt
- Essay in DIE ZEIT by Lenz Jacobsen
- Book review at SCOBEL
- Guest essay for NEW YORK TIMES
- Podcast "Democracy in Danger?" by Federal Agency for Civic Education
Postliberalismus?
A Transatlantic Debate
The dominance of liberalism appears to be coming to an end. In light of intensifying geopolitical crises and the accelerating erosion of liberal democracies, alternatives to liberalism are being discussed in political theory on both sides of the Atlantic, grouped under the shimmering umbrella term of post-liberalism. The volume brings together contributions from internationally renowned scholars including Thomas Biebricher, Annelien de Dijn, Patrick J. Deneen, Anton Jäger, Philip Manow, Samuel Moyn, Jan-Werner Müller, Elif Özmen, Adrian Pabst, and Nadia Urbinati, who examine this new phenomenon. As observers, critics, or advocates of such alternatives, they ask: Can liberalism still be saved?
In the Media
- Are Post-Liberals Simply Insecure Liberals? Jonas Junack in Jacobin