The crisis of democratic theory from a sociological perspective
Sociologist Jenny Brichzin’s lecture “Crisis of Democratic Theory? A sociological intervention” opened our lecture series “At the crossroads? On the future of democratic theory”. The sociologist criticized the fact that social coexistence has so far been insufficiently addressed in democratic theory. A follow-up report
more information ›Handbook of Leadership. Applied Business Psychology for Managers
Felfe, Jörg; Dick, Rolf van (eds.) (2025): Handbook of Leadership. Applied Business Psychology for Managers. Springer.
more information ›Voluntary or compulsory? Military service, peace and democratic responsibility
Review of the 58th “Römerberggespräche”. The topic of compulsory military service and the question of what a democratic state is allowed to demand of its citizens were at the center of the 58th “Römerberggespräche” “Conditionally ready for action? Military service and the duty to serve the state”, which took place on November 15 in cooperation with the Research Centre Normative Orders in the Chagallsaal at Schauspiel Frankfurt.
more information ›Goethe Lecture Offenbach on ableist discrimination
Regina Schidel hat im Rahmen der Goethe Lectures Offenbach eine Kritik ableistischer Diskriminierung präsentiert. In ihrem Vortrag „Ich kann, also bin ich?“ diskutierte sie praktische Ausprägungen und philosophische Herkünfte von Ableismus.
more information ›How Democracy Relies on the Future
Vortrag von Jonathan White (LSE) im Rahmen der Ringvorlesung “Am Scheidepunkt? Zur Krise der Demokratie” im Wintersemester 2025/2026
more information ›Federal Requirements for the Independence of State Judges: A Transatlantic Comparison
Bogdandy, Armin von; Spieker, Luke Dimitrios (2025): „Federal Requirements for the Independence of State Judges: A Transatlantic Comparison“. In: Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law & International Law (MPIL) Research Paper, 2025 (23). Link
more information ›The Exemplary Normativity of International Precedents
Daase, Christopher; Wille, Tobias (2025): „The Exemplary Normativity of International Precedents“. In: Noyes, Dorothy; Wille, Tobias (eds.): Exemplarity in Global Politics. Bristol University Press.
more information ›Vinzenz Hediger becomes new director of the Cinémathèque suisse
Prof. Dr. Vinzenz Hediger will become Director of the Cinémathèque suisse in Lausanne from January 2026. The Cinémathèque suisse has been preserving, restoring and promoting Swiss and international film heritage since 1948. It is recognized by the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) as one of the ten most important cinematheques in the world – due to the size, diversity and quality of its collections.
more information ›Book launch of Lea Ypis “Indignity. A Life Reimagined” at the Frankfurt Book Fair
As part of the book presentation of Lea Ypis “Indignity. A Life Reimagined” on October 15, questions about dignity, identity, freedom and responsibility in times of extreme historical change were discussed.
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Rainer Forst awarded Goethe Plaque of the City of Frankfurt
On 4 September 2025, Prof. Rainer Forst, political philosopher and director of the Research Centre Normative Orders, was awarded the Goethe Plaque of the City of Frankfurt. With this award, the city honours individuals, whose academic work and/or public activities have shaped Frankfurt and beyond.
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New Research Program “Zeitenwenden. Normative Ordnungen im Umbruch?”
The Research Centre Normative Orders receives a generous funding by the Commerzbank Foundation Fund within the framework of the Stifterverband for German Science. A total of €750,000 will be made available over a period of five years. The project is set to launch this fall.
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Trumps Plan für die Ukraine – Kompromiss oder Kapitulation?
Ein Ende der Bomben auf die Ukraine – kurz vor dem fünften Kriegswinter ist die Sehnsucht danach groß. Der diplomatische Druck dazu kommt aus dem Weißen Haus, der militärische aus dem Kreml. Trumps 28 -Punkte-Plan überraschte die europäischen Verbündeten – wieder einmal. Zu Gast bei Maybrit Illner sind der stellvertretende CDU-Fraktionschef Norbert Röttgen, SPDAußenpolitiker Ralf Stegner, Oleksii Makeiev, Botschafter der Ukraine in Deutschland, und die Friedens- und Konfliktforscherin Nicole Deitelhoff. (ZDF, Maybrit Illner)
zum Beitrag ›Wehrdienst als Bürgerpflicht: “Völliger Quatsch”. Römerberggespräche über die Wehrpflicht
Ist der Wehrdienst eine staatsbürgerliche Pflicht – oder wird der jungen Generation zu viel abverlangt? In Frankfurt diskutierte der Autor Ole Nymoen mit Historikern und anderen Wissenschaftlern über Für und Wider einer Wehrpflicht. (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)
zum Beitrag ›Einige Universitäten bereiten sich auf AfD-Regierung vor
Die Wissenschaftsfreiheit ist nicht nur in den USA gefährdet. Die Standards müssen in einer internationalen Anstrengung verteidigt werden. Gastbeitrag von Christopher Daase und Nicole Deitelhoff (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)
zum Beitrag ›Die Kosten der Brandmauer sind hoch – und doch braucht es sie
Sollten die Parteien der Mitte im Zweifel mit der AfD kooperieren? Wer dieses Szenario zu Ende denkt, kann derzeit nur zu einem Schluss kommen. Ein Gastbeitrag von Thomas Biebricher (Die Zeit)
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Research
The Research Centre Normative Orders is home to various research projects. Up-to-date information on all current and past projects can be found under Research.
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Publications
The Research Centre maintains a publication database with current publications by participating researchers. In addition, the Centre publishes a series of its own publications with Campus-Verlag. The volumes document the interdisciplinary collaboration at the Centre and are each dedicated to the examination of important topics from the Normative Orders research program.
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Events
The Research Centre Normative Orders organizes events, workshops, conferences and practical forums at Goethe University, in the city of Frankfurt and beyond. In the event calendar you will find all current and past events in the context of the work of the Research Center as well as information on how to participate.
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Media library
The Research Centre publishes video recordings of many lectures, discussions and other events, such as the well-known Römerberg Talks. You can find and watch these and other videos in our media library.
Media libraryAbout Normative Orders
How do political, legal, religious or economic orders establish and change, how do power structures crystallize, how are power and life chances distributed – also on a transnational level? The researchers involved in the Research Centre Normative Orders reflect on these questions. The focus is on current social conflicts, in particular the just ordering of society in times of globalization, and their long history. The normative ideas that play a role in such processes and conflicts are examined. The questions are complex. This is why the Research Centre Normative Orders at Goethe University Frankfurt works on an interdisciplinary basis: from philosophy, history, political science and law to ethnology, economics, sociology and theology.