RAHEL SÜSS
Photo: Olivier Pol Michel
Rahel Süß is a political scientist and philosopher at The New Institute. She is exploring desirable democratic and digital futures and is working on a new paradigm of experimental democracy for the digital age.
ABOUT ME
As a dedicated writer and speaker, I explore desirable futures. How does the future come into being? How can societies open themselves to meet the demands of tomorrow? Driven by a passion for understanding social change, I embarked on a journey in Political Science studies, achieving distinctions in my Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees, while also attaining a Bachelor's in Philosophy with distinction.
Along this path, I conducted research across the USA, London, and Berlin, including at Duke University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, King’s College London, and Humboldt University. My work received support from various scholarships.
Experimental democracy as a future-opening democracy
At the heart of my work is the concept of experimental democracy. Experimentation defines a future-opening practice that is essential for democratic politics. Political action means experimenting. It is the freedom to experiment that characterizes a lively democracy. I argue that promoting a political culture centered around democratic experimentation is crucial for successfully revitalizing democracy and addressing today's pressing challenges.
How do desirable futures come into being?
New Article:
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
BA in Philosophy, University of Vienna, 2023 (with distinction)
Specialisation: Philosophy of Technology and Media Philosophy
Dr. phil., Political Science, University of Vienna, 2020 (with distinction)
Specialisation: Democratic Theory, History of Political Ideas, and Digital Politics
Duke University, North Carolina, 8-12/2019
Visiting Student
Franklin Humanities Institute & Literature Program (sponsor Michael Hardt)
Queen Mary University of London, 6/2018 - 1/2019
Visiting Student
School of Politics and International Relations (sponsor Lasse Thomassen)
University of Westminster, London, 1/2017 - 3/2019
Visiting Student
Centre for the Studies of Democracy (sponsor Chantal Mouffe & Paulina Tambanaki)
MA in Political Science, University of Vienna, 2014 (with distinction)
Specialisation: International Politics and Political Theory
Erasmus-Program, Charles University, Prague (10/2013-4/2014)
BA in Political Science, University of Vienna, 2012 (with distinction)
Specialisation: International Politics and Political Theory
PROJECTS & POSITIONS
The New Institute, Hamburg 02/2024 - Current
Fellow
The New Institute (2nd Host), Hamburg 10/2022 - 01/2024
Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow
The Future of Democracy Program
Humboldt-University of Berlin (1st Host), 2/2022 - 01/2024
Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Social Science, Theory of Politics
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), 3-8/2022
Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Visiting Scholar
Government Department (sponsor Lea Ypi)
Humboldt-University of Berlin, 2/2021-8/2022
Founding Director of the Data Politics Lab
Department of Social Science, Theory of Politics
King's College London, 9/2021 - 1/2022
Visiting Scholar
Department of Digital Humanities (sponsor Paolo Gerbaudo)
Founder, Co-Editor & Graphic Designer engagée Journal - London, Wien, Berlin, 2012 - 2022
Lecturer, Department of Political Science, University of Vienna, 2015-2021; seminars include the history of political ideas, democratic theory, and digital transformation.
Humboldt-University of Berlin, 4-7/2020
Research Fellow
Center for Humanities and Social Change, Department of Philosophy
Goldsmiths University of London, 1-6/2020
Visiting Fellow
Department of Politics and International Relations (sponsor William Davies)
Project Coordinator, Economy for the Common Good, Vienna, 9/2011-7/2013
Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India, 6-12.2008
Volunteer Service, Social Center Sf. Lazar, Concordia, Bukarest, Rumania, 2006-2008
GRANDS, FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
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The New Institute Fellowship
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Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Visiting research grant for the London School of Economics and Political Science
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Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
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The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) Post-DocTrack Fellowship
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Humanities & Social Change International Foundation Fellowship
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University of Vienna Dissertation Fellowship (Abschlussstipendium)
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Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD) Marietta Blau Dissertation Fellowship
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University of Uppsala, Uppsala Forum Workshop-Grant
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Rosa Luxemburg-Foundation Dissertation Fellowship
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Rosa Luxemburg-Foundation Scholarship for postgraduate studies MA
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University of Vienna, Accomplishment Awards (2013, 2014 & 2016)
EDITOR & REVIEWER
Founder and Editorial Board Member, engagée Journal
Reviewer: Polity Press, Routledge, Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft (ZPol), Philosophy & Social Criticism, Constellations, and Democratic Theory
TEACHING
University of Vienna
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2022 | What is digital democracy? (guest lecture)
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2021 | The Politics of the Future: Technology, Democracy and Resistance
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2020 | Power and Resistance in the Digital Constellation
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2019 | Digital Protest and the Political
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2016 – 2020 | The History of Political Ideas (20S, 19W, 18W, 18S, 17W, 17S, 16W)
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2018 | Radical Democracy and Municipal Movements
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2016 | Methods of Political Science
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2015 | Introduction to International Politics