People

Theresa Maria Scheule

AFFILIATION
College
Reuben College
Course
MPhil European Politics and Society
supervisor

I am a first-year MPhil student in European Politics and Society at Reuben College, University of Oxford.

Prior to joining Oxford, I earned a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Witten/Herdecke University in Germany, graduating with First Class Honours. During my undergraduate studies, I worked as a Research Assistant in for the Chair of International Political Studies, contributing to a project on elite responses to threats to democracy.

After completing my Bachelor's degree, I gained further research experience across diverse settings. At the Bertelsmann Foundation, I interned with the "Upgrade Democracy" project, focusing on strengthening democracy in the digital age and addressing disinformation in the context of elections. Additionally, I supported the National Academy of Science and Engineering in a research project on digital technologies for sustainability, commissioned by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

Beyond my academic and research pursuits, I have complemented my experience with multiple journalism internships, including at the public broadcaster WDR, as well as roles in a state parliament and public sector consulting.

These experiences have deepened my interest in democratic backsliding, authoritarian politics, and EU foreign policy. I am particularly passionate about strengthening democratic institutions and fostering social cohesion at both the national and European levels.


Research Interests

  • Democracy and democratic backsliding

  • Neo-authoritarianism

  • EU foreign and security policy

  • Germany's role in the EU