Dr Sandra Kröger

My research so far has addressed different questions related to democracy and social justice in the EU. Earlier research focused on the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) in the field of social inclusion, and other forms of soft law. I then became interested in electoral and non-electoral forms of political representation, on the one hand, and the norms that should be underlying the institutional design of representative institutions in the EU, on the other. More recently, I have become interested in differentiated integration in the EU, and how it could be institutionalised in a democratic and fair way. My most recent research develops some of the earlier questions further by investigating the ethics of politics as well as questions linked to digital democracy and dataethics. Finally, I have most recently conducted focus groups on how smartphones support and undermine student wellbeing.

In my teaching, I seek to involve students as much as possible as active agents of their learning, so as to develop critical, independent thinking as well as group and expression skills. I was truly honoured, in 2016, to be the runner-up for the category 'Innovative teaching' in the UoE Teaching Awards, as well as to have receive six further nominations for teaching awards.

In 2021, I have become the Director of the Centre for European Studies and in that capacity run a weekly webinar. Let me know if you are interested and would like to join! 

Since 2023, I am a Dignity and Respect Advisor at UoE.

Biography:

A Marie Curie fellowship first brought me to Exeter (2011-2013). I started as lecturer in 2014 and was promoted to senior lecturer in 2016 and to Associate Professor in 2021. I hold degrees in social science (Humboldt-University Berlin, Paris VIII) and Interdisciplinary France studies (University Freiburg). I did my PhD as part of the graduate programme ‘The Future of the European Social Model’ (supervisors: Prof. Ilona Ostner and Prof. Claus Offe). The dissertation, which I defended in 2008, addressed the Open Method of Coordination in the field of social inclusion and its implementation in France, Germany, and at the EU-level. Between 2006-2008, I was a teaching fellow at the Georg-August University Göttingen and the Humboldt University Berlin before becoming a lecturer at the Jean Monnet Centre for European Studies,University of Bremen (2008-2011). I have held fellowships at the Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg (Delmenhorst, 2013/14), the European University Institute in Florence (2018/19), and at the Hertie School in Berlin (2023).

Away from academic life, I enjoy going to concerts, both classic and folk, rock and some pop; reading fiction and discussing some of it in my book club, including graphic novels; seeing good films and good football matches (particularly when my team Werder Bremen wins which sadly does not happen often enough), swimming; traveling to warmer places and in particular Livorno; and being around my husband, (previously my late cat), and my friends.