Professor Rudi Wurzel

Professor Rudi Wurzel

Professor of Comparative European Politics and Jean Monnet Chair in European Union Studies.

Faculty and Department

  • Faculty of Business, Law and Politics
  • School of Politics and International Studies

Qualifications

  • MA
  • MA (University of Hull)
  • PhD / DPhil (London School of Economics and Political Science)

Summary

Rudi Wurzel is Professor of Comparative European Politics and Jean Monnet Chair in European Union Studies in the Department of Politics.

He received his PhD from the University of London, where he studied at the London School of Economics (Department of International Relations), for a thesis entitled ‘Britain, Germany and the European Union: Environmental Policy-making from 1972-97’. Rudi was awarded an MA in European integration (with distinction) from the University of Hull and an MA in Politics (main subject), Law and German Literature from the University of Augsburg (Germany). He studied at the Universities of Würzburg, Augsburg, Hull and London. He received German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarships and research grants from the University of London and ESRC for his postgraduate studies.

Rudi's main research areas include environmental policy and politics, European Union, comparative European politics, German politics, new modes of governance, public policies and offshore wind and other green economy developments in structurally disadvantaged cities.

Rudi joined the University of Hull as a lecturer in 1993. He was promoted to senior lecturer (2003) and reader (2005) before being awarded a chair.

He is the Director of the interdisciplinary Centre for European Governance (CEG) after having been Director of the Centre for European Union Studies (CEUS) from 2004-2020. Rudi has successfully completed a large number of projects for which he received grants from funding bodies such as the British Academy, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), EU, Nuffield Foundation, Leverhulme Trust and Anglo-German Foundation.

Undergraduate

- Politics of the Environment

- Understanding the European Union

- Germany in the New Europe

- Introduction to Comparative Politics

- Introduction to Policy-Making

- Paths of Research

- Dissertation supervision

Postgraduate

- Conflict in Global Environment Politics - Sustainable Security in a World of Conflict

- Cooperation in International Environment Politics - Sustainable Security in a World of Cooperation

- MA dissertation supervision

Recent outputs

View more outputs

Book Chapter

The European Council, Council and Member States: jostling for influence

Wurzel, R. K., Di Lullo, M., & Liefferink, D. (2023). The European Council, Council and Member States: jostling for influence. In T. Rayner, K. Szulecki, A. J. Jordan, & S. Oberthür (Eds.), Handbook on European Union Climate Change Policy and Politics (38-52). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789906981.00014

Leaders, Pioneers, and Followers in Environmental Governance

Liefferink, D., Andersen, M. S., Gheuens, J., Tobin, P., Torney, D., & Wurzel, R. K. (2023). Leaders, Pioneers, and Followers in Environmental Governance. In H. Jörgens, C. Knill, & Y. Steinebach (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Environmental Policy (237-248). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003043843-20

Governing with multiple policy instrument types?

Moore, B., Benson, D., Jordan, A., Wurzel, R. K. W., & Zito, A. (2021). Governing with multiple policy instrument types?. In A. Jordan, & V. Gravey (Eds.), Environmental Policy in the EU Actors, Institutions and Processes. (4th). Routledge

The Council, European Council and Member States

Wurzel, R. K. (2021). The Council, European Council and Member States. In A. Jordan, & V. Gravey (Eds.), Environmental Policy in the EU Actors, Institutions and Processes, 4th edition (75-92). Routledge

Conclusion: Pioneers, leaders, followers in multilevel and polycentric climate governance re-assessed

Paul, T., Wurzel, R., & Skou Andersen, M. (2021). Conclusion: Pioneers, leaders, followers in multilevel and polycentric climate governance re-assessed. In R. K. Wurzel, M. S. Andersen, & P. Tobin (Eds.), Climate Governance across the Globe Pioneers, Leaders and Followers (259-267). Routledge

Research interests

Environmental policy, comparative European politics, European Union, German politics, new modes of governance, public polices, multilevel and polycentric governance

Lead investigator

Project

Funder

Grant

Started

Status

Project

EC - COST - 'INOGOV'

Funder

EC European Commission

Grant

£10,489.00

Started

1 September 2016

Status

Complete

Co-investigator

Project

Funder

Grant

Started

Status

Project

ECPE PPF: Engaging young people in the circular plastics economy

Funder

EPSRC Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

Grant

£48,200.00

Started

1 October 2019

Status

Complete

Project

Citizen Inquiry: Barriers, Challenges and Enablers for public engagement

Funder

BBSRC Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Counc

Grant

£20,138.00

Started

1 February 2020

Status

Complete

Project

CERES: Climate change and European aquatic RESources

Funder

EC European Commission

Grant

£58,108.00

Started

1 March 2016

Status

Complete

Project

Evolving a Circular Plastics Economy

Funder

EPSRC Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

Grant

£938,304.00

Started

1 January 2019

Status

Complete

Postgraduate supervision

I welcome applications in any area related to my main research areas which include environmental policy, comparative European politics, European Union, German politics, new modes of governance, public polices, multilevel and polycentric governance as well as on topics which are related to my main research expertise.

Current PhD students:

Tania Fu, Youth engagement and water governance: a case study of participatory research approaches in two European countries, Leverhulme Doctoral Centre Water Cultures scholarship, joint supervisor with Prof Burden (1st supervisor, Education), since 2022.

Lewis Carter, The Impact and Perception of Heritage Led Regeneration in ‘Left-behind’ Post-Industrial Port Towns and Cities – A Multiple Case Study Analysis of Hartlepool, Hull, and Great Yarmouth. White Rose ESRC scholarship, joint supervisor with Dr Evans (1st supervisor, History), since 2022.

Completed PhDs:

Michael Howcroft (2021), Pride, shame, and the civic imaginary: Hull as UK City of Culture and Brexit, supervision with Prof Bianchini (1st, FACE) & Prof Atkinson (joint 2nd, Geography).

Flávia Guerra (2020), Offshore Renewable Energy Governance: Polity, Politics, and Policy, joint supervisor with Prof Barnes (Law).

Achara Banjongprasert (2019), Advocacy NGOs, Advocacy strategies and new participatory spaces: The case on Thai advocacy NGOs and the Xayaburi dam project, joint supervision with Prof Connelly (2nd supervisor, Politics).

Jeremy Moulton (2018), A tale of two cities: Ecological modernisation, climate action and political myth in the European Union, joint supervision with Prof Gibbs (2md supervisor, Geography) .

Lars Borrass (2014), Implementing the Area Management and Species Protection Requirements of the Habitats Directive in Germany and the United Kingdom, a Comparative Analysis of Varying Implementation Practices and Processes (external joint supervisor)

Mihalis Ragkousis (2013), The Open Method of Coordination on Social Inclusion: Analysing the Participation of British and Greek Stakeholders and its Impact on their Expectations, Political Activities and Loyalties, joint supervision with Dr Monaghan (2nd supervisor, Politics)

Sarah Hoffmann (2010), The Creation of the European Environment Agency and its Impact on National Administrations in Germany, France and Britain, joint supervision with Prof Connelly (2nd supervisor, Politics).

Current PhD students:

Flávia Guerra, Sovereignty and Governance of Offshore Renewable Energy (joint supervisor with Prof Richard Barnes (first supervisor))

Michael Howcroft, Identity: Hull UK City of Culture 2017 - Post-Brexit (joint supervisor with Prof Franco Bianchini (first supervisor) and Prof David Atkinson)

Awards and prizes

Reviewer prize 2023 from the Journal of European Public Policy (JEPP)

2023

In 2024 Rudi was awarded the Reviewer Prize 2023 by the Journal of European Public Policy (JEPP). According to the editors of JEPP, Prof Berthold Rittberger and Jeremy Richardson, the prize "provides special recognition to our colleagues for their selfless investment as peer-reviewers, offering guidance to authors to improve their work, to us as editors to take well-informed decisions on manuscripts, and hence to ensure that JEPP's standards continue to be high. This year we have the pleasure to award the prize to a cherished colleague who has supported JEPP since time immemorial, providing authors and us editors with detailed and constructive reviews. We are thus very happy to award the reviewer prize for 2023 to:Rudi Wurzel (University of Hull)."

Conference organisation

Workshop organiser for HIKE funded project

2024 - 2024

Organiser of a workshop for members from Hull University’s Centre for European Governance (CEG) and a delegation from Osnabrück University on 27 -28 February 2024. The workshop formed part of a HIKE funded project which aims to make a major contribution to establish strategic long-term research collaboration between the University of Hull and the University of Osnabrück.

Organiser of the Centre for European Government's seminar series

2021 - 2024

As director of the Centre for European Governance (CEG) seminar series and workshops Rudi has been organising the centre's seminar and workshop series.

Organiser of an Aura and QR funded international workshop

2019 - 2019

Organiser of an Aura funded international workshop on ‘Lessons Learnt from European Offshore Wind Energy Deployment and Other Green Economy Developments. The worshop took place at the University of Hull on 12 July 2019. It was was attended by practitioners and academics from Hull/the UK, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.

Workshop co-organiser for the Political Studies Association's (PSA) German Politics Specialist Group

2017 - 2017

Organiser jointly with I. Bolton, J. Graef and H. Pautz of the Political Studies Association (PSA) German Politics Specialist Group’s workshop on ‘German Politics in Times of Populism’, University of Birmingham, 17 November 2017

Workshop co-organiser for the German Politics Specialist Group

2016 - 2016

German Politics Specialist Group (GPSG) workshop on ‘Change and Transition in German Politics’, workshop co-organiser with I. Bolton (Birmingham University), H. Pautz (University of the West of Scotland) and J.-J. Andreas (York University), Birmingham University, 25 November 2016

Organiser for an EU COST funded workshop

2016 - 2016

Organiser of an EU COST funded workshop on ‘Pioneers and Leaders in Polycentric Climate Governance (PiLePoC)’ in Hull on 15-16 September 2016. The workshop resulted in the publication of one special issues for Environmenal Politics and an edited book for Routledge.

Co-organiers of panels at the annual Political Studies Organsation

2016 - 2016

Co-organiser of three joint panels on ‘The EU-ro crises and the end of the Good Life? Competing national understandings and visions of the EU in times of crisis’ at the Political Study Associations’ 66th annual international conference in Brighton, 21-23 March 2016.

Organiser of an international workshop

2015 - 2015

Organiser of a Centre for European Union Studies (CEUS) workshop on ‘Still Taking the Lead? The European Union in International Climate Change Politics’ in Hull on 16-17 September 2015. The workshop resulted in the publication of a jointly edited book (by Rudi Wurzel, James Connelly and Duncan Liefferink) which was published by Routledge in 2017

Organiser for a British Academcy funded workshop

2014 - 2014

Organiser and chair of a British Academy funded (funding code: SG131240) workshop for academics and practitioners on ‘The Ecological Modernisation of Structurally Disadvantaged European Maritime Port Cities: Hull and Bremerhaven Compared’ in Hull on 5 June 2014. The workshop was attended by practitioner from Hull and Bremerhaven as well as from academics from Germany and the UK.

Organiser of an EU funded international workshop

2012 - 2012

Director of a workshop on ‘Stakeholders and Policy Makers in European Marine Governance’ for the EU FP7 funded VECTORS (Vectors of Change in Oceans and Seas Marine Life, Impact on Economic Sectors) project, London, 22-23 April 2012. Prof Mike Elliot acted as the PI for the Hull based research team for the EU funded project of which this workshop formed part.

Co-organiser of a book project workshop

2011 - 2011

Joint organiser with Prof Jack Hayward of a workshop on ‘European Disunion: The Multidimensional Power Struggles’ in Hull on 30 September - 1 October 2011. The workshop resulted in a co-edited book (by Jack Hayward and Rudi Wurzel) that was entitled 'European Disunion. Between Sovereignty and Solidarity'. It was published by Routledge in 2012.

External examiner role

External examiner for the MSc in Global Energy & Climate Policy for SOAS

2015 - 2019

External examiner for the MSc in European Politics & Policy at Birkbeck College

2013 - 2016

External examiner for the BA in Politics and Society at Birkbeck College

2006 - 2010

Fellowship Role

Visiting lecturer at the University of Nijmegen (Netherlands)

2011

Visiting lecturer at the Environmental Policy Research Unit (FFU) at the Free University of Berlin, February

2000

Government advisory role

Can Structurally Disadvantaged Cities Draw Lessons from Each Other About Green Economy Developments ?’, keynote presentation at the INTERREG funded Action for Energy Efficiency in Baltic Cities workshop in Sønderborg (Denmark) on 1 October 2019

2019 - 2019

British Academic project end-of-award presentation on 'The Ecological Modernisation of Structural Disadvantaged Cities' presentation jointly with Prof Andy Jonas (Geography, Hull University) at the Climate City Office in Bremerhaven on 7 February 2017. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNoi_zZ_b_8

2017 - 2017

End-of-award presentation by Rudi Wurzel and Andy Jonas of the findings from a British Academic funded project on 'The Ecological Modernisation of Structural Disadvantaged Cities'. The event was attended by local govenment officials, policy makers and stakeholders at the Climate City Office (Klimastadtbüro) in Bremerhaven on 7 February 2017. The recorded presentaton has been available on the climate city office's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNoi_zZ_b_8

Presentation of research project findings to officials from government Ministries in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands

2003 - 2003

Presentation of the findings of an ESRC funded project on ‘Innovation in Environmental Governance: A Comparative Analysis of New Environmental Policy Instruments (NEPIs)’ to Business Chamber representative, Vienna, 8 April 2003. Presentation of the findings of an ESRC funded project on New Environmental Policy Instruments (NEPIs). PI: Rudi Wurzel (University of Hull); CoI: Andrew Jordan (University of East Anglia) and Anthony Zito (University of Hull. In-person presentations of the project on NEPIS, which was funded within the ESRC's Future Governance Programme (FGP)): (1) Environment Ministry officials and members of the Workers Chamber (Arbeiterkammer) in Vienna (Austria) on 8 April 2003; (2) Environmental Ministry and Environmental Agency (UBA) officials in Berlin (Germany) on 10 April 2003; and, (3) senior Finance and Environmental Ministry officials in The Hague (the Netherlands) on 28 February 2003.

Journal editorial role

Editorial board member for Environmental Politics

2012

Editorial board member for the Journal of European Public Policy

2004 - 2020

Journal peer reviewer

Reviewer for different national funding bodies

2004 - 2024

Reviewer for National grant funding bodies since 2004 2024: 1 x National Science Centre Poland; 3 x FRS-NRS Belgium; 2 x IRIS - Research Promotion Foundation Cyprus, research project evaluation 2023: 2 x FRS-NRS Belgium; 1 x National Science Centre Poland 2022: 1 x FWF Austrian Science Fund (Wissenschaftsfond); 3 x FRS-NRS Belgium; ESRC/UKICE: Senior Research Fellowships for UK in a Changing Europe 2021 : 2 x IRIS – Research Promotion Foundation Cyprus (Including Young Researcher Award); 1 x National Science Centre Poland 2020: 1 x IRIS - Research Promotion Foundation Cyprus; 2 x FRS-NRS Belgium 2019: 1 x ESRC/UKICE: Senior Research Fellowships for UK in a Changing Europe ; 1 x European Research Council (ERC); British Academy, reviewer for 4 applications for the ‘Tackling the UK’s International Challenges’ funding programme; 1 x FRS-NRS Belgium 2018: 1 x Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG – German research association); 1 x British Academy, reviewer for 2 applications for the ‘Tackling the UK’s International Challenges’ funding programme; 2 x FRS-NRS Belgium; 1 x European Research Council (ERC); 1 x Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); 1 x IRIS - Research Promotion Foundation Cyprus; 1 x German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst – DAAD) 2017: 1 x British Academy; applications for ‘The Humanities and Social Sciences Tackling the UK’s International Challenges Programme’; 3 x FNRS Luxembourg; 2 x FRS-NRS Belgium 2016: 3 x FRS-NRS Belgium 2015 : 1x FRS-NRS Belgium 2014: 2 x FNRS Luxembourg; FRS-FNRS Belgium 2011: 1 x Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NOW); 1x Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Belgium; 2 x Villum Fonden, Denmark; 1 x UK government Foresight Programme on ‘Global Environmental Migration: Future Governance Challenges’; 1 x Austrian Science Fund (Österreichischer Wissenschaftsfond – FWF 2009: 1 x ESRC large grant application scheme; 1 x Scientific reviewer COST Action IS0802: Coopération européenne dans le domaine de la recherche scientifique et technique, Département fédéral de l'intérieur DFI, Switzerland 2007: 1 x ESRC large grant application 2006:1 x Belgian Federal Science Policy Office’s programme ‘Scientific Support to the Federal Authority's Strategic Priorities’ 2005: 1 x ESRC large grant application 2004: 1 x Helsinki University Environmental Research Centre (HERC), gramt applications-

Reviewer for peer reviewed academic journals

2004 - 2024

Peer reviewer for journals: British Journal of Political and International Relations (2021); British Journal of Political Science (2016, 2007, 2004, 1996); Climate Policy (2015, 2014, 2013, 2010); Climate Action (2022); Cooperation and Conflict (2011, 2010); Energy and Environment (2005, 2004); Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy (2x 2013, 2009, 2006, 2x 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998); Environmental Policy and Governance (2015, 2x 2010; 2009); Environmental Politics (2 x 2024, 2023, 2022, 2 x 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 3 x 2014, 2 x 2013, 2 x 2012, 2011, 2 x 2010, 2007, 2006, 2 x 2004, 3 x 2003, 2002, 2001); European Integration Online Papers (2006); European Journal of Political Research (2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2003); European Policy Analysis (2023, 2022, 2017); German Politics (2012); Global Environmental Change (2008, 2004); Global Environmental Politics (2017); Governance (2005); International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics (2018, 2008, 2007); International Journal of Consumer Studies (2006); International Journal of Social Economics (2012, 2011); International Politics (2023); Journal for Cleaner Production (2020, 2019, 2 x 2018, 2017); Journal of Common Market Studies (2 x 2024, 2 x 2023, 2 x 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2 x 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2001, 1999, 1996); Journal of Environmental Policy and Governance (2018, 2016); Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning (2019, 2 x 2018, 2 x 2016, 2015, 2010, 2007, 2006, 1998); Journal of European Integration (2 x 2024, 2023; 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017); Journal of European Public Policy (2 x 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2 x 2020, 2019, 3 x 2018, 2 x 2016, 2 x 2015, 3 x 2014, 2 x 2013, 2012, 3 x 2011, 3 x 2010, 4 x 2009, 3 x 2008, 3 x 2007, 3 x 2006, 2 x 2005, 5 x 2003, 3 x 2002, 2 x 2001, 2000, 1999); Journal of Housing and the Built Environment (2014); Journal of Legislative Studies (2010, 2003, 2 x 2002, 2001, 2000, 1997); Journal of Policy History (2009); Parliamentary Affairs (2024, 2023, 2019, 2018); Political Studies (2016, 2010, 2009); Politics and Governance (2021, 2019); Polity (2018); Public Administration (2019, 2018, 2017); Regulation and Governance (2023, 2007); Review of Policy Research (2021, 2018); Scandinavian Politics (2020, 2019); West European Politics (2019, 2018).

Membership/Fellowship of professional body

International Association for the Study of German Politics (IASGP)

1998

Political Studies Association

1993

University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES)

1993

National/International learned society/body role

Co-convenor of the Political Studies Association’s (PSA) German Politics Specialist Group (GPSG)

2015 - 2020

Scholarship role

Scholarship

1990 - 1991

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship for one year to study for a PhD at the London School of Economics.

Scholarship

1988 - 1989

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship to study for an MA at the University of Hull (UK).

Top