Michael Pollok

Michael Pollok
© Michael Pollok
Michael Pollok
Graduate School of Politics
Scharnhorststraße 100
48151 Muenster
michaelpollok@uni-muenster.de
Consultation hours: in presence or digitally by arrangements via e-mail.

  • Project

    Sustainable mobility in medium-sized cities

    Current mobility causes an unacceptable burden for humans and the environment and must be transformed as quickly as possible. Although there are alternative concepts of sustainable mobility, the actual development stands quantitatively and qualitatively diametrical to that aim. I assume that for measures to be successful, in addition to the provision of the best possible technologies, the social conditions of mobility must be taken into account. What this means will be investigated using the example of medium-sized towns, which – to date – have been rather neglected in sustainability research. The research question is: How do municipal actors in medium-sized towns (politicians, municipal administrators, citizens, mobility service providers) shape the sustainable transformation of mobility? To answer the research question, the mobility culture approach, which has been expanded to include a power perspective, will be used. The framework is particularly suitable for establishing links between technical solutions, administrations and infrastructures on the one hand, and human action on the other. Social and cultural factors are at the core of analysis. On the one hand, the aim is to explore the political and economic capacities in city administrations for the sustainable transformation of mobility. At the same time, the analysis must also identify the needs of people affected by potential measures. In the style of a Critical Grounded Theory Methodology, the answer to the research question will be approached via a continuous dialogue of the theoretical perspective, as well as the basic assumptions derived from it, with the actual observations made in the field. The goal of the interdisciplinary project is to support sustainable mobility in medium-sized towns by providing both theretical and practical insights. This means: Maintaining mobility and satisfying the need to change places, but with less environmental pollution, energy consumption, land use, accidents and other social or ecological costs. Such a social scientific perspective on sustainability issues is essential in view of the already tangible effects of climate change, as it has the capacity to create links between global challenges and capacities in local environments.

  • Career

    Education

     
    10/2020 Member of the Graduate School of Politics (GraSP), Institute for Political Science, University of Münster.
    Since 10/2019 Doctoral studies at University of Muenster on sustainable mobility in medium-sized cities
    10/2015-12/2018 Master's studies of Political Science at Goethe University Frankfurt
    01/2011-09/2015 Bachelor's studies of political science and sociology at University of Muenster
     
    Positions
    03/2021 – 12/2025

    Resarch Fellow at The Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) Bonn
    10/2020-12/2020 Research Assistant for Prof. Doris Fuchs at the Chair of International Relations and Sustainable Development at the Institute for Political Science Münster
    06/2020-09/2020 Freelancer for agile analyses at betabloom Hamburg
    10/2016-11/2017 Student assistant for Dr. Lisbeth Zimmermann in the project International Norms in Conflict: Contestation and Norm Robustness at Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)
    08/2016-09/2016 Student Assistant for Felix Anderl in the DFG-Project Social Protest in the Globalization Critical Movement between Opposition and Dissidence at Goethe University Frankfurt
    11/2015-07/2016 Student Assistant for Prof. Christopher Daase at the Chair for International Organizations at the Cluster of Excellence Normative Orders at Goethe University Frankfurt
    04/2014-09/2014 Tutor for International Relations for Prof. Markus Lederer at the Chair of International Governance at the Institute for Political Science Münster
    01/2012-09/2015 Student assistant for Prof.'in Doris Fuchs at the Chair of International Relations and Sustainable Development at the Institute of Political Science Münster
     

     

  • Publications

    • Hoor, Maximilian; Pollok, Michael (2025): Mobilitätskulturen: Alltägliche Lebensweisen und materielle Strukturen verkehrspolitisch integrieren. In: Schwedes, Oliver; Rammert, Alexander; Stark, Kerstin (ed.): Handbuch Verkehrspolitik.
    • Pollok, Michael (2025): Großflächige Parkplätze. Identifizierung und Bewertung des Potenzials für den nachhaltigen Stadtumbau. In: Transforming Cities, 2, 64-68.
    • Nauroschat, Lea; Kramer, Finn; Pollok, Michael (2025): Forschendes Lernen in der politikwissenschaftlichen Methodenausbildung. In: Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, 35, 555-569. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41358-025-00402-3.
    • Schönberger, Thomas; Pollok, Michael (2025): Verkehrslösungen für Innenstadtquartiere. Gute Beispiele für auto-unabhängige Planungsstrategien aus dem Forschungsprojekt „Verkehrsreduzierte Innenstädte in Europa“. In: https://www.nationale-stadtentwicklungspolitik.de/NSPWeb/SharedDocs/Blogeintraege/DE/Fokusthema/ZukunftQuartier/verkehrsloesungen_innenstadt.html (Access: 26.11.2025) 
    • Pollok, Michael; Birk, Maximilian (2024): Miteinander Mobilitätswende machen. Perspektiven einer nachhaltigen Mobilitätskultur in Mittelstädten. In: Förster, Agnes; Kropp, Cordula; Kuhlmann, Sabine; Lohrberg, Frank; Neuwirth, Christopher; Polívka, Jan; Reicher, Christa (ed.): Transformation von Mittelstädten. Über neue Kulturen des Stadtmachens. transcript: Bielefeld.
    • Pollok, Michael (2024): Grounded Theory Methodology als Forschungsstil in der Politikwissenschaft. Aufgenommen in die Reihe „Herausragende Lehre in der deutschen Politikwissenschaft“ der DVPW und Schader-Stiftung. In: https://www.dvpw.de/blog/grounded-theory-methodology-als-forschungsstil-in-der-politikwissenschaft-ein-lehrprojekt-von-michael-pollok (Access: 26.11.2025).
    • Pollok, Michael (2024): Nachhaltige Mobilität in Mittelstädten. BBSR-Fachbeitrag. In: https://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/DE/forschung/fachbeitraege/verkehr-mobilitaet/mobilitaet-mittelstaedte/01-start.html (Access: 26.11.2025).
    • Siepker, Lena; Pollok, Michael; Peuckert, Jan; Sharp, Helen; Gall, Anna; Kern, Florian; Wolff, Franziska; Hanke, Gerolf (2021) Trendanalyse – Engagement und Beteiligung in Deutschland. Working Paper in context of the project "ENGAGE – Engagement für nachhaltiges Gemeinwohl“, Muenster.
    • Pollok, Michael (2018): Striving to Improve the Conditions in Global Textile Production? The Case of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Politics of Supply Chain Sustainability. Masterarbeit an der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt. September 2018.
    • Pollok, Michael (2017): Postfaktische Emotionalität_en: Vom Phänomen des wütenden weißen Mannes und warum wir darüber nachdenken müssen, was wir dagegen tun können. In: Gabel, Jürgen; Hauptmann, Kilian; Janoschka, Jasmina; Langwald, Theresa; Michell, Alix (Hrsg.): Maskulin*identität_en. Christian A. Bachmann Verlag: Berlin.
    • Heinze, Tobias; Pollok, Michael; Illigens, Sebastian (2016): Doing Frontiers. On the Performativity of the European Border and Migration Regime. Papier präsentiert bei der Nachwuchskonferenz des Exzellenz-Clusters Normative Ordnungen in Frankfurt a.M. am 28. November 2014. Erschienen 2016 beim Barbara Budrich Verlag: Berlin.
    • Pollok, Michael (2015): Discursive Strategies in Global Fashion Governance: Performing Destructive Creation? Bachelorarbeit an der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster. Juli 2015.
    • Fuchs, Doris; Lietz, Annika; Pollok, Michael (2015): Nachhaltigkeit, Gerechtigkeit und ein gutes Leben im öffentlichen Diskurs. Inhaltsanalytische Illustrationen aus Politik, Wirtschaft und Zivilgesellschaft. Sustainable Governance Discussion Paper 01/2015. Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.
    • Fuchs, Doris; Di Giulio, Antonietta, Engelkamp, Stephan; Fahy, Frances; Glaab, Katharina; Lorek, Sylvia; Pollok, Michael; Schweighofer, Matin; Vergragt, Philip (2013). Structural Prerequisites for Sustainable Societies and the Good Life – Taking the Sustainable Consumption Lens Seriously. Sustainable Governance Discussion Paper 01/2013. Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.

     

  • Further Information

    Lectures

    Research interests

    • Sustainable development
    • Transformation processes
    • Urban development and mobility
    • International Political Economy
    • Power

    Memberships

    Training & Certificates

    • 2024 Professionelle Lehrkompetenz für die Hochschullehre. Certificate as part of the modular qualification program for proving pedagogical aptitude and for continuing education of academic staff in North Rhine-Westphalia (200 work units of 45 minutes each).
    • 2024 Agency and power in transdisciplinary research: applying insights from critical social science to strengthen reflexivity. tdAcademy webinar.
    • 2022 Exploring transformative research. Two-day winter school organized by the Mittelstadt als Mitmachstadt young reserarcher's group of the Robert Bosch Foundation.
    • 2022 Spring Break School „Interpreting Statistical Results for Mobility Research“. Technical University Munich.
    • 2022 Workshop Adaptive Leadership: Umgang mit komplexen Situationen. Event organized by Career Service Münster in cooperation with Teach First.
    • 2022 Verständlich Schreiben kompakt. Certificate awarded as part of the seminar of the same name held by the National Institute for Science Communication (NaWik).
    • 2022 European Doctoral Summer School: „Curriculum for life? Unpacking the story of your (research) life“. Four-day digital collaboration event organized by Maastricht University, the University of Münster, and the University of York.
    • 2022 My Digital Self: Wer ich bin und sein kann im digitalen Raum. Event organized by Career Service Münster.
    • 2021 Ideenwerkstatt „StadtLandZukunft“. Two-day workshop in Homberg (Efze) organized by the Ebelin and Gerd Bucerius Zeit Foundation.
    • 2021 Wie vermittle ich mein Fachwissen gegenüber Laien? Event organized by Career Service Münster. 

    Conferences, workshops, and other events

    • 2025   Sustainable mobility in medium-sized towns – tough transformations beyond metropolises? Presentation at the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) conference on “Tough conversations in tough times” from December 3 to 5 in Berlin.
    • 2025   Grounded Theory Methodology als Forschungsstil in der Politikwissenschaft. Lecture at the University of Münster's Teaching Day on October 27, 2025.
    • 2025   Machtvolle Gestaltung von Mobilitätskulturen in Mittelstädten. Presentation at the annual conference of the Pegasus Network on “Transformobility – Mobility in Times of Transformation” from October 10–11, 2025, at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU)
    • 2025   Machtvolle Gestaltung von Mobilitätskulturen. Interactive poster presentation at the conference of the Ostfalia Endowed Chair for Cycling Management on “Modalities – Mobility Cultures in Motion” on September 4, 2025, at the House of Science in Braunschweig.
    • 2025   Machtvolle Gestaltung von Mobilitätskulturen in Mittelstädten. Presentation at the annual conference of the Mobility and Transport Working Group (AK MoVe) on “Mobility Between Spaces: New Paths in Urban (Suburban) Areas” on May 22–23, 2025, in Karlsruhe.
    • 2024   Verkehrswende in Dülmen? So wird Dülmen zur fußgänger- und fahrradfreundlichen Stadt. Lecture at the Adult Education Center in Dülmen on November 21, 2024.
    • 2024   Organisation: Demokratische (Im-)Mobilitäten? Beiträge der Politikwissenschaft zur Mobilitätsforschung. Closed panel organized with Prof. Antonia Graf at the annual conference of the German Political Science Association (DVPW) on the topic of “Politics in the Polycrisis” from September 24-27, 2023, at Georg August University in Göttingen.
    • 2024   Powerful production of mobility cultures – transformative practices beyond cities. Presentation at the Center for Mobilities and Urban Studies (C-MUS) conference on “Mobilities Controversies – Place, Justice, Democracy” on August 22–23, 2024, at Aalborg University.
    • 2024   Machtvolle Gestaltung von Mobilitätskulturen – Mittelstädtische Transformationspraktiken im Fokus. Lecture as part of the annual conference of the Mobility and Transport Working Group (AK MoVe) on “Upheavals, Transitions, Interventions – Mobility and Transport in Transition” from June 10 to 11, 2024, at the University of Cologne.
    • 2024   Organisation: Mobilitätskulturen. Workshop organized with Thomas Klinger (ILS Dortmund) and Maximilian Hoor (TU Berlin) as part of the annual conference of the Mobility and Transport Working Group (AK MoVe) on “Upheavals, Transitions, Interventions – Mobility and Transport in Transition” from June 10–11, 2024, at the University of Cologne.
    • 2023   Organisation: Mobilitätskulturforschung im deutschsprachigen Raum. Digital workshop with representatives of German-speaking mobility research on November 21, 2023.
    • 2023   Machtvolle Gestaltung von Mobilitätskulturen in Mittelstädten. Presentation at the annual conference of the Pegasus Network on “From A to C: Designing sustainable mobility” from October 13 to 14, 2023, at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden.
    • 2023   Organisation: Innovative Ansätze zur Raumabgrenzung? Lightning session organized with Thomas Krieger (BBSR) at the German Geography Congress (DKG) 2023 on “Planetary Futures” from September 20–23, 2023, at Goethe University Frankfurt.
    • 2023   Machtvolle Gestaltung von Mobilitätskulturen. Transformation potential in medium-sized cities. Presentation at the conference of the research training group “Medium-sized cities as participatory cities” on “Participating in transformation!” on October 19, 2023, at RWTH Aachen University.
    • 2023   Machtvolle Mobilitätskulturen. Poster at the annual conference of the Mobility and Transport Working Group (AK MoVe) on “Sustainable Mobility in the City of the Future: Transformation of Society, Space & Governance” from June 15–16, 2023, at Goethe University Frankfurt.
    • 2022   Organisation: Academic Fomo – Grasping the state of the art in inter- and transdisciplinary research fields. Digital workshop for young scientists on March 3, 2022
    • 2022   Organisation: Mobilität & Raum. Co-organization of the Pegasus Annual Conference at the University of Wuppertal from October 21–22, 2022.