

Research Foci
- Sustainable Development, Sustainable Consumption
- Global Agrifood Politics, Waste Politics
- Governance and Governmentality
- Limits to Growth and Degrowth
- Environmental Political Theory and Political Sociology
- International Relations Theory
Doctoral AbstractThesis
Unwrapping Responsibility in Global Environmental Governance - The Political Rationalities and Techniques of Governing Food Waste Reductions in the Anthropocene
- Supervisor
- Professorin Doris Fuchs, Ph.D.
- Doctoral Subject
- Politikwissenschaft
- Doctoral Degree
- Dr. phil.
- Awarded by
- Department 06 – Education and Social Studies
CV
Academic Education
- Doctoral Studies in Political Science, WWU Münster
- Study of Political Science, Sinology und Sociology at the University of Muenster
- Study of Modern Chinese at the Renmin University, Beijing, PR China
- Study of Sinology, Sociology and Ethnology at the University of Muenster
Positions
- Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University, BMW Center for German and European Studies, Washington DC
- Research Fellow at the BMBF-funded project about participation and acceptance of the Transformation of the Energy System (KomMA-P)
- Research Fellow at the Chair of International Relations and Sustainable Development, Institute of Political Science, University of Muenster
- Research Assiatant at the Chair of International Relations and Development, University of Muenster
- Research Assistant, BMBF-Research Project TRANSPOSE - Transfer of Electricity Saving Policies
- Teaching Assistant, „Introduction to International Relations“, University of Muenster
External Functions
- Member of the International Studies Association (ISA)
- Member of the German Association of Political Research (DVPW)
- Member of the Young Researcher Group on Asian Studies
- Member of the German Association for Asian Studies (DGA)
Teaching
- Bachelorseminar: Sustainable Design Thinking [060981]
(in cooperation with Constantina Rokos)
[ - | SCH 100.124 | Dr. Tobias Gumbert] - Hauptseminar: Environmental Political Theory [062089]
- Praktikum: Internship report (Master) [062022]
(in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Gabriele Wilde, Dr. Ulrich Hamenstädt, Prof. Dr. Bernd Schlipphak, Prof. Dr. Norbert Kersting, apl. Prof. Christiane Frantz, Dr. Ivo Hernandez, Prof. Dr. Oliver Treib, Dr. Tobias Albrecht, Jun.-Prof. Antonia Graf, Prof. Dr. Thomas Dietz, apl. Prof. Matthias Freise, Jun.-Prof. Svenja Ahlhaus, Dr. Felix Petersen) - Praktikum: Internship report (Master) [062075]
(in cooperation with Jun.-Prof. Antonia Graf, Prof. Dr. Thomas Dietz, Prof. Dr. Bernd Schlipphak, Jun.-Prof. Svenja Ahlhaus, Prof. Dr. Oliver Treib, Dr. Ivo Hernandez, Dr. Tobias Albrecht) - Seminar: Introduction to Global Governance Research [060115]
- Standardkurs: The politics of sustainable consumption [060095]
- Hauptseminar: Global Environmental Governance [064103]
- Praktikum: Internship report (Master) [064155]
(in cooperation with Paul Meiners, Prof. Dr. Armin Schäfer, Jun.-Prof. Antonia Graf, Prof. Dr. Norbert Kersting, Prof. Doris Fuchs, Dr. Marlene Mauk, Dr. Ivo Hernandez, Prof. Dr. Oliver Treib) - Praktikum: Internship report (Master) [064113]
(in cooperation with Paul Meiners, Prof. Dr. Armin Schäfer, Prof. Dr. Norbert Kersting, Dr. Max Schulte, apl. Prof. Christiane Frantz, Dr. Marlene Mauk, Prof. Dr. Oliver Treib, Dr. Karsten Mause, Prof. Dr. Antje Vetterlein, Jun.-Prof. Antonia Graf, Prof. Dr. Thomas Dietz, Dr. Lea Elsässer, Dr. Mitja Sienknecht, apl. Prof. Matthias Freise, Prof. Doris Fuchs, apl. Prof. Oliver Hidalgo, Dr. Ivo Hernandez, Prof. Dr. Gabriele Wilde, Dr. Benjamin Best) - Democracy in the Climate Crisis [064101]
- Hauptseminar: Democracy and Sustainability [062111]
- Praktikum: Internship report (Master) [062094]
(in cooperation with Paul Meiners, Prof. Dr. Armin Schäfer, Dr. Ulrich Hamenstädt, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Willems, Prof. Dr. Norbert Kersting, apl. Prof. Christiane Frantz, Prof. Dr. Oliver Treib, Dr. Karsten Mause, Prof. Dr. Antje Vetterlein, Dr. Andrea Walter, Dr. Mareike Gebhardt, Prof. Dr. Thomas Dietz, Dr. Hendrik Meyer, Dr. Lea Elsässer, apl. Prof. Matthias Freise, Andreas Wimmel, Dr. Ivo Hernandez, Prof. Dr. Gabriele Wilde) - Sustainable consumption policy [062112]
(in cooperation with Pia Mamut) - Hauptseminar: Project seminar II [060065]
- Standardkurs: Sustainable consumption policy [060031]
- Hauptseminar: Project seminar I: Internationale and European Governance [068070]
- Standardkurs: Global Waste Governance and Politics - Development of a research agenda [068116]
- Hauptseminar: Project seminar II [066057]
- Hauptseminar: Specialisation modules Block II (after christmas) [064111]
- Theories of international relations as assemblage [062085]
- Standardkurs: Module Basic Laboratory Course [060019]
- Module Introduction to Business Administration [068014]
- Standardkurs: Introduction to global governance research [066226]
- Grundkurs: Introduction to International Relations [064004]
(in cooperation with Prof. Doris Fuchs) - Political Sociology of the environment [064037]
- Research in Sustainability and (Post-)Growth [062041]
- Grundkurs: Introduction to international relations [060196]
(in cooperation with Prof. Doris Fuchs) - Standardkurs: Introduction to Theories of International Relations [060440]
- Standardkurs: The Global Governance of Food Waste [062827]
- Bachelorseminar: Alternative research approaches to international relations [064081]
- Grundkurs: Basic Course: Introduction to International Relations [065803]
(in cooperation with Prof. Doris Fuchs) - Standardkurs: The international relations of food - Current challenges for the global food system [066412]
- Bachelorseminar: Sustainable Design Thinking [060981]
Projects
- ULYSSEUS – Consolidating Ulysseus: an open to the world, persons-centred and entrepreneurial European University for the citizenship ofthe future ( – )
EU-Project Hosted outside the University of Münster: EC - Lifelong Learning Programme: Erasmus+ | Project Number: 101124733 - KomMA-P – Complementary use of different energy supply concepts as a motor of social acceptance for and individual participation in the transformation to a robust energy system – development of an integrated supply scenario ( – )
Participation in BMBF-Joint Project: Federal Ministry of Education and Research | Project Number: 03EK3518C - Transpose: Transfer of Policy Instruments for Electricity Savings ( – )
Participation in BMBF-Joint Project: Federal Ministry of Education and Research | Project Number: 01UV0802A
- ULYSSEUS – Consolidating Ulysseus: an open to the world, persons-centred and entrepreneurial European University for the citizenship ofthe future ( – )
Publications
- Gumbert, Tobias, and Fuchs, Doris. . “Energieverantwortung aus der Perspektive der Nachhaltigkeit.” in Energieverantwortung, edited by Michael Quante, Anna Kahmen, Christian Loos and Barbara von Groote-Gotzes. Berlin: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-64989-3_2.
- Gumbert, Tobias. . “Behavioral economics and nudging: assessing the democratic quality of sustainable behavior change agendas.” in The Routledge Handbook of Democracy and Sustainability, edited by Basil Bornemann, Henrike Knappe and Patrizia Nanz. London: Routledge.
- Gumbert, Tobias. . Environmental Politics and Theory, Responsibility in Environmental Governance. Unwrapping the Global Food Waste Dilemma, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-13729-7.
- Gumbert, Tobias, Bohn, Carolin, Fuchs, Doris, Lennartz, Benedikt, and Müller, Christian J., eds. . Demokratie und Nachhaltigkeit. Aktuelle Perspektiven auf ein komplexes Spannungsverhältnis, Baden-Baden: Nomos.
- Gumbert, Tobias. . “Die Grenzen des nachhaltigen Konsums – Entwürfe zur demokratischen Reorganisation liberaler Konsumgesellschaften.” in Demokratie und Nachhaltigkeit. Aktuelle Perspektiven auf ein komplexes Spannungsverhältnis, edited by Tobias Gumbert, Carolin Bohn, Doris Fuchs, Benedikt Lennartz and Müller Christian J.. Baden-Baden: Nomos.
- Gumbert, Tobias, Bohn, Carolin, Fuchs, Doris, and Lennartz, Benedikt. . “Demokratische Nachhaltigkeitspolitik im Anthropozän.” in Demokratie und Nachhaltigkeit. Aktuelle Perspektiven auf ein komplexes Spannungsverhältnis, edited by Tobias Gumbert, Carolin Bohn, Doris Fuchs, Benedikt Lennartz and Christian J. Müller. Baden-Baden: Nomos.
- Gumbert, Tobias, Mamut, Pia, Fuchs, Doris, and Welck, Tobias. . “Sustainable consumption and the power of economic growth: exploring alternatives to the growth-dependency narrative.” Consumption and Society, № 1 (2): 1–21. doi: 10.1332/JPPD7512.
- Gumbert, Tobias Bohn Carolin. . “Are Liberal Objections to Consumption Corridors Justified? On the Relation of Freedom and Limits in Green Liberal Thought.” Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy, № 17 (1): 91–102. doi: 10.1080/15487733.2021.1878733.
- Gumbert, Tobias. . “Nahrungsmittelverschwendung. Systemische Ursachen und global organisierte Unverantwortlichkeit.” Wissenschaft & Frieden, № 2021-4: 47–50.
- Gumbert, Tobias. . “The Politics of Sustainable Consumption.” in Digital Sustainability Education — Potential, Development Trends and Good Practices, SDGnexus Network Working Paper 03-2021, SDGnexus Network Working Paper 03-2021, edited by Sandra Schwindenhammer, Katrin Strobehn, Helmut Breitmeier, Thomas Hickmann, Markus Lederer, Jens Marquardt and Sabine Weiland. N/A: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag. doi: 10.22029/jlupub-99.
- Gumbert, Tobias Fuchs Doris. . “Moral Geographies of Responsibility in the Global Agrifood System.” in The Routledge Handbook on Responsibility in International Relations, edited by Hannes Hansen-Magnusson and Antje Vetterlein. London: Routledge.
- Fuchs, Doris, Sahakian, Marlyne, Gumbert, Tobias, Di Giulio, Antonietta, Maniates, Michael, Lorek, Sylvia, and Graf, Antonia. . Consumption Corridors. Living a Good Life within Sustainable Limits, London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780367748746.
- Gumbert, Tobias. . “Materiality and Nonhuman Agency.” in Routledge Handbook of Global Sustainability Governance, edited by Agni Kalfagianni, Doris Fuchs and Anders Hayden. London: Routledge.
- Bohn, Carolin Gumbert Tobias. . “"Grüne liberale Freiheit" als Baustein einer sozialökologischen Ethik der Grenzen.” in Grenzgänge der Ethik, Vol. 22 of Forum Sozialethik, edited by Josef Becker, Sebastian Kistler and Max Niehoff. Münster: Aschendorff Verlag.
- Bohn, Carolin, Fuchs, Doris, Gumbert, Tobias, Hasenkamp, Victoria, Heimbach-Steins, Marianne, Kuhn, Lilith, Salaske, Sebastian, Sarpong, Larissa, Schrüfer, Gabriele, Schwarze, Sonja, Siepker, Lena, and Steinhäuser, Cornelia. . “Partizipation als zentrales Thema interdisziplinärer Nachhaltigkeitsforschung.” ZIN Diskussionspapiere, № 2020 (01): 1–84.
- Steinhäuser, Cornelia Gumbert Tobias. . “Lokale Partizipation als normativer Treiber der Agrarwende: Ernährungsräte und Partizipative Garantiesysteme.” ZIN Diskussionspapiere, № 2020 (01): 42–55. doi: 10.17879/zin-2020-01.
- Gumbert, Tobias. . “Anti-Democratic Tenets? Behavioural-Economic Imaginaries of a Future Food System.” Politics and Governance, № 7 (4): 94–104. doi: 10.17645/pag.v7i4.2216.
- Gumbert, Tobias Fuchs Doris. . “Nachhaltige Entwicklung ist Wohlstand ohne Wachstum.” in Umweltpolitik: global und gerecht, edited by Martin Dabrowski, Judith Wolf and Karlies Abmeier. Paderborn: Ferdinand Schöningh.
- Fuchs, Doris Gumbert Tobias. . “Power without Borders? Transnational Corporations in the Global Food System.” in The Routledge Handbook of Transnational Studies, edited by Middell Matthias. London: Routledge.
- Gumbert, Tobias. . “Freedom, Autonomy and Sustainable Behaviors: The Politics of Designing Consumer Choice.” in Politics, Power & Ideology in Sustainable Consumption, edited by Cindy Isenhour, Mari Martiskainen and Lucie Middlemiss. London: Routledge.
- Gumbert, Tobias, and Fuchs, Doris. . “The Power of Corporations in Global Food Sector Governance.” in Handbook of the International Political Economy of the Corporation, edited by Nölke Andreas and May Christian. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781785362538.00036.
- Fuchs, Doris, Gumbert, Tobias, and Schlipphak, Bernd. . “Euroscepticism and Big Business.” in The Routledge Handbook of Euroscepticism, edited by Benjamin Leruth, Nicholas Startin and Simon Usherwood.
- Gumbert, Tobias Fuchs Doris. . “Bürgerbeteiligung und Energiewende – Partizipationsmöglichkeiten im urbanen Raum.” Sustainable Governance Discussion Papers № 01/2016. Münster: Lehrstuhl für Internationale Beziehungen und Nachhaltige Entwicklung.
- Graf, Antonia, Fuchs, Doris, Gölz, Sebastian, Gumbert, Tobias, Klobasa, Marian, Ruddat, Michael, and Sonnberger, Marco. . “KomMa-P Abschlussbericht. Komplementäre Nutzung verschiedener Energieversorgungskonzepte als Motor gesellschaftlicher Akzeptanz und individueller Partizipation zur Transformation eines robusten Energiesystems - Entwicklung eines integrierten Versorgungsszenarios.”
- Gumbert, Tobias. . “Progressive Stromtarife in Kalifornien.” TRANSPOSE Working Paper No 10. Münster: TRANSPOSE.
- Gumbert, Tobias. . “Werkstattbericht zum Beitrag.” in Politikwissenschaftliches Arbeiten in den Internationalen Beziehungen. Methoden und Perspektiven., edited by Tim Banning. Münster: LIT Verlag.
- Fuchs, Doris, and Gumbert, Tobias. . “Privater Stromkonsum in OECD Staaten - Chancen und Herausforderungen.” in Die Politische Förderung des Stromsparens in Privathaushalten. Herausforderungen und Möglichkeiten, edited by Doris Fuchs. Berlin: Logos Verlag.
- Gumbert, Tobias. . “'What Does It Mean to Analyze Democracies Today?' - Die dominante Verwendung des Demokratiekonzepts innerhalb der Forschungsliteratur zum demokratischen Frieden.” in Politikwissenschaftliches Arbeiten in den Internationalen Beziehungen. Methoden und Perspektiven., edited by Tim Banning. Münster: LIT Verlag.
Talks
- Gumbert, Tobias : “Language, Meaning, and Interpretation: Researching Communications Within and About Socio-Ecological Transformations”. Humboldt-n-School - “Humboldt-n focuses: Climate change – risks and adaptations”, Bonn, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „Weniger ist mehr? Konsum und das gute Leben“. Podiumsdiskussion im Rahmen der Ausstellung "Must Have. Geschichte. Gegenwart. Zukunft des Konsums.", LVR-Industriemuseum Tuchfabrik Müller, .
- Gumbert, Tobias; Mamut, Pia; Fuchs, Doris : “Economic growth as a structural defect of democracy? On the challenges of restructuring growth-dependent social institutions in pursuit of wellbeing within planetary boundaries”. 28. Wissenschaftlicher Kongress der Deutschen Vereinigung für Politikwissenschaft (DVPW), Online, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : “Marine Plastic Pollution and the Politics of Sight”. Re-opening the bin - Waste, economy, culture and society, Online conference, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „Interaktiver Workshop: Grenzen des nachhaltigen Konsums“. Politik in Zeiten des Klimawandels - Steht die Demokratie einer nachhaltigeren Gesellschaft im Weg?, Online-Tagung, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : “Sustainable Consumption and the Politics of Sight”. SCORAI International Conference 2020 - Sustainable Consumption & Social Justice in an Urbanizing World, Bosten & Stockholm, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „Religion, Natur, Dinge des Alltags: Impulse durch bedeutungsvolle Beziehungen?“ Religion, Spiritualität und Nachhaltigkeit. Impulse und Workshops zur interdisziplinären Nachhaltigkeitsforschung, Akademie Franz Hitze Haus, Münster, NRW, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „Die Geister, die wir riefen – Über die unintendierten Nebenfolgen der globalen Plastik-Ökonomie“. Veranstaltungsreihe Politik und Gesellschaft, Katholische Studierenden- und Hochschulgemeinde (KSHG), Münster, NRW, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „Umwelt und Entwicklung – Die Sustainable Development Goals“. Umweltschutz und Entwicklung - Zwei Seiten einer Medaille, Akademie Franz Hitze Haus, Münster, NRW, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „Interdisziplinäre Nachhaltigkeitsforschung – Formate für die politikwissenschaftliche Lehre“. Nachhaltigkeit und Politik in der Lehre, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „Nachhaltiger Konsum ist mehr als CO2-Einsparung“. 1. Lengericher Klimaforum, Lengerich, NRW, .
- Bohn, Carolin; Gumbert, Tobias : „'Grüne' liberale Freiheit als Baustein einer sozial-ökologischen Ethik der Grenzen“. Forum Sozialethik 2019 - "Ethik der Grenzen - Grenzen der Ethik", Katholische Akademie, Schwerte, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „#EsReichtFürAlle - Nachhaltige Alternativen gegen Nahrungsmittelverschwendung in Münster“. 4. ZIN-Brotzeitkolloquium "Münster - nachhaltig?", Münster, .
- Bohn, Carolin; Gumbert, Tobias : „Herausforderungen eines suffizienten Lebensstils“. Eröffnung des Projekts „Klimaschutzbürger 2.0“ des Vereins energieland 2050 e.V., Steinfurt, NRW, .
- Bohn, Carolin; Gumbert, Tobias : „Die Regierung der Freiheit innerhalb biophysischer Grenzen – Zur Notwendigkeit der Rekonzeptualisierung eines Begriffs ‚grüner liberaler Freiheit‘ im Kontext neoliberaler Nachhaltigkeitspolitiken“. 27. Wissenschaftlicher Kongress der Deutschen Vereinigung für Politikwissenschaft (DVPW) „Grenzen der Demokratie / Frontiers of Democracy“ , Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland, .
- Fuchs, Doris; Gumbert, Tobias : „Nachhaltige Entwicklung ist Wohlstand ohne Wachstum“. Tagung "Umweltpolitik: global und gerecht?", Akademie Franz Hitze Haus Münster, .
- Fuchs, Doris; Lorek, Sylvia; Gumbert, Tobias; Sahakian, Marlyne; Di Giulio, Antonietta : “Consumption Corridors: sufficiency and wellbeing in a world of limits”. 6th International Degrowth Conference, Malmö, Sweden, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : “Let's Be (More) Materialistic! A Framework to Study the Renewed Interest in Materiality within Sustainable Consumption”. Third International Conference of the Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative (SCORAI) , Copenhagen Business School, Kopenhagen, Dänemark, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „Globale Nachhaltigkeit – globale Verantwortung? Die Governance von Nahrungsmittelverschwendung und Abfallströmen“. Ringvorlesung: Die Welt ein Dorf? Globalisierung als interdisziplinäre Herausforderung , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : “The Politics of Food Waste – Governing Waste Reductions through Social Innovations”. Opening the Bin. New Perspectives on Waste, Culture and Society from the Humanities and the Social Sciences, Lund University, Helsingborg, Sweden, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : “Practicing alternative reductions? Anti-food waste initiatives and their potential for limiting waste and wasteful behavior”. Symposium on Food Education in Japan & Germany, Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin (JDZB), .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „Anti-Food Waste Initiativen – Problemlösungsorientiertes Governance-Instrument oder Motor öffentlicher Wachstums- und Konsumismuskritik?“ 13. Tagung der Nachwuchsgruppe für Umweltsoziologie: Nachhaltigkeit zwischen Anspruch und sozialer Praxis, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Deutschland, .
- Gumbert, Tobias. : “Freedom, Autonomy and Sustainable Lifestyles: Governing Food Waste Through Designing Consumer Choice”. 11th International Interpretive Policy Analysis (IPA) Conference, University of Hull, Kingston-upon-Hull, Großbritannien, .
- Gumbert, Tobias. : „Gelebte Alternativen zur Verschwendung? Die Anti-Food Waste Bewegung und ihr konsumkritisches Potenzial“. Workshop „Konsumkritische Projekte und Praktiken: Ziele, Muster und Folgen gemeinschaftlichen Konsums“, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Deutschland, .
- Gumbert, Tobias. : “Choice Editing, Sustainable Consumption and Governmentality: Towards an Ethics of Responsibility”. Second International SCORAI Conference “Transitions Beyond a Consumer Society”, University of Maine, Orono, USA, .
- Gumbert, Tobias. : “Food Waste Policy in the EU - Shifting Meanings and Practices around Food Waste Reduction”. Policy Change in the EU?, WWU Münster, Münster, Deutschland, .
- Gumbert, Tobias. : “Choice Architecture and the Governmentalization of Sustainable Consumption”. International Studies Associations’s 57th Annual Convention, Atlanta, USA, .
- Gumbert, Tobias; Hennings, Anne : “Re-evaluating the Food, Land and Resources Nexus in the Global Agri-food System from a Waste-perspective”. ISA's 57th Annual Convention, Atlanta, USA, .
- Gumbert, Tobias; Hennings, Anne : “2015. Rethinking Economies of Waste – Exploring Contemporary Rationalities and Practices of Waste in the Global Agri-food System. ISA Annual Convention”. ISA's 55th Annual Convention, New Orleans, USA, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : “The Dispositif of National Unity. Analyzing Civilizational Practices and the Governance of Self and Other in Contemporary China-Tibet Relations”. 9th International Conference in Interpretive Policy Analysis, Wageningen, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : “The Production of Machines Which Act Like Men, and Men Who Act Like Machines. Subjectivation Strategies and the Regulation of Work Migration in Southern Spain”. 11. Nachwuchstagung der Sektion Internationale Politik der Deutschen Vereinigung für Politische Wissenschaft, Tutzing, Deutschland, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : “Analyzing Subjectivity, Power and Knowledge in the Global Agri-Food System”. ISA's 54th Annual Convention, Toronto, Canada, .
- Gumbert, Tobias : „Klimakrise, Utopien und Akzelerationismus: "Snowpiercer" politikwissenschaftlich lesen“. Politik+Film. Filmreihe des Instituts für Politikwissenschaft in Kooperation mit dem Cinema Münster, Münster, .
- Gumbert, Tobias. : “Energy Counts in Large Amounts? Energy Security in China’s Foreign Policy”. China and India in Energy and Environmental Politics, Münster, Deutschland, .