Dr. Oliver Nachtwey

Professor

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Biography

Oliver Nachtwey studied economics at the University of Hamburg and obtained his doctorate in political sociology from the University of Göttingen in 2008. He has worked as a research assistant at the universities of Jena, Trier, and Darmstadt. Additionally, he was a fellow at the Hamburg Institute for Social Research, the Post-Growth Institute in Jena, and the Institute for Social Research in Frankfurt. Professor Nachtwey conducts research on social modernization and individualization processes, as well as changes in work structures. His focus includes the development of social conflicts, digitalization, protests, and new forms of authoritarianism. His book "Die Abstiegsgesellschaft. Über das Aufbegehren der regressiven Moderne" (2016) earned him several awards. His co-authored book "Gekränkte Freiheit. Aspekte des libertären Autoritarismus" (2022) was shortlisted for the Leipzig Book Fair Prize in the category of non-fiction. In 2025, he, alongside Carolin Amlinger, received the Geschwister-Scholl Prize for their joint book "Zerstörungslust. Elemente des demokratischen Faschismus," which topped several best-seller lists. Nachtwey's works have been translated into multiple languages and published in various international scholarly journals and periodicals like the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, New York Times, and New Statesman. His research has been featured in major media outlets.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of Basel

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:22
Writing
Required:22
Speaking
Required:22
Total
Required:95
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with at least 180 ECTS Specific ECTS requirements in core subjects (e.g., 90 ECTS in Math/CS for Data Science)
Application Checklist
  • Bachelor's degree certificate or current transcript of records
  • Diploma Supplement (if available)
  • CV/Resume
  • Copy of valid passport or ID card
  • Evidence of language proficiency (C1 level recommended for English/German programs)
  • Proof of payment of application fee (CHF 100)
Specialization Notes

The University of Basel generally requires C1 level proficiency in the language of instruction. For most English-taught Masters, TOEFL (min 92-95) or IELTS (min 7.0) is the standard.