Rudolphina – Research Magazine of the University of Vienna

The "Male Democrat": an interview with Martin Conway

Gender inequality

The "Male Democrat": an interview with Martin Conway

Gender inequality remains the most durable form of inequality. Oxford historian Martin Conway has a radical claim: democracy helped reinforce it. In this interview, Johanna Taufner, doctoral researcher in political science at the University of Vienna, talks with Conway about the model of male-centred citizenship that dominates Western democracy, the manosphere and how democracy can be reimagined.

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Freedom of expression or hate speech

How is social media changing our democracy?

The digital public sphere is changing the way we talk to one another and, as a result, the way democracy works. Where does freedom of expression end and where does hate speech begin? University of Vienna scholars Magdalena Pöschl and Jörg Matthes discuss this in the video.

Presenting... Marta Vukovic

The democracy paradox: why do citizens accept democratic erosion?

Democracy can backslide even when most people say they support it. University of Vienna political scientist Marta Vukovic explains why citizens sometimes tolerate democratic violations and what it takes to protect liberal democracy.

Wittgenstein Award 2026

Does gravity need a quantum theory?

Markus Aspelmeyer has won the 2026 Wittgenstein Award, widely considered to be the 'Austrian Nobel Prize' with an endowment of 2 million euros. At the heart of the quantum physicist's research is one of the biggest questions in physics: Is there a theory that describes both gravity and quantum effects?

Digital information environments

Simulations for the future of democracy

How do social media, algorithms and AI influence democratic discourse? Researchers at the University of Vienna are simulating digital information spaces to investigate ways of safeguarding democracy.

Semester question

What should we learn when everything is changing?

Education and well-being

The school of the good life

Quality of life and well-being are increasingly sought after in many areas of life – including education. What does ‘happiness’ mean in the classroom, ask educational psychologist Julia Holzer and educational researcher Denis Francesconi.

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What does citizen science have to do with democracy?

Must-reads on lifelong learning, democracy and inclusion

Research literacy for tomorrow's teachers

Climate crisis in the classroom

New ways of remembrance

Can AI feedback help us learn better?

How much participation can classrooms take?

Focus

Learning from the past

A look into the past

Can we learn from history?

Democracies are in crisis, wars are raging and the right-wing AfD party recently became the second-strongest party in Germany. Shouldn't we know better? We ask historian Walter Pohl why we hardly learn from history.

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