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About the deputy professorship

The transformation requires not only changes in behavior, but also material shifts - such as spending on the energy, heating and agricultural transition, industrial restructuring, the switch to a circular economy or the preservation of biodiversity. Economic sectors are being transformed, certain forms of work devalued and others upgraded. The transformation has winners and losers. Its course depends not only on technical solutions, but also on whether the measures are perceived as climate-friendly, whether social security and infrastructures are in place and whether the transformation is perceived as a loss of control or whether action is perceived as powerful.

The representative professorship analyzes social conflicts in socio-ecological transformations as an interplay of three dimensions:

  • Cultural: competing patterns of interpretation and value conflicts,

  • Political: Power dynamics and alliances for creative power,

  • Economic: redistribution of resources, costs and working environments.

Transformation is not a technocratic process, but a field of social negotiation in which justice, participation and agency determine acceptance and success.

CV

From 11/2025Deputy Professorship for Social Conflicts in Social-Ecological Transformations, University of Kassel
From 1/2019Research assistant at the Sociological Research Institute Göttingen (SOFI) at the Georg-August-University
12/2019 - 11/2023Substitute Professor of Sociology / Social Analysis and Social Change at the University of Hamburg (50%)
10/2015 - 12/2018Freelance work (research), lecturer at the University of Liechtenstein and visiting professor for Public Policy, NIDA in Bangkok, Thailand (summer semester 2017)
10/2011 - 10/2015University Assistant at the Institute of Sociology, University of Innsbruck (Erika Cremer Habilitation Program)
09/2009 - 09/2011Research assistant at the Institute of Sociology at the University of Innsbruck
03/2009 - 08/2009Freelance work, lecturer at the Institute for Architectural Theory at the University of Innsbruck
03/2005 - 02/2009Research assistant at the Institute for Construction and Design at the University of Innsbruck
05/2004 - 02/2005Freelance work as architect and campaigner for Attac Germany
11/2003 - 04/2004Architect at Haid + Partner in Nuremberg
10/2000 - 09/2003Doctoral scholarship holder of the Landesstiftung Thüringen / Bauhaus University Weimar
08/2000 - 02/2001Research assistant at the Chair of Representation and Design at the Technical University of Dresden
01/2000 - 08/2001Project manager at Arets Architects in Maastricht

 

Professional training

06/2017Habilitation in Sociology at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Innsbruck
07/2005Doctorate in engineering sciences at the Bauhaus University Weimar
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Reviewed Journals

Ötsch, Silke / Bartelheimer, Peter (2025) Conversion: a strategy for ecosocial production politics, Work in the Global Economy, Early View, DOI: 10.1332/27324176Y2025D000000041

Ötsch, Silke (2024): Pendulum or Progress? Tax Consultants in the Crisis of Legitimacy. American Behavioral Scientist 68: 1832-1861, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00027642221144831

Ötsch, Silke (2024): Climate financing by the German government: a win-win strategy? In: Journal of Political Science, Vol. 34, 207-229, DOI: 10.1007/541358-024-00377-7

Ötsch, Silke / Buchholz, Stephanie / Lochner, Fabian (2021): Working in the legal gray zone: tax professionals in a transformative crisis of meaning? Momentum Quarterly, 10(4), 237-260.(Best Paper Award 2021)

Ötsch, Silke / Lehweß-Litzmann, René (2020): Approaches and prospects for a socio-ecological transformation: What is the corona crisis changing? In: WSI-Mitteilungen 73 (6), 418-426.

Ötsch, Silke (2016): The entrepreneur is dead - long live the gardener? Guiding principles and economic concepts of the post-growth society. Momentum Quarterly 5, no. 1 (2016).

Ötsch, Silke (2016). The Offshore Coalition, Its Tactics and Strategies. American Behavioral Scientist, 60(3), 321-339. doi:10.1177/0002764215613408

Ötsch, Silke (2013): Architects between paternalism and client orientation: professional ethics, financial criteria and the users in the context of financialization. Momentum Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 4: 183-195.

Ötsch, Silke (2012): The normality of the exception: financial havens as parallel economies and the absence of regulation. In: Momentum Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 1: 27-44.

Ötsch, Silke (2007): The King's New Company. Inside the global Y€$ and how to get out. In: Grazer Architektur Magazin, Vol. 04, Vienna: Springer: 106-133.

Ötsch, Silke (2006): Of overestimated users and underestimated strategies. In: Grazer Architektur Magazin, vol. 03, Vienna: Springer: 186-199.

 

Book contributions, peer reviewed

Ötsch, Silke (2021): Accumulation and tax professionals. In: Benquet, M./Bourgeron, T. (eds.): Accumulating Capital Today, London: Routledge, 208-223.

Ötsch, Silke / Pasqualoni, Pier-Paolo / Scott, Alan (2013): From 'New Spirit' to New Steel Hard Casing? Civil Society Actors, Capitalism, and Crisis: The Case of Attac in Europe. In: Du Gay, P./Morgan, G.: New Spirits of Capitalism? Oxford: Oxford University Press: 231-250.

 

Research report

Trautvetter, Christoph / Ötsch, Silke / Henn, Markus (2018): Corporate taxes in Germany: Legal gray areas and civil society alternatives. Project of the Otto Brenner Foundation, OBS Working Paper 28, April 2018.

 

Non reviewed Journals

Ötsch, Silke (2025): Turning sustainable finance from head to toe: Strategies for sustainable investments, Ökologisches Wirtschaften, 40 (3): 17-19.

Ötsch, Silke: Tax havens. About a lucrative business model. In: Soziopolis, focus on the shadow economy, 10.6.2020. (online journal)

Ötsch, Silke (2019): Cryptocurrencies: Today's IT with yesterday's monetary theories. In: FifF Communication. Journal for Computer Science and Society, No. 4, 13-19.

Ötsch, Silke (2016): Development versus saving taxes: How tax practices à la Panama undermine societies of the North and the South. WISO, 39 (3), 93-108.

 

Transfer-oriented monograph

Ötsch, Silke / Haufe, Paula / Mertens, Daniel / Schairer, Simon / Urban, Janina / Wilhelm, Maike (2025): The Sustainable Financial System. Analysis and Critique of Sustainable Finance, Hamburg, VSA.

 

Scientific monograph

Ötsch, Silke (2006): Overpowering and flattering. The human body in the sights of planners. Weimar: Verso. 303 S.

 

Editorships

Bartelheimer, Peter / Ötsch, Silke (ed.) (2025): Conversion - Economic democracy for socio-ecological restructuring. Yearbook Economy & Society, Marburg: Metropolis Verlag, https://www.metropolis-verlag.de/dl/OpenAccess/1586.pdf

Ötsch, Silke / Di Pauli, Celia (eds.) (2009): Spaces of the offshore world. Tax havens and offshore centers in Europe. Frankfurt, publisher: Attac Trägerverein.

Sauer, Thomas / Ötsch, Silke / Wahl, Peter (eds.) (2009): Closing the casino. Hamburg: VSA Verlag.

Jaschke, Karin / Ötsch, Silke (eds.) (2003): Stripping Las Vegas. A contextual review of resort architecture. Published by the Bauhaus University Weimar (El Verso). 190 S.

 

Book contributions, half / non reviewed

Bartelheimer, Peter / Ötsch, Silke (2025): Introduction. Conversion - socio-ecological transformation from below. In: Bartelheimer, Peter, Ötsch, Silke (eds.), Conversion - Economic democracy for socio-ecological transformation. Marburg: Metropolis, 7-39

Ötsch, Silke (2025): Progressive financing instruments as a lever of conversion?", in Konversion - Wirtschaftsdemokratie für den sozialökologischen Umbau, ed. by Bartelheimer, Peter; Ötsch, Silke, Marburg: Metropolis Verlag, 335-367

Ötsch, Silke (2023): Tra competenza problem-solving e populismo esperto. Le posizioni dei consulenti fiscali tedeschi sulla politica fiscale. In G. Nicoletta, O. Ventrone, & M. Scotto di Carlo (Eds.), Economisti e Societa'. Nuove sociologie dell expertise economica. Napoli: Liguori Editore, 151-163.

Hule, Richard / Ötsch, Silke (2020): Conspiracy theories in neoliberalism. From a sociological-interdisciplinary theory to a model? In: Pühringer, S. / Graupe, S. / Hirte, K. / Kapeller, J. / Panther, S. (eds.), Jenseits der Konventionen: Alternative thinking on economics, society and politics, Marburg: Metropolis-Verlag, 419-43.

Ötsch, Silke (2019): Tax havens. In: Braunmühl, C. v. / Gerstenberger, H. / Ptak, R. / Wichterich, C. (eds.), ABC der globalen (Un)Ordnung (Hamburg: VSA), 232-233.

Ötsch, Silke (2018): Austria in top dog capitalism. In: Dimmel, N. / Schmid, T. (eds.): Zu Ende gedacht. Austria after turquoise-blue. Vienna / Berlin: Mandelbaum Verlag, 155-162

Ötsch, Silke (2018): Financialization and Europe. In: Bach, Maurizio / Hönig, Barbara (eds.): Sociology of Europe. Handbook for science and studies. Baden-Baden: 312-322.

Ötsch, Silke (2018): Architectural science as the sociology of architects and knowledge implementation. In: Tilo Amhoff, Henrik Hilbig and Gernot Weckherlin (eds.): Production Conditions of Architecture. Between autonomy and heteronomy. Dresden: Thelem, 51-60.

Ötsch, Silke (2017): Tax havens, tax evasion and tax avoidance. Facts, consequences and measures. In: Max Haller (ed.): Current problems in the sociology of finance. The questions of Rudolf Goldscheid today. Münster/Vienna/New York: LIT-Verlag, 109-143.

Ötsch, Silke (2017): Between social prestige and organized crime. Professional activity in the field of tax evasion and avoidance. In: Werner Nienhueser / Ute Schmiel (eds.): Taxes and Society. Yearbook Economy and Society 2017. Marburg: Metropolis Verlag, 265-314.

Ötsch, Silke/Schmidt, Michaela (2016): Offshore financial centers and tax evasion in banking. In: Erturk, I./Gabor, D. (eds.): The Routledge Companion to Banking Regulation and Reform. London: Routledge, 250-271.

Ötsch, Silke (2016): "The Transition Movement: A nucleus for a social, ecological and democratic Europe?" In: Weiss, A. (ed.): Ein anders Europa: konkrete Utopien und gesellschaftliche Praxen. Vienna: Verlag des Österreichischen Gewerkschaftsbundes, 173-190.

Ötsch, Silke (2015): The Architect: a disappearing species in a financialized space? In: Odgers, J. / McVicar, M. / Kite, S. (Eds.), Economy and Architecture: Routledge, 162-174.

Ötsch, Silke (2014): Our Banking Secrecy is a Strong Castle. In: Ötsch, W. /Grözinger, G. / Beyer, M. / Bräutigam, L. (eds.): The Political Economy of Offshore Jurisdictions. Marburg: Metropolis, 39-60.

Ötsch, Silke / Di Pauli, Celia (2013): Mobile capital, spaces and illusory spaces. In: Scheiner, J. / Blotevogel, H-H. / Frank,S. / Holz-Rau, C. / Schuster, N. (eds.): Mobilities and Immobilities. Essen: Klartext-Verlag, 477-488.

Ötsch, Silke (2013): Time for Socio-Economic Peace-Making. Imposing Socio-Economic Alternatives in the Light of Reform Failure. In: Preiss, B. / Brunner, C. (eds.): Democracy in Crisis: The Dynamics of Civic Protest and Civic Resistance. Peace Report 2012. Vienna and Berlin: LIT-Verlag, 79-107.

Ötsch, Silke / Di Pauli, Celia (2012): Tax havens: A paradisiacal legal system for the minority of the rich. In: Kriwak, A. / Pallaver, G. (eds.): Media and Minorities, Innsbruck: Innsbruck University Press, 293-321.

Ötsch, Silke (2011): Explaining Junkspace. Architects between market ideology and financialization, in: Professur Theorie und Geschichte der modernen Architektur (ed.), Architecture in the Age of Empire / Architektur der neuen Weltordnung. Published by the Bauhaus University Weimar, 370-377.

Ötsch, Silke / Sauer, Thomas / Wahl, Peter (2009): "Introduction." In: Close the casino! Analyses and Alternatives to Financial Market Capitalism, Sauer, T. / Ötsch, S. / Wahl, P., Hamburg: VSA-Verlag, 2009, 7-15.

Ötsch, Silke (2006): Architectural Critique in the Transfiguration of Globalization. In: Gleiter, J. / Korrek, N. / Schramke, S. (eds.), Reality Experiments. Weimar: Verso, 321-337.

Ötsch, Silke (2003): Earning from Las Vegas. In: Jaschke, K. / Ötsch, S. (eds.), Stripping Las Vegas: A Contextual Review of Casino Resort Architecture, Weimar: Verso: 133-151.

 

Exhibition

Traveling exhibition "Spaces of the Offshore World" on tax havens / shadow financial centers. Authors: Silke Ötsch (project coordination, research and research work, texts and editing) and Celia Di Pauli (artistic realization). Logistics: Attac Federal Office.

  • Duration of the exhibition: from September 2009.

  • Scope: 51 panels, catalog, postcards.

  • The exhibition has so far been shown at over 100 locations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy (South Tyrol).

 

Journalistic and transfer-oriented contributions (selection)

Regular columns in the Frankfurter Rundschau restaurant since 2018.

Ötsch, Silke (2023): From dissonance to resilience. Agora 42, (1), 61-65.

Ötsch, Silke (2020): Resilience instead of efficiency. The foundations of a crisis-proof society. In: Agora 42, issue 03, 68-72.

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Research is in the field of financial and economic sociology and socio-ecological transformation.

Some research projects:

  • Research network "Climate Finance Society (ClimFiSoc). The Institutional Logics of Climate Finance" (with Lisa Knoll/Uni Paderborn, Ulrich Klüh/ha Darmstadt, Daniel Mertens, Uni Osnabrück), Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), 2022-2025.

  • Research project (own position) "Steuergestaltung als Profession", German Research Foundation (DFG), 2019-2023.

  • Habilitation position "Handlungsspielräume im finanzialisierten Kapitalismus", Erika Cremer Habilitation Program of the University of Innsbruck, 2011-2015.

  • Research project (own position): "The role of architects as intermediaries of financialization", Austrian Science Fund (FWF), 2009-2011.

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