Franziska Meifort studied history and English philology in Hanover and Berlin to qualify as a secondary school teacher. After spending time abroad in the USA and Great Britain, she worked in the German Bundestag, in a DFG project at the Free University of Berlin and in the Federal Archives in Koblenz, where she catalogued the estate of Ralf Dahrendorf. Her dissertation, which was graded "summa cum laude" at the Free University of Berlin under Prof. Dr Paul Nolte and Prof. Dr Dr Dr h.c. mult. Jürgen Kocka on the intellectual Ralf Dahrendorf was published in 2017 under the title "Ralf Dahrendorf. A biography" published by C.H. Beck. From 2016 to 2023, she was a research assistant at the Institute of History at the University of Oldenburg; first in the OLE+ project (Quality Offensive Teacher Training) in the Department of History Didactics at the chair of Prof Dr Dietmar von Reeken and then in the Department of 19th and 20th Century History at the chair of Prof Dr Gunilla Budde.
She has been Director of the Oldenburgische Landschaft, KdöR(https://www.oldenburgische-landschaft.de/) since 2024.

Scholarships and awards

Research focus

• European and transatlantic history of the 19th and 20th centuries
• History of intellectuals and ideas
• History of liberalism
• Elite and bourgeoisie research
• Social and cultural history of alcohol consumption
• German culture of remembrance since 1945
  

Conference organisation

Workshop "Lebensbilder - Bilderleben. Photographs as biographical sources" Villa Ichon Bremen, 8/9 September 2016 (together with Marcus Schönewald as part of the doc network "Grenzenlos - Epochen- und raumübergreifende Geschichtswissenschaften", Promotionszentrum Universität Bremen (ProUB))(Programme flyer)

Monographs:

Ralf Dahrendorf. A Biography, Munich: C. H. Beck, 2017.

• Reviews e.g. in:
  Süddeutsche Zeitung (J. Later); FAZ (M. Görtemaker); Historische Zeitschrift 309/2019 (H.-H. Jansen); Jahrbuch für Extremismus und Demokratie 2018 (J. Hacke); H-Soz-Kult (Th. Hertfelder); sehepunkte (A. Gallus); German Historical Institute London Bulletin 2018, 2 (K. Robbins); Neue Zürcher Zeitung (V. Mauer); Die Welt (Th. Schmid); Deutschlandfunk Kultur (U. Ackermann); Deutschlandfunk Andruck (N. Seitz)

Findbuch for the estate of Ralf Dahrendorf (1929 - 2009), fonds N 1749, Federal Archives Koblenz 2014.

Essays:

What does "progressive" mean? Four theses, in: Heinrich Böll Foundation (ed.): Das Progressiv-konservativ-Paradox. Von Zeit und Ebenen in der Politik, (= Schriften zur Demokratie, vol. 58), Berlin 2021, pp. 9-16.

The Border Crosser: Ralf Dahrendorf as a Public Intellectual between Theory and Practice, in: SocietàMutamentoPolitica, (10, 19) 2019, Special Issue "Beyond borders: Ralf Dahrendorf's legacy / Oltre i confini: l'eredità di Ralf Dahrendorf", ed. by Laura Leonardi, pp. 67-76.

The Dahrendorf estate in the Federal Archives. Legacy of a public intellectual, in: Jahrbuch zur Liberalismus-Forschung (27) 2015, pp. 301-314.

The desire for impact. Ralf Dahrendorf as an intellectual border crosser between the Federal Republic and Great Britain 1964 -1984, in: Geschichte in Wissenschaft und Unterricht (65) 2014, H. 3/4, pp. 196-216.

Liberalisation of society through educational reform. Ralf Dahrendorf between science and the public in the 1960s. In: Sebastian Brandt / Christa Irene Klein / Nadine Kopp/ Sylvia Paletschek / Livia Prüll / Olaf Schütze (eds.): Universität, Wissenschaft und Öffentlichkeit nach 1945. Stuttgart: Steiner Verlag, 2014, pp. 141-159.

"Nimm dich dieser Fremden an": Die Figur der Jessica in aktuellen Inszenierungen des Kaufmann von Venedig, in: Zeno Ackermann / Sabine Schülting (eds.), Shylock nach dem Holocaust. Zur Geschichte einer deutschen Erinnerungsfigur, Conditio Judaica, Berlin: De Gruyter, 2011, pp. 143-158.

Review:

Richard Faber (ed.): What is an intellectual? Rückblicke und Vorblicke, Würzburg 2012, for the Nexus Instituut, Tilburg, Netherlands, 04/2013.

Newspaper articles and interviews:

"Dahrendorf was no scientist in an ivory tower", interview with L.I.S.A. - Science Portal of the Gerda Henkel Foundation, May 2018.

"He repeatedly crossed boundaries". Historian Franziska Meifort talks about what the political career changer Ralf Dahrendorf achieved for the culture of debate in Germany and education policy in the 1970s and how science and politics are coming together again, in: liberal, 01/2018, pp. 16-21.

Once upon a time there was a great liberal... A conversation with biographer Franziska Meifort about the intellectual legacy of sociologist and politician Ralf Dahrendorf. By Niels Beintker, in: Kulturjournal, Bayern 2, 14.01.2018.

As British as the five o'clock tea. Oldenburg historian Franziska Meifort on the jack-of-all-trades Ralf Dahrendorf. Interview by Reinhard Tschapke in: Nordwest-Zeitung, 01/12/2017, p. 18.

Politics on the car roof, preprint from: Ralf Dahrendorf. Eine Biographie, in: Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, 17/09/2017, p. 26.

Lectures and events (selection):

"Sociability practices as practices of domination? The Bremen bourgeoisie since the late 19th century", Research Colloquium on Modern History, Prof. Dr Cornelius Torp, May 2023.

"Sociability culture as a means of power and distinguishing feature: elite continuities in Bremen from the 19th to the 20th century", colloquium Prof. Dr Jörn Leonard, represented by PD Dr Jens Späth, University of Freiburg, Feb. 2023.

"'Bildung ist Bürgerrecht': Ralf Dahrendorfs Ansatz zur Bildungs- und Hochschulreform", series of lectures on philosophy "Die Idee der Universität", University of Oldenburg, Dec. 2022.

"A Liberal Maverick: Ralf Dahrendorf's Life and Thinking", Meeting for the 75th Anniversary of the Mont Pèlerin Society, Oslo, Oct. 2022.

"(Drinking) Rituals as a Manifestation of Domination: The Bremen Schaffermahlzeit", conference "Gefährlicher Genuss? Drinks and drinking practices since the early modern period" (Chair: Dr Mareen Heying, Dr Sina Fabian, Dr Tobias Winnerling, Dr Dennis Schmidt), Open University in Hagen, Sept. 2022.

"Machtverlust und Machterhalt: Anpassungsstrategien des Bremer Bürgertums zwischen globalem und städtischem Raum (1870 - 1950)", Nordlichter-Tagung, research centre Gotha of the University of Erfurt, May 2022.

"Rethinking Liberalism", discussion with Prof Dr Jan-Werner Müller and Ralf Fücks, Salon Liberale Moderne, Berlin, March 2021.

Talk with Prof. Dr Lisa Herzog about her book "Die Rettung der Arbeit: Ein politischer Aufruf" (Hanser Berlin 2019), New Year's reception of the Karl Jaspers Society, Oldenburg, Jan. 2020.

"Progressiv revisited", discussion forum "Das Progressiv-konservativ-Paradox. Of times and levels of politics", Heinrich Böll Foundation, Berlin, Sept. 2019.

"Ralf Dahrendorf, der homo publicus", lecture and subsequent panel discussion, commemorative events organised by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in memory of Lord Ralf Dahrendorf at the Universities of Tübingen and Constance, June 2019.

"Ralf Dahrendorf - Politician and Intellectual", keynote speech and subsequent panel discussion with Prof Dr Jürgen Kocka, Prof Dr Karen Horn, Prof Dr Karl-Heinz Paqué, Lukas Köhler, MP, and Carl Cevin-Key Coste, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom event in memory of Ralf Dahrendorf, "The Charms of Liberty: Lord Ralf Dahrendorf's Model of a Liberal Civil Society", British Embassy, Berlin, Jun. 2019.

Panel discussion with Prof Dr Stefan Müller-Doohm, Prof Dr Martin Heidenreich, Dr Markus Padberg and Dr Roman Yos on the topic: "Towards a transnational democracy? Jürgen Habermas and his idea of a united Europe", festive event "Originalton und Weltecho: Der globale Widerhall auf Jürgen Habermas" on the 90th birthday of Jürgen Habermas, Karl Jaspers-Haus, Oldenburg, Jun. 2019.

Literature talk series "Konstellationen" with Feridun Zaimoglu about his novel "Die Geschichte der Frau", moderated by Prof. Dr Michael Sommer, Literature Office of the City of Oldenburg, Apr. 2019.

"Ralf Dahrendorf - Ein Liberaler im Jahr 1968", series of lectures on philosophy "Die 1968er Jahre - Figuren und Diskurse", University of Oldenburg, Jan. 2019.

"Demokratie, Freiheit und Lebenschancen: Ralf Dahrendorf als intellektueller Impulsgeber des sozialen Liberalismus", themed seminar: "Linksliberalismus? Social liberalism? Holistic liberalism?", Theodor Heuss Academy, Gummersbach, Dec. 2018.

"Dahrendorf - Habermas - Grass: An intellectual generation from the perspective of their biographers. A discussion with Franziska Meifort, Stefan Müller-Doohm and Harro Zimmermann, moderated by the historian Paul Nolte", Karl Jaspers Society, Oldenburg, Oct. 2018.

"Does politics need intellectuals? Ralf Dahrendorf and the FDP (1967-1974)", Oberseminar Prof. Dr Ulrich Herbert, University of Freiburg, Jul. 2018.

Panel discussion with Gerhart Baum and Annett Witte, programme of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom at the FDP federal party conference, Berlin, May 2018.

"A 'prodigy of German sociology'? Ralf Dahrendorf in the 1950s", conference "Vermessungen einer Intellectual History der frühen Bundesrepublik" (Chair: Prof. Dr Alexander Gallus and Prof. Dr Axel Schildt), Saxon Academy of Sciences in Leipzig, Dec. 2017.

Book presentation with panel discussion "Ralf Dahrendorf. A liberal intellectual and his century" together with Prof. Dr Ulrike Ackermann, Prof. Dr Paul Nolte and Dr Theo Sommer, Bucerius Kunstforum, ZEIT-Stiftung, Hamburg, Nov. 2017.

"Ralf Dahrendorf on Germany, Britain and Europe", Core Seminar of the European Studies Centre, (Chair: Prof. Dr. Timothy Garton Ash, Commentary: Prof. Dr. Robert Faulkner), St. Antony's College, Oxford Oct. 2017.

"Ralf Dahrendorf: A German-British Intellectual and his Legacy", Seminario internazionale (Chair: Prof. Dr Laura Leonardi), University of Florence, Oct. 2016.

Introduction and moderation, conference "Lebensbilder - Bilderleben: Photographs as biographical sources" (Chair: Franziska Meifort and Marcus Schönewald), Bremen, Sept. 2016.

"Criticism as an academic appointment: Ralf Dahrendorf as a public intellectual", Stiftung Bundespräsident-Theodor-Heuss-Haus, Stuttgart, Apr. 2016.

"Der Nachlass Dahrendorf im Bundesarchiv: Vermächtnis eines öffentlichen Intellektuellen", Federal Archives Koblenz, lecture on the occasion of the ceremonial handover of the finding aid to the Ralf Dahrendorf estate to Lady Christiane Dahrendorf, Jan. 2015.

"Mind and power? Ralf Dahrendorf's political engagement 1967-1974", research colloquium Prof. Dr Manfred Görtemaker, University of Potsdam, Feb. 2014.

"Ralf Dahrendorf zwischen Wissenschaft und Politik", doctoral candidate network "Grenzenlos - Epochen- und Raumübergreifende Geschichtswissenschaften Bremen", University of Bremen, Jan. 2014.

"Der öffentliche Intellektuelle als Grenzgänger: Ralf Dahrendorf in der Bundesrepublik und in Großbritannien 1964-1984", conference "Akademisches Leben, Öffentlicher Raum und Politische Kultur in Westeuropa und den Vereinigten Staaten, 1945-90" (Chair: Prof. Dr Dominik Geppert and Dr Riccardo Bavaj), University of Bonn, Apr. 2012.

"A German at the Head of the LSE: Ralf Dahrendorf as Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science", Research Colloquium of the German Historical Institute (Chair: Prof. Dr Andreas Gestrich and Prof. Dr Benedikt Stuchtey), London, Jan. 2012.

"Liberalisation of Society through Educational Reform: Ralf Dahrendorf between Science and the Public in the 1960s", conference "Universität, Wissenschaft und Öffentlichkeit" (Chair: Prof. Dr. Sylvia Paletschek and PD Dr. Cay-Rüdiger Prüll), University of Freiburg, Nov. 2011.

"Ralf Dahrendorf: Ein Intellektueller in der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik", Colloquium zur Zeitgeschichte Prof. Dr Paul Nolte, Freie Universität Berlin, Nov. 2011.