Maximilian Ruf

Associate Fellow

Maximilian Ruf is an Associate Fellow at PRIF's Research Depart­ment Trans­national Politics and Co-Director of the Research Depart­ment at Violence Prevention Net­work (VPN). His research interests include de­radicali­zation and preven­tion as well as Islamism and the right-wing populism/extremism nexus.

Maximilian Ruf
ruf(at)prif.org

CV

| since 2022
Associate Fellow at PRIF

| since 2022
Co-Director of the Research Depart­ment at Violence Preven­tion Network

| 2020–2022
Deputy Director of the Research Depart­ment at Violence Preven­tion Network

| since 2019
Research Fellow at modus|zad

| 2017–2020
Research Fellow at Violence Preven­tion Network

| 2017
Internship at the GIZ Represen­tation in Brussels, Belgium

| 2016
Research Assistant at ISCR

| 2015–2016
M.A. Terrorism, Security & Society, King’s College London, United Kingdom

| 2011–2015
B.A. History and Cultures of the Middle East – Concentration: Islamic Studies

PhD Project

So-called Reichs­bürger (‘citizens of the Reich [German empire]’) are not a new pheno­menon in Germany. However, recent events, such as the investi­gation into ‘Patriotische Union’ (‘Patriotic Union’) since December 2022, the Covid-19 protest move­ments, and several serious acts of violence have been high­lighting their increasing socie­tal relevance. And yet, the currently existing body of knowledge is highly fragmen­ted which hinders an in-depth analysis of this particular ideo­logical spectrum and its followers. Interestingly, preli­minary analyses suggest potentially substan­tial differences between the Reichs­bürger follo­wing and the followers of other, better-studied extremist pheno­mena. This relates to, for example, demo­graphic factors, social dynamics, and forms of organization. As a result, existing concep­tualizations of radica­lization cannot easily be transfer­red to Reichs­bürger, which necessi­tates new and dedi­cated research into the topic.

In his disser­tation, Maximilian Ruf investi­gates indivi­dual pathways and causali­ties of radica­lization of Reichs­bürger in Germany based on biographical-narrative interviews. The over­arching aim of the project is to generate and syste­matize new knowledge on Reich­sbürger radica­lization and to de­lineate it from other radica­lization pheno­mena in order to identify new starting points for further research and practical develop­ment.

Publications

  • Dissecting Deradicalization: Challenges for Theory and Practice in Germany
    | 2020
    Baaken, Till; Korn, Judy; Ruf, Maximilian; Walkenhorst, Dennis (2020): Dissecting Deradicalization: Challenges for Theory and Practice in Germany, International Journal of Conflict and Violence, 14. DOI: 10.4119/ijcv-3808

  • Violent ego-centered sovereignism as a global threat? The case of the German “Reichsbürger” and implications for P/CVE research
    | 2021
    Walkenhorst, Dennis; Ruf, Maximilian (2021): Violent ego-centered sovereignism as a global threat? The case of the German “Reichsbürger” and implications for P/CVE research, in: Atamuradova, Farangiz/Zeiger, Sara (eds), Researching the Evolution of Countering Violent Extremism, Abu Dhabi: Hedayah, 223–241.
    Publication

  • The Reichsbürger Raid: The Beginning of A New Relationship Between Germany and its Sovereignists?
    | 2022
    Ruf, Maximilian (2022): The Reichsbürger Raid: The Beginning of A New Relationship Between Germany and its Sovereignists?, European Eye on Radicalisation.
    Publication
  • Abschlussbericht – Distanzierungsprozesse im islamistischen Extremismus
    | 2022
    Ohlenforst, Vivienne; Swidziniewski, Alexander; Ruf, Maximilian; Selby, Anne; Walkenhorst, Dennis (2022): Abschlussbericht – Distanzierungsprozesse im islamistischen Extremismus. Eine systematisierende Erhebung der Parameter zur Selbst- und Fremdbeobachtung in drei Dimensionen (DISLEX 3D), modus|zad.
    Publication
  • Evaluation und Qualitätssicherung in der Kooperation sicherheitsbehördlicher und zivilgesellschaftlicher Akteure in der sekundären und tertiären Extremismusprävention
    | 2022
    Junk, Julian; Koynova, Svetla; Ohlenforst, Vivienne; Ruf, Maximilian; Scheu, Lea Deborah (2022): Evaluation und Qualitätssicherung in der Kooperation sicherheitsbehördlicher und zivilgesellschaftlicher Akteure in der sekundären und tertiären Extremismusprävention, PRIF Report, 8, Frankfurt/M. DOI: 10.48809/prifrep2208
  • The potential of social diagnostics for P/CVE
    | 2021
    Ruf, Maximilian; Walkenhorst, Dennis (2021): The potential of social diagnostics for P/CVE, Radicalisation Awareness Network.
    Publication
  • Evaluation im Kooperationskontext
    | 2021
    Ruf, Maximilian; Walkenhorst, Dennis (2021): Evaluation im Kooperationskontext. Chancen zur Gestaltung der Zusammenarbeit von Sicherheitsbehörden und Zivilgesellschaft, PRIF Spotlight, 3, Frankfurt/M.
  • RAN Rehabilitation Manual – Rehabilitation of radicalised and terrorist offenders for the first line practitioners
    | 2020
    Walkenhorst, Dennis; Baaken, Till; Ruf, Maximilian; Leaman, Michèle; Handle, Julia; Korn, Judy (2020): RAN Rehabilitation Manual – Rehabilitation of radicalised and terrorist offenders for the first line practitioners, Brüssel: Radicalisation Awareness Network.
    Publication
  • Herausforderung Deradikalisierung: Einsichten aus Wissenschaft und Praxis
    | 2018
    Baaken, Till; Becker, Reiner; Bjørgo, Tore; Kiefer, Michael; Korn, Judy; Mücke, Thomas; Ruf, Maximilian; Walkenhorst, Dennis (2018): Herausforderung Deradikalisierung: Einsichten aus Wissenschaft und Praxis, PRIF Report, 9, Frankfurt/M.
  • „Vertrauen ist gut, Kontrolle ist besser“? Sicherheitspolitisches vs. pädagogisches Handeln in der Extremismusprävention
    | 2018
    Walkenhorst, Dennis; Ruf, Maximilian (2018): „Vertrauen ist gut, Kontrolle ist besser“? Sicherheitspolitisches vs. pädagogisches Handeln in der Extremismusprävention, PRIF Blog.
    Publication
  • Weder übertreiben noch ignorieren: Religion in der praktischen Deradikalisierung und Extremismusprävention
    | 2018
    Ruf, Maximilian; Baaken, Till (2018): Weder übertreiben noch ignorieren: Religion in der praktischen Deradikalisierung und Extremismusprävention, PRIF Blog.
    Publication