Profile

Professional career

• since 10/2016
  Lecturer for Space, Economy, Society in the Master Programme European Studies at the Global and European Studies Institute of the University of Leipzig
• 04/2019 - 12/2019
  Guest Associate Professor for Globalisation and Regional Development at Latvian University, Riga
• since 11/2009
  Head of Department Regional Geographie of Europe, Co-ordinator of the Research Group Multiple Geographies of Regional and Local Development
• 10/2006 - 09/2009
  Project Manager at the Regional Development Agency Brandenburg
• 05/2005 - 08/2006
  DAAD Research Fellow an der Durham University, Department of Geography
• 07/2003 - 09/2003
  Research Visit at Sheffield University
• 08/2002 - 02/2006
  Researcher at Leibniz Institute for Society and Space, Erkner (Germany)

Education

• 04/2004 - 07/2008
  PhD-project (Universität Potsdam und Durham University/ UK): "Institutional Perspectives of Local Development in Germany and England - a Comparative Study about Regeneration in Old Industrial Towns Experiencing Decline"
• 10/1996 - 07/2002
  Studies of Spatial Planning (TU Kaiserslautern) and Urban Planning (HCU Hamburg)

Thilo holds a PhD in Human Geography and a diploma in urban and regional planning. Thilo is co-editor of Palgrave’s New Geographies of Europe book series and has published widely on issues of 'peripheral' geographies of innovation, regional resilience, local and regional development as well as planning and development beyond growth. He co-ordinates the research cluster Multiple Geographies of Europe and focusses his own research on the development of non-core and peripheralised regions as well as small and medium-sized towns in Germany and Europe in the context of wider economic and institutional transformations.

Thilo works along major divides currently characterising spatial research such as core-periphery, structure-agency, formal-informal, rational-social and utilises a number of critical (political) perspectives on social, spatial and economic development. His research puts a focus on qualitative and comparative methodologies but often takes its starting point in complex quantitative analyses.

I am teaching about the fundamental interrelations between spatial development, economic development and wider societal trends on the basis of critical theories. Globalisation, migration, transformation, privatisation/neoliberalisation, etc. are processes which affect space in different ways and result in various forms of socio-spatial, political and economic polarisation on different spatial scales. Further topics are:

• classic and alternative concepts to innovation, economic and regional development
• complex scientific concepts and theories on regional development from a political economy perspective (keywords: knowledge regions, cluster policies and economic development, creative industries, innovation, global integration, local economy, social economy)
• the interrelations of globalisation and regional development in a social and societal understanding of the economy based on a socio-spatial justice approach
• imbalances in the global economy as well as the current trade regime; roles do different world regions in the increasing internationalisation of economic relations
• mediating the global economy through powerful agents such as states, international organisations and multi-national enterprises
• alternatives providing a different understanding of the economy and offering other potentials for more balanced, just and sustainable development
• relevance of spatial imaginations.

• Space, Economy, Society II

  The seminar focusses on globalisation and regional development in a social and societal understanding of the economy. The internationalisation of economic development is critically discussed concerning issues of socio-spatial justice. With the objective to learn about the interrelations between economic activity, regional development and societal imaginations, the seminar aims to facilitate a better understanding of how economic development "works" in Europe.

• Space, Economy, Society I

  The course provides knowledge on the fundamental interrelations between territorial development, economic development and societal trends as well as critical theories and models to explain and analyse current spatial developments in Europe. Using a comparative perspective, course participants will have a closer look on the most important processes of socio-spatial restructuring in Europe in the context of globalisation. The course comprises an excursion in Leipzig.