Migration Biographies in German Legal Academia
Anatol Dutta and Matteo Fornasier, former Institute research fellows and presently professors of law in Munich and Bochum, explore the role of national origin in the world of German legal academia in a jointly published volume bringing together the autobiographical accounts of 35 legal scholars who possess an migration background.
Diversity in legal scholarship and legal practice has been the subject of intense discussion in recent years and is increasingly regarded as an essential prerequisite for a sustainable and forward-looking legal academy and profession. Diversity in terms of a migration background is one of the many characteristics making up the notion of diversity. At the same time, individuals with a migration background are by no means a homogenous group.
The legal scholars who recount their personal experiences and impressions in this volume trace to multiple generations and represent an array of migration biographies. Many were born in Germany as the children of immigrants. Some immigrated here as a child or teen with their parents. Others came to Germany as university students or to earn their doctorates. All have positioned themselves in the academic world and secured a professorship. Their career paths thus offer insight into the conditions necessary for success.
Without making any claims as to representativeness or completeness, the contributions offer highly personal accounts about the influence the authors’ own backgrounds have had on their academic careers, about the obstacles they have overcome, and about key opportunities. The result is a multi-layered panorama of personal life stories that simultaneously offers a fresh perspective on diversity within German-speaking world of legal scholarship.
In addition to the editors, four other Institute alumni – three female and one male – are among the volume’s authors. Elena Dubovitskaya, Imen Gallala-Arndt, Jens M. Scherpe, and Nadjma Yassari describe their personal backgrounds, the family ties that reach across national borders, and their varied experiences of Germany as an immigration country.
In his concluding analysis, social scientist Asif Butt outlines the broader sociological context of the profession. He sees the value of the 35 autobiographical perspectives in their ability to uncover recurring patterns of interpretation and legitimate narrative approaches. As empirical material, they provide insight into those conditions of an academic career that go beyond formal qualifications and often remain invisible in mainstream discourse.
Prof. Dr. Anatol Dutta, M. Jur. (Oxford), Chair of Private Law, Private International Law and Comparative Law at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, was an Institute staff member from 2003 to 2014.
Prof. Dr. Matteo Fornasier, LL.M. (Yale), Chair of Civil Law, Labour Law, Private International Law and Comparative Law at Ruhr University Bochum, was an Institute staff member from 2008 bis 2017.
The book is also available open access as an online publication.
A book presentation and reading will take place on October 27, 2026, at Bucerius Law School in Hamburg.
Image: © Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law / Marlena Staak