Wintersemester 2026/2027

The seminar examines the relationship between power and infrastructures from the perspective of International Relations (IR). It investigates how deeply embedded infrastructures and newly emerging technologies influence global power dynamics. Therefore, it introduces different theoretical approaches to conceptualizing the nexus between power and (digital) infrastructures addressing questions such as: What forms of power operate through infrastructures? How do infrastructures influence geoeconomic and geopolitical power dynamics? How do power structures, in turn, influence the production of infrastructures?

Emerging technologies, like social media, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), have changed the way we communicate, interact, and live. These technologies, however, not only create novel opportunities. As is becoming increasingly apparent, they raise specific challenges for many legal fields. This seminar puts a spotlight on data protection issues generated by the rise of IoT and AI. Throughout, we will not only analyze the GDPR and comment on recent jurisprudence by the CJEU but also discuss novel policy strategies to square such technologies with data protection and human autonomy.