Hartmut Rosa elected International Fellow of the British Academy

Sociologist Hartmut Rosa, Professor at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, has been elected an International Fellow of the British Academy. He was elected at the Academy's Annual General Meeting on 16 July 2026. Election as an International Fellow is the British Academy's highest honour for scholars based outside the United Kingdom and recognises outstanding achievement in the humanities and social sciences.

The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and social sciences. Its Fellows are among the world's leading researchers in their fields. In most disciplines, only one or two scholars are elected each year, making election one of the most prestigious international distinctions in the humanities and social sciences. Following his election, Hartmut Rosa will join the British Academy's section for Sociology, Demography and Social Statistics.

Hartmut Rosa is Professor of General and Theoretical Sociology at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Director of the Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies at the University of Erfurt. Through his work on social acceleration, resonance and the conditions for meaningful relationships to the world, he has profoundly shaped international sociological debate over the past decades. His publications are widely read around the world and have been translated into numerous languages. At the University of Jena, his research shapes the Cluster of Excellence Imaginamics' research focus on "Social Imaginaries" and strengthens the international visibility of the university as a leading research institution.

“Being admitted to this distinguished institution is a great honour for me, and one that means a great deal to me. Ever since my time as a student at the London School of Economics, I have felt a strong connection to the British academic system. Particularly at a time when politics is finding it increasingly difficult to overcome boundaries and promote international cooperation, global collaboration amongst academics within internationally oriented academies is all the more important,” says Hartmut Rosa.

Founded in 1902, the British Academy is the UK's national academy for the humanities and social sciences. It brings together more than 1,800 leading scholars and is dedicated to advancing research, fostering collaboration across disciplines and demonstrating the value of the humanities and social sciences. This year, 92 new Fellows were elected, including 32 International Fellows.

Professor Susan J. Smith, President of the British Academy, said that at a time when society is grappling with technological, economic and environmental change, the humanities and social sciences have never been more important. She added that the new Fellows join a community of scholars dedicated to advancing research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and demonstrating the value of the humanities and social sciences.