Jutta Limbach was one of the most distinguished legal scholars and jurists in modern Germany. After studying law at the ... View More

Jutta Limbach was one of the most distinguished legal scholars and jurists in modern Germany. After studying law at the Free University of Berlin, she went on to serve as the President of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany from 1994 to 2002. She was the first woman to hold this prestigious position. Her legal work emphasized civil liberties and democratic values, and she played a major role in shaping Germany’s constitutional jurisprudence during a time of significant post-reunification transformation. She later became president of the Goethe-Institut, promoting German language and culture worldwide. View Less

Otto Schily studied law at the Free University of Berlin and became a key political figure in Germany. Initially a defen... View More

Otto Schily studied law at the Free University of Berlin and became a key political figure in Germany. Initially a defense lawyer for radical activists in the 1970s, he later entered politics and served as Germany’s Federal Minister of the Interior from 1998 to 2005 under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. As minister, he was central to reforming immigration law and modernizing security structures, particularly after the events of September 11. His evolution from radical lawyer to mainstream politician marked one of the most dramatic political shifts among FU Berlin alumni. View Less

Eberhard Diepgen is another influential alumnus who played a major role in post-war Berlin politics. After completing hi... View More

Eberhard Diepgen is another influential alumnus who played a major role in post-war Berlin politics. After completing his law studies at the Free University of Berlin, he became a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and served as the Mayor of West Berlin from 1984 to 1989, and later as the first Mayor of reunified Berlin from 1991 to 2001. Under his leadership, Berlin underwent vast changes, particularly in infrastructure, development, and integration of East and West Berlin. Diepgen's career reflected Berlin’s political complexity during and after the Cold War. View Less

One of the most iconic figures in Germany’s 1968 student movement, Rudi Dutschke studied sociology at the Free Univers... View More

One of the most iconic figures in Germany’s 1968 student movement, Rudi Dutschke studied sociology at the Free University of Berlin. He became the intellectual face of the extra-parliamentary opposition and led protests against capitalism, the Vietnam War, and authoritarianism. His advocacy for democratic socialism and non-violent activism had a lasting impact on German political culture. After surviving an assassination attempt in 1968, his legacy as a revolutionary thinker lived on in academic and activist circles. View Less

Gesine Schwan, a respected political scientist and politician, earned her doctorate at FU Berlin and later served as Pre... View More

Gesine Schwan, a respected political scientist and politician, earned her doctorate at FU Berlin and later served as President of the Viadrina European University in Frankfurt (Oder). A member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), she ran for President of Germany twice, in 2004 and 2009. Her career combined scholarship and public service, particularly in areas of European integration, political ethics, and democratic reform. Schwan is a strong voice for liberal democracy and inter-European cooperation. View Less

Klaus Wowereit studied law at the Free University of Berlin and rose to prominence as Governing Mayor of Berlin from 200... View More

Klaus Wowereit studied law at the Free University of Berlin and rose to prominence as Governing Mayor of Berlin from 2001 to 2014. He was notable not only for his progressive policies on urban development and culture but also as Germany’s first openly gay major-city mayor, famously stating, “Ich bin schwul, und das ist auch gut so” ("I'm gay, and that’s a good thing too"). His tenure oversaw Berlin’s rise as a global cultural and creative capital, attracting international attention and investment. View Less

Franziska Giffey earned her doctorate at FU Berlin and built a dynamic political career, first as Mayor of Neukölln, on... View More

Franziska Giffey earned her doctorate at FU Berlin and built a dynamic political career, first as Mayor of Neukölln, one of Berlin’s most diverse districts, and later as Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (2018–2021). She also served briefly as Governing Mayor of Berlin in 2021. Giffey is known for her hands-on approach to integration, social cohesion, and education. Her time in office was not without controversy, particularly regarding her doctoral thesis, but she remains a major figure in Berlin's SPD politics. View Less

Although not a student, Reinhard Selten, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1994 for his work in game theory, was a... View More

Although not a student, Reinhard Selten, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1994 for his work in game theory, was associated with the Free University of Berlin as a faculty member. His rigorous mathematical models transformed the field of economics and behavioral theory. His Nobel-winning work greatly enhanced the academic prestige of FU Berlin, especially in economics and decision sciences. View Less