Assoz.-Prof.in Dr.in Silvia Rief
Institut für Soziologie - Universität Innsbruck
Universitätsstrasse 15, A-6020 Innsbruck
Raum w 2.10
Tel: +43 512 507 73415
Email: Silvia.Rief@uibk.ac.at
Silvia Rief is an Associate Professor specializing in interpretative sociology and cultural sociology. Beyond this specialism, her research interests span a wide range of topics, including economic sociology with a special focus on consumption and sociotechnical systems, and more recently, the history of social sciences and social theory in the interwar period focusing on debates over knowledge and planning.
She completed her graduate studies at the Universities of Salzburg, Berlin, and Vienna before earning her PhD in sociology from Goldsmiths College, University of London. Her doctoral research examined social and symbolic boundary work, nightlife governance and cultural production in London’s clubbing scenes, published with Routledge in 2009 (Club Cultures). In 2016, she achieved her habilitation at the University of Innsbruck (Consumption, (An)aestheticization and Space). Her research has been funded by prestigious grants and fellowships, amongst them doctoral grants of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in the UK. Before joining the Department of Sociology at the University of Innsbruck, she also held visiting lecturer positions at the London School of Economics, Goldsmiths College, the University of Kent, Canterbury (2003–2004), and at the Open University, UK (2002–2012). Between 2017 and 2019, she undertook a two-year research stay at Harvard University funded by the Joseph A. Schumpeter Fellowship and a Fellowship of the Botstiber Foundation.
Her scholarly work has been published in journals such as Sociology Compass, Journal of Cultural Economy, European Journal of Social Theory, New Political Economy and more.
See details on ORCID
2016
Habilitation, University of Innsbruck (24.06.2016). Awarded: Venia docendi for Sociology.
1998-2003
Doctoral Studies in Sociology, University of London, Goldsmiths College, Department of Sociology / Centre for Urban and Community Research. Awarded Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, 30.04.2003).
1996-1998
Postgraduate Course in Historical Anthropology, University of Vienna, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research and Training.
1990-1996
Studies in History and German Studies at the Universities of Salzburg, Berlin (Erasmus-programme) and Vienna. Awarded Degree: Magistra of Philosophy (with distinction, 17.12.1996.
2018-2019
Visiting Scholar, Harvard University, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs.
2017-2018
Schumpeter Professorship, Harvard University, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs.
2016- to date
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Innsbruck.
2013-2016
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Innsbruck.
2004-2013
Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Innsbruck.
2002-2012
Associate Lecturer for Social Sciences, Open University, UK; part-time position.
2003-2004
Guest Lecturer in Sociology: London School of Economics and Political Science; Goldsmiths College, University of London; School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research at the University of Kent, Canterbury.
2018-2019
Fellowship in Austrian-American Studies, Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation, USA.
2017-2018
Joseph A. Schumpeter Research Fellowship, Schumpeter Society, Austria.
2004
Research grant of the University of Linz, Austria.
2001-2003
Doctoral grant of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
2000
Junior Research Fellowship of the International Research Centre for Cultural Studies, Vienna (awarded, but not consumed).
1998-2001
ESRC award for PhD-studies (Economic and Social Research Council, UK).
1998-2000
Postgraduate scholarship of the Ministry of Science, Austria for PhD-studies.
1998
Doctoral studentship of the European University Institute, Florence (awarded, but not consumed).
1996
Academic Prize of the Arbeiterkammer Oberösterreich for Diploma-Thesis.
Research Projects
2024
Research proposal (Co-applicant): Community advancement in renewable energy. Funding body: Austrian Science Fund (FWF). Co-applicants: Natalia Magnani (University of Trento), Jessica Balest (EURAC Research, Bozen).
2023
Research proposal (Co-applicant): Water management in Austria under climate change and urbanization: preparing for the future (Water4Future). Funding body: Austrian Climate Research Panel. Lead applicant: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sitzenfrei, Department of Infrastructure, UIBK.
2022-2023
Research project (Co-applicant): Digitales Pandemie- und Krisenmanagement in der Trinkwasserversorgung (KIRAS). Funding body: Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). Lead applicant: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sitzenfrei, Department of Infrastructure, UIBK. Total funding: approx. € 422.000,-; Department of sociology: ca. € 58.000,- Role: Co-applicant and project leader for sociological research part.
2014
Research proposal SOCIALWORLDS (Consumption and Grammars of Worth in Social Worlds) submitted to the ERC-Consolidator Grant Programme.
2013
Research proposal RE_CONSUME (Reconfigurations of Consumer Society) submitted to the ERC-Consolidator Grant Programme.
2012
Research proposal Reconfigurations of Consumer Society submitted to the START programme of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
2008-2009
Research project Integriert geplante hocheffiziente Energie- und Gesellschaftssysteme für nachhaltige Lebensformen der Zukunft (INTENSYS). Funding body: Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). Lead applicant: Prof. Michael Flach, School of Technical Sciences, University of Innsbruck Total funding: € 573,000; Sociological part of the project: € 50,700. Role: Co-applicant and project leader for sociological research part.
Research networks, working groups & coordination
2022-2023
Submission and approval of proposal for an Incoming BritInn-Fellowship at the University of Innsbruck: Invitation of Prof. John O’Neill, Professor of Political Economy, University of Manchester. Research cooperation: “Neurath, Polanyi, Planning and Ecology”. Organization of several guest lectures at the University of Innsbruck.
2017-2023
Member of the Research Cluster Comparative Inequality and Inclusion, Chair: Prof. Michèle Lamont, Weatherhead Center, Harvard University. Former Affiliate since 2020. Participation in the Culture & Social Analysis Workshop, Department of Sociology, Harvard University.
2017-2019
Research project at Harvard: Consumption and the Democratic Ethos. An Exploration in Political and Economic Thought. 2018-2019: Continuation and special focus on: Political Philosophy, Economic Theory and Society: Karl Polanyi’s ‘Real Utopia’ Reconsidered.
2012-2017
Coordination of the research group Socio-material Orders and Conduct of Life, Department of Sociology, University of Innsbruck.
2012
Participation in the Austrian network for interdisciplinary research on sustainable societies, organized by the Austrian Institute for Sustainable Development. http://oin.at/
2010-2012
Interdisciplinary research group Auto/Biography – De/Reconstructions (part of the research platform Gender: Identities – Discourses – Transformations), University of Innsbruck.
2010-2020
Member of the interdisciplinary research platform Organizations and Society, University of Innsbruck.
2006-2009
Coordination of the research group Cities, Regions & Cultures part of the research area on Governance and Civil Society, University of Innsbruck.
Recent and upcoming publications
(forthcoming) Rief, Silvia: Socialist calculation debate. In: Maurer, Andrea (ed): Encyclopedia on Economic Sociology. Edward Elgar Publishing.
(im Druck) Ludwig, G., Rief, S., Sperk, V., Tschuggnall, J. (ed.): Sozio-digitale Transformationen. Interdisziplinäre Perspektiven der Geschlechterforschung. Innsbruck University Press.
Rief, Silvia, Scott, Alan (2025): A tale of two sociologies: Social research and the sociology of knowledge in Central Europe in the 1920s and 1930s. In: Collyer, Fran (ed) Research Handbook for the Sociology of Knowledge. Edward Elgar Publishing, 102-121. DOI-Link
Rahul Satish, Martin Oberascher, Monica Ender, Thomas Lampalzer, Silvia Rief, Robert Sitzenfrei (2024): The socio-technical short-term implications of drinking water hording on supply reliability. AQUA - Water Infrastructure, Ecosystems and Society 73 (8): 1601-1610. DOI-Link
Rief, Silvia (2023): From ‘socialist accounting’ to the ‘livelihood of man’. The Viennese and the Columbia Polanyi. Journal of Austrian-American Studies 7 (2): 213-246. DOI-Link
Rief, Silvia (2023): Karl Polanyi’s ‘socialist accounting’ and ‘overview’ in the age of data analytics. New Political Economy 28 (2): 284-298. DOI-Link
Rief, Silvia (2022): Betriebsführung als Kriegsführung gegen den Feind. KZ-Zwangsarbeit in der Produktionsverlagerung der Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG im KZ Gusen und der Linzer Volksgerichtsprozess gegen die ehemaligen Betriebsleiter. coMMents 1: 123-154. DOI-Link
Scott, Alan and Rief, Silvia (2021): Reactionaries of the lectern. Universalism, anti-empiricism, and corporatism in Austrian (and German) social theory. European Journal of Social Theory 24 (2): 285-305. DOI-Link
Rief, Silvia (2021): Consumerism. In: Ritzer, G., Rojek, C. (eds): Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology. 2nd edition. DOI-Link
See also: ORCID
Recent and upcoming presentations, invited talks and panels:
Rief, S. (and Alan Scott): The political flexibility of a theory: Holism between pluralism and anti-pluralism in early twentieth-century Vienna. Vienna Circle Society, HOPOS Colloquium, 21.11.2025.
Rief, S. (poster presentation): Viel (zu wenig) Wasser? Infrastrukturierung und Konflikte rund ums Trinkwasser in Österreich. Social Waters – im sozialwissenschaftlichen Dialog. Universität Jena, Institut für Soziologie, 17.-18. Oktober 2025.
Rief, S. (invited talk): Between calculation and deliberation: Rethinking needs in planning frameworks. Conference: Economic Planning in the Anthropocene, University of Geneve, Department of Economics, History and Society, Sept. 25, 2025.
Rief, S.: Neurathian and Austrian Economics in Polanyi’s institutionalism: physicalist or naturalist? Workshop II Adverse Allies: Logical Empiricism and Austrian Economics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Sep. 23, 2025.
Rief, S. (invitation as author): Reading Group of the Institute of Philosophy and Scientific Method, Johannes-Kepler-University Linz, August, 26, 2025, online. Discussion of: Karl Polanyi’s ‘socialist accounting’ and ‘overview’ in the age of data analytics. New Political Economy 28.
Rief, S. (presenter, with Alan Scott): The political flexibility of a theory: Holism between empiricism and metaphysics in early twentieth century Vienna. Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, History of Sociology and Social Thought. Chicago, 8.-12. Aug. 2025.
Rief, S. (& Scott, Alan): A Tale of Two Sociologies: Empiricism versus ‘Metaphysics’ in Social Research and the Early Sociology of Knowledge. Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, Section History of Sociology and Social Thought. Montréal, 9.-13. Aug. 2024.
Rief, S. (& Lampalzer, Thomas): Konfliktkonstellationen und Konflikttypen in der Infrastrukturierung von Trinkwasser in Österreich. Infrastrukturtransformationen angesichts multipler Krisen. Tagung des DGS-Arbeitskreises „Soziologie der Nachhaltigkeit“ (SONA) und der DGS-Sektion Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitssoziologie, Universität Stuttgart, 6.-7. Juni 2024.
Rief, Silvia (& Lampalzer, Thomas) (invited talk): Wasser unter Druck: Gesellschaftliche Problemlösung zwischen Störung, Verwerfung und Krise. Forum Anthropozän. Heiligenblut, Haus der Steinböcke, 13.-15.6.2024.
Ender, Monica & Rief, Silvia, Lampalzer, Thomas, Sitzenfrei, Robert, Oberascher, Martin, Satish, Rahul (2023): Digitalisation in Drinking Water Supply. International Digitalisation Security Forum, IDSF 2023, (De-)Centralisation of Digital Infrastructures, Wien, 19.-21. Sept. 2023.
Rief, S. (& Ender, Monica, Lampalzer, Thomas): How households, municipalities and water providers respond to disruptions and temporary scarcities of water provision – case examples from Austria. SCORAI-ERSCP-WUR Conference: Transforming consumption-production systems toward just and sustainable futures, Wageningen University, 5.-8. Juli 2023.
Panel organizer: Sociotechnical assemblages and practices of crisis planning and preparation: Imaginaries of infrastructure breakdown and its governance. For: IX Italia International Conference: Interesting Worlds to Come. Science & Technology Studies facing more-than-human challenges, Bologna 28-30 June 2023.
Rief, S. (& Sitzenfrei, Robert, Oberascher Martin, Ender, Monica, Satish, Rahul): Digitalisierung der Trinkwasserinfrastruktur. Tagung: Infrastrukturen der Zukunft: Wie kann Technikfolgenabschätzung anstehende Transformationen begleiten? Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Institut für Technikfolgenabschätzung, Wien, 5.-6. Juni 2023.
I am currently teaching in the following programmes:
BA Sociology:
- VO Lebenswelt und Lebensformen (SS 2026)
- PS Lebenswelt und Lebensformen (SS 2026)
- VU Konsum- und techniksoziologische Perspektiven auf Objekte und Technologien (WS 2025/26)
MA Sociology
- VO Kultur und Gesellschaft (SS 2026)
- SE Kultur und Gesellschaft (SS 2026)
- SE Begleitseminar Masterarbeit (WS 2025/26)
MA Gender, Culture and Social Change
- VO Reproduktion und Wandel sozialer Ungleichheit (WS 2025/26)
- SE Reproduktion und Wandel sozialer Ungleichheit (WS 2025/26)
- SE Begleitseminar Masterarbeit
PhD-supervision (current projects):
Arden, Sephir: Sexualisierte Gewalt im inszenierten Bild. Eine film- und wissenssoziologische Analyse kritischer audiovisueller Thematisierung sexualisierter Gewalt.
Sommerschuh, Hannah: Trans* Männlichkeiten: Assemblagen von Körper, Technologien und Affekten.
Bockelmann, Foelke: Antifeministische Memes: Normalisierung einer Ideologie durch popkulturelle Internet-Memes.
I am also involved in the Doctoral College in Gender Studies: Doktoratskolleg Geschlecht und Geschlechterverhältnisse in Transformationen
Supervision of Master-theses (recently completed):
Daschil, Amina (2025): Von Gender Mainstreaming zum Queering: Perspektiven auf Planung und Aneignung öffentlicher Räume in Wien (MA Gender)
Ender, Monica (2025): Zur Standortgebundenheit von Denk- und Handlungsweisen im Risikokontext (MA Sociology)
Jakober, Tobias (2024): Zwischen Denkstil und Diskurs. Theorienvergleich zwischen Karl Mannheims Wissenssoziologie und Michel Foucaults Diskurstheorie (MA Sociology). Ausgezeichnet mit dem Nachwuchspreis der ÖGS 2025.
Covelli, Alexandra (2024): Facetten der Vielfalt. Lebensrealitäten bisexueller Frauen in Tirol. Eine narrative Analyse (MA Gender).
Kapeller, Ingrid (2023): Die Berichterstattung über Femizide in Qualitätszeitungen. Ein sprachübergreifender Vergleich (MA Gender).
Sedlmeier, Christian (2023): Kommunikationsprozesse und ‚boundary work‘ in online communities. Eine Analyse der Plattform Twitch (MA Sociology).