Rate My Professor Paul Steege

Paul Steege is Associate Professor of History in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova University, where he has taught since 2000. He earned his AB from Princeton University, MA from the University of Chicago, and PhD from the University of Chicago in 1999. Steege teaches modern European history and specializes in twentieth-century German history, with research interests centered on everyday life in Germany, political symbolism, and political violence. His scholarship examines the social and cultural dimensions of the post-World War II period, particularly in divided Berlin during the early Cold War. Steege's major monograph, Black Market, Cold War: Everyday Life in Berlin, 1946-1949, published by Cambridge University Press in 2007, explores how ordinary Berliners navigated scarcity, occupation policies, and emerging ideological divisions through black market activities. The book draws on archival sources to illuminate the interplay between daily survival strategies and the onset of Cold War tensions in urban spaces.

In addition to his teaching and research, Steege has held significant leadership roles within academia. He served as co-editor of the H-German online discussion list from 2002 to 2009, fostering scholarly exchange on German history. As the inaugural Faculty Director of the Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest at Villanova University, established around 2017, Steege has promoted the integration of historical scholarship with public engagement. He received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award for 2015-16, supporting advanced research abroad. Steege has contributed to public discourse through lectures on topics such as the history and legacy of the Berlin Wall and antisemitism in Germany. His peer-reviewed articles appear in journals including Central European History and Contemporary European History, addressing themes like SED efforts in post-war Berlin, denazification processes, and urban borders during the Cold War. Steege's work underscores the impact of ordinary experiences on broader historical developments in modern Europe.