This interview follows up on our Third IMAGINE Workshop “Freedom and power of European constitutional scholarship”, where Alexander Somek (Professor of Legal Philosophy, University of Vienna Faculty of Law) gave an introductory paper. Jan Komárek talks with Somek about what it means to be a “legal academic”, how this differs in the United States (where he had spent a considerable part of his career) and Europe, where he returned in 2015. They also discuss how Alexander Somek chooses his topics – and conducts his research work.

The interview was conducted remotely (via Zoom) on 30 June 2021.