Nathanael Illies

I am an MPhil student in European Politics and Society and a member of Somerville College. Before coming to Oxford, I completed two bachelor’s degrees: a BA in Philosophy and Economics from the University of Bayreuth, Germany, and a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Charles University in Prague.

My academic interests are broadly in political economy, with a special focus on economic statecraft, financial sanctions, trade, and sustainable finance.

In 2023/24, I was a Carlo Schmid Fellow at the United Nations in Washington, DC, where I worked on sustainable development initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean. I have also gained professional experience in the finance and consulting sectors.

My studies and research have been supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the German Academic Scholarship Foundation, and the German Academic Exchange Service. In 2024/25, I was also a Ronald Coase Fellow in Political Economy at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

My research has appeared in the Handelsblatt, the Private Banking Magazin, and DAS INVESTMENT, among others.