After completing her law degree at Humboldt University in Berlin, she earned her doctorate there with a dissertation on comparative criminal terrorism law in Germany, England, and Spain. Due to her international focus and research interests, she also completed a master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Oxford. Her habilitation thesis examines the abuse of criminal proceedings for political reasons, a topic which she is further exploring as part of a research project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

In her research and teaching, Anneke Petzsche combines a strong international perspective with a particular interest in the historical and social conditions of criminal law. Her research addresses key issues in criminal law and procedure, particularly in an international and European context. She focuses on economic and environmental criminal law, as well as on contemporary legal history. Not only does she aim to meticulously analyze criminal law developments, but also to critically reflect on them within their political and social contexts.

Having been born in Lübeck, she has strong ties to northern Germany and was particularly pleased to be appointed to the University of Bremen.