Gerhard Besier is a theologian, historian and psychologist. He held Chairs in Contemporary (Church) History and European Studies at the Universities of Berlin, Heidelberg and Dresden. He is currently the Director of the Sigmund Neumann Institute for the Research on Freedom, Liberty and Democracy. Professor Besier has published widely on the themes of German-Polish antagonisms, transformation processes in Europe since 1945, European dictatorships, confessional controversies in Germany, Europe and the USA, and on stereotypes and prejudices. His latest book Neither Good Nor Bad. Why Human Beings Behave How They Do was published in English by Cambridge Scholars Publishing (Newcastle upon Tyne) in June 2014.