My Research Agenda:

The politics of European cooperation: between relational identities and sovereign geopolitics

My research focuses on the politics of EU foreign policy cooperation. It aims to understand how the (shifting) EU identity impacts its role as international actor, its interaction with partners, and its ability to shape global politics. Conceptually, this research agenda requires a careful consideration of the interaction between domestic, EU and international dynamics. And it asks for a sound understanding of the interplay of EU institutions, the diverse set of EU member states and other European stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of EU foreign policy. My research expertise, therefore, builds on the integration of EU politics scholarship and wider questions of global cooperation and foreign policy analysis.

Since 2020 I work at the Danube University Krems in the department for e-governance and administration to research digitalisation in a transdisciplinary manner.  How and why societies interact diplomatically in a poly-centric, networked and increasingly digitalised 21st century environment is the key question of my academic research. I want to better understand what value and expectations societies and states  attach to their diplomatic interactions, and how they balance innovation and tradition, especially in light of digital transformations. Also, I am interested in how citizens´ perceptions and expections to each other and vis-a-vis their states shift with increasing globalisation and digitalisation.  Empirically I focus in particular on European Union member states and European Union politics.

My academic work is inspired by the cross-fertilization of my research, teaching and policy dissemination activities. I am convinced that my understanding for a variety of research traditions makes me a better teacher and policy advisor, that my teaching makes me a better researcher, and that my regular engagement with policy-makers and practitioners informs my teaching and my ability to prepare students for academic as well as non-academic professional careers.

My research agenda thus informs three connected research strands, which are presented in more detail on the subpages:

1. European Diplomacy: A Systemic Understanding
2. Politics of EU foreign policy-making
3.  European cooperation between relational identities & sovereign geopolitics