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I am a Professor of International Relations at the Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen.
My most fundamental research interest is how small states overcome power asymmetry and vulnerability in international relations.
I argue that small state foreign policy suffers from both domestic constraints (e.g., tightly knit elites and small pools of talent) and international challenges (most importantly the inability to defend the territory of the state against enemies and limited ability to affect diplomatic outcomes), but that smart strategy and diplomacy can help small states achieve international success.
Theoretically, my work begins from a critical and constructive engagement with the Realist tradition in International Relations, most importantly Neoclassical Realism.
I enjoy teaching and engaging with practice. I was Chief Investigator and Deputy Director of Research in the Independent Inquiry into Denmark’s military engagements in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq commissioned by the Danish Parliament (“Krigsudredningen“).
I am chair (with Revecca Pedi) of the section “Small States in World Politics” at the European International Studies Association (EISA). I am an active member of the Global Research Network on Peaceful Change (GRENPEC).
New book:
International Organizations and Peaceful Change in World Politics
In our new book, T.V. Paul, Kai He and I examine whether international organizations contribute to or detract from peaceful change. Our contributors unpack how IR theories understand IOs and peaceful change and discuss the contributions of WHO, WTO, G20 and other institutions.
My recent article on The EU’s soft balancing governance model: origins, characteristics and prospects for the future explains how US and French post-World War II strategies for diplomatic and institutional balancing developed into a distinct governance model in the European Union. This decentralized and pluralist model is highly successful for governing relations among European countries and between the EU and trading partners. However, it is increasingly challenged by increasing geopolitical tensions. Watch my interview with IR thinker on the history and current challenges of soft balancing in Europe here:
