BEREICH

POLITIKWISSENSCHAFT

• Seit Oktober 2017: W3-Professur für Internationale Beziehungen & Leiter des M.A. Studiengangs Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS), Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
• April 2016 - Oktober 2017: Vertretung der W3-Professur für Internationale Beziehungen, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
• September 2014 - März 2015: Vertretung der W3-Professur Global Governance and Public Policy, Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politikwissenschaft, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• 2010 - 2016: Wissenschaftlicher Assistent (Akademischer Rat a.Z.) am Lehrstuhl für Global Governance, Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politikwissenschaft, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• 2010 - 2015: Habilitation an der Sozialwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• 2005 - 2010: Promotion zum Dr. phil. an der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• 2009 - 2010: Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am Lehrstuhl für Global Governance, Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politikwissenschaft, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• 2008 - 2009: Wissenschaftlicher Angestellter am Lehrstuhl für Politische Wissenschaft der TU München
• 2007 - 2008: Lecturer am Lehrstuhl für Internationale Politik, Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politische Wissenschaft, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• 2007: Lehrbeauftragter an der Freien Universität Berlin
• 2005 - 2007: Lehrbeauftragter am Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politische Wissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• 2003 - 2004: Masterstudium (Internationale Beziehungen) an der University of Bristol, Vereinigtes Königreich
• 2000 - 2001: Erasmus-Jahr (Politik und Geschichte) an der Universidad de Granada, Spanien

• 1998 - 2002: Bachelorstudium (Politik und Spanisch) an der University of Sussex, Vereinigtes Königreich

Research Monographs (* peer reviewed)

• Romantic Narratives in International Politics: Pirates, Rebels and Mercenaries, Manchester: Manchester University Press (2016).

• The Tabloid Terrorist: The Predicative Construction of 'New Terrorism' in the Media, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (2010).*

Edited Volumes, Special Issues & Book Series (* peer reviewed)

• Visualization of Peace, Peace & Change, Special Issue, Vol. 45, No. 1 (2020) [edited together with Stephan Engelkamp & Kristina Roepstorff].

• Polical Mistakes and Policy Failures in International Relations, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (2018) [edited together with Andreas Kruck & Kai Oppermann].*

• Fiascos in Public Policy and Foreign Policy, Journal of European Public Policy, Special Issue, Vol. 23, No. 5 (2016) [edited together with Kai Oppermann, reprinted as Kai Oppermann and Alexander Spencer (eds.) Fiascos in Public Policy and Foreign Policy, London: Routledge (2017)].*

• Reconciliation after Terrorism: Strategy, Possibility or Absurdity?, London: Routledge (2012) [edited together with Judith Renner, paperback edition 2014].*

• Terrorismusforschung in Deutschland, Wiesbaden: Springer VS Verlag (2011) [edited together with Kai Harbrich and Alexander Kocks].

• Politische Diskurse, Book Series, Baden-Baden: Nomos (2015) [together with Eva Herschinger and Judith Renner].

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

• All Just a Bit of Fun: The Camouflaging and Defending Functions of Humour in British and Swedish Armed Forces Videos, in: Cambridge Review of International Affairs [Online First, with Daniel Beck]. Abstract; Full text
• Moving Images: Visual Metaphors of Peace in the Movie Mango Dreams, in: Peace & Change, Vol. 45, No. 1 (2020), 126-150 [with Stephan Engelkamp & Kristina Roepstorff]. Abstract; Full text
• State of the Art of Visualizing Peace, in: Peace & Change, Vol. 45, No. 1 (2020), 5-27 [with Stephan Engelkamp & Kristina Roepstorff]. Abstract; Full text
• Narrative Genres of Brexit: The Leave Campaign and the Success of Romance, in: Journal of European Public Policy [Online First, mit Kai Oppermann]. Abstract; Full text
• Heroes Welcome: An Exceptional Story of ‘Good’ Refugees in the German Tabloid Discourse, in: Journal of Multicultural Discourses, Vol. 14, No. 3 (2019), 220-239 [with Tim Heinkelmann-Wild & Daniel Beck]. Abstract; Full text
• Once Upon a Time: Western Genres and Narrative Constructions of a Romantic Jihad, in: Journal of Language and Politics, Vol. 18, No. 1 (2019), 21-39 [mit Hanna Pfeifer]. Abstract; Full text
• Narratives and the Romantic Genre in IR: Dominant and Marginalized Stories of Arab Rebellion in Libya, in: International Politics, Vol. 56, No. 1 (2019), 123-140. Abstract; Full text.
• Narrating Success and Failure: Congressional Debates on the 'Iran Nuclear Deal', in: European Journal of International Relations, Vol. 24, No. 2 (2018),  [with Kai Oppermann]. Abstract; Full text

• Studying Fiascos: Bringing Public and Foreign Policy Together, in: Journal of European Public Policy, Vol. 23, No. 5 (2016), 643-652 [with Kai Oppermann]. First page preview; Full text (PDF, 322 kB)

• Telling Stories of Failure: Narrative Constructions of Foreign Policy Fiascos, in Journal of European Public Policy, Vol. 23, No. 5 (2016), 685-701 [with Kai Oppermann]. Abstract; Full text

• “Es war einmal ein Fehler”: Fiaskos als Narrative in der Außenpolitik, Zeitschrift für Politik, Vol. 62, No. 2 (2016), 156-169 [with Kai Oppermann]. Full text.

• Romantic Stories of the Pirate in IARRRH: The Failure of Linking Piracy and Terrorism Narratives in Germany, in: International Studies Perspectives, Vol. 15, No. 3 (2014), 297-312. Abstract; Full text (PDF, 126 kB)

• Contested Stories of Commercial Security: Self and Media Narratives of Private Military Companies, in: Critical Studies on Security, Vol. 1, No. 3 (2013), 326-346 [with Andreas Kruck] Abstract; Post-Print Version (PDF 425 kB)

• De-Antagonising the Other: Changing Constructions of the Taliban and the Possibility of Reconciliation, in: Global Society, Vol. 27, No. 4 (2013), 475-496 [with Judith Renner] Abstract; Full text (PDF, 280 kB)

• Thinking Alike? Salience and Metaphor analysis as Cognitive Approaches to Foreign Policy Analysis, in: Foreign Policy Analysis, Vol. 9, No. 1 (2013), 39-56 [with Kai Oppermann] Abstract; Full text (PDF, 236 kB)

• The Social Construction of Terrorism: Media, Metaphors and Policy Implications, in: Journal of International Relations and Development, Vol. 15, No. 3 (2012), 393-419. Abstract; Full text (PDF, 205 kB); Post-Print Version (PDF 362kB)

• Reconciliation with Al Qaeda?, in: Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice, Vol. 24, No. 2 (2012), 202-209 [with Judith Renner; reprinted in Roger Mac Ginty (ed.) Peacebuilding (Sage Library of International Relations), Vol. 3, London: Sage (2014)]. First page preview; Full text

• Sic[k] of the New Terrorism Debate? A Response to our Critics, in: Critical Studies on Terrorism, Vol. 3, No. 3 (2011), 459-467. Abstract; Full text (PDF, 114 kB)

• Bild Dir Deine Meinung: Die metaphorische Konstruktion des Terrorismus in den Medien, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen, Vol. 18, No. 1 (2011), 47-76 [reprinted in Stephan Stetter, Carlo Masala und Marina Karbowski (eds.) Mit Sicherheit unsicher? Debatten zu Krieg und Frieden in den internationalen Beziehungen, Baden Baden: Nomos (2014)]. Full text (PDF, 173 kB)

• International Relations at the Movies: Teaching and Learning About International Politics Through Film, in: Perspectives: The Review of International Affairs, Vol. 17, No.1 (2009), pp. 83-104 [with Stefan Engert]. Full text (PDF, 1,70 MB)

• The Metaphor of Terror: Terrorism Studies and the Constructivist Turn, in: Security Dialogue, Vol. 39, No. 6 (2008), 571-592 [with Rainer Hülsse]. Abstract; Full text (PDF, 155 kB); Reply by Jacob Stump

• Counter-(T)error: the Role of Immigration in the Fight against Terrorism, in: Hamburg Review of Social Science, Vol. 2, No. 2 (2007) 58-79. Abstract; Full text (PDF, 157 kB)

• Questioning the Concept of 'New Terrorism', in: Peace, Conflict and Development, Vol. 8 (2006), 1-33. Full text (PDF, 337 kB)

• Counter-Terrorism in New Europe, in: International Public Policy Review, Vol. 2, No. 2 (2006), 92-112. Full text (PDF, 536 kB)

• The Problems of Evaluating Counter-Terrorism, in: UNISCI Discussion Papers, No. 12 (2006), 179-201.
  Full text (PDF, 308 kB)

Book Chapters (* peer reviewed)

• Introduction: Mistakes & Failure in International Relations, in Andreas Kruck, Kai Oppermann and Alexander Spencer (eds.) Political Mistakes and Policy Failures in International Relations, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (2018), 1-29 [with Andreas Kruck and Kai Oppermann].*

• Narrative Constructions of Mistakes: Germany’s Refusal to Support Military Intervention in Libya, in Andreas Kruck, Kai Oppermann and Alexander Spencer (eds.) Political Mistakes and Policy Failures in International Relations, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (2018), 55-77 [with Kai Oppermann].*
• War on Terror als Narrativ: Krieg der Erzählungen zwischen dem Westen und ISIS, in: Armin Flender, Volker M. Heins, Jo Reichertz, Jennifer Schellhöh (eds.) Großerzählungen des Extremen, Bielefeld: Transcript Verlag (2018), 195-210 [with Hanna Pfeifer].

• Terrorism and the News Media: Symbiosis, Control and Framing, in Rob Dover, Huw Dylan and Michael Goodman (eds.) The Palgrave Handbook of Security, Risk &Intelligence, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (2017), 443-460.*

• Rebels without a Cause: Narrative Analysis as a Method of Research on Rebel Movements, in Andreas Kruck and Andrea Schneiker (eds.) Researching Non-State Actors in International Security. Theory & Practice, London: Routledge (2017), 31-49.*

• "Terrorismus und internationale Politik", in Carlo Masala und Frank Sauer (eds.) Handbuch Internationalen Beziehungen, 2nd updated edition, Wiesbaden: Springer VS (2015) [forthcoming, together with Christopher Daase].

• "New versus Old Terrorism", in Richard Jackson (ed.) The Routledge Handbook on Critical Terrorism Studies, London: Routledge (2016), pp. 124-133. *

• "Metaphor Analysis as a Method in Terrorism Research", in Priya Dixit und Jacob Stump (eds.) Critical Methods in Terrorism Studies, London: Routledge (2015), pp. 91-107.*

• "Bringing Transitional Justice to Terrorism Research. Possibilities, Pitfalls and Critical Voices", in Ioannis Tellidis und Harmonie Toros (eds.) Researching Terrorism and Peace and Conflict Studies: Interaction, Synthesis, Opposition, London: Routledge (2015), pp. 64-80 [with Judith Renner].*

• "Metaphorizing Terrorism: Al Qaeda in German and British Tabloids", in Susan Jeffords and Fahed Al-Sumait (eds.) Covering Bin Laden: Global Media and the World's Most Wanted Man, Champaign: University of Illinois Press (2015), pp. 73-94.*

• Bild dir Deine Meinung. Die Soziale Konstruktion des Terrorismus in den Medien, in Carlo Masala, Stephan Stetter und Marina Karbowski (eds.) Mit Sicherheit unsicher? Debatten zu Krieg und Frieden in den internationalen Beziehungen, Baden Baden: Nomos (2014), pp. 47-77 [reprint].

• Vom „Söldner“ zum „Samariter“? Die narrativen Grenzen strategischer Imagekonstruktion von privaten Sicherheitsdienstleistern, in Wilhelm Hofmann, Judith Renner and Katja Teich (eds.) Narrative Formen der Politik, Wiesbaden: Springer VS (2014),pp. 145-168 [with Andreas Kruck].

• "Reconciliation with Al Qaeda?", in Roger Mac Ginty (ed.) Peacebuilding (Sage Library of International Relations), Vol. 3, London: Sage (2014) [with Judith Renner; reprint,]

• "Bilder der Gewalt: 9/11 in der Boulevardpresse", in Monika Schwarz-Friesel und Jan-Henning Kromminga (eds.) Metaphern der Gewalt: Konzeptualisierungen von Terrorismus in den Medien vor und nach 9/11, Tübingen: Gunter Narr Verlag (2014), pp. 111-127.

• "The Myth of 'New Terrorism'", in Stuart Gottlieb (ed.) Debating Terrorism and Counterterrorism, 2nd Updated Edition, Washington: Congressional Quarterly Press (2013), pp. 4-15.*

• Und haben wir gewonnen? Der Krieg gegen den Terror und die Messbarkeit von Sicherheit im Anti-Terror Kampf, in Christopher Daase, Stefan Engert and Julian Junk (eds.) Verunsicherte Gesellschaft - überforderter Staat: Zum Wandel der Sicherheitskultur, Frankfurt a.M.: Campus (2013), pp. 57-76.

• "Introduction: Reconciling the Seemingly Irreconcilable", in Judith Renner and Alexander Spencer (eds.) Reconciliation after Terrorism: Strategy, Possibility or Absurdity?, London: Routledge (2012), pp. 1-23 [with Judith Renner].*

• "Conclusion: The (Im)possibility of Reconciliation in Afghanistan and the ‘War on Terror", in Judith Renner and Alexander Spencer (eds.) Reconciliation after Terrorism: Strategy, Possibility or Absurdity?, London: Routledge (2012), pp. 205-220 [with Judith Renner].*

• "The Governance of Counter-Terrorism and the Constitution of Threat in Britain", in Kai Oppermann (ed.) British Foreign and Security Policy: Historical Legacies and Current Challenges, Augsburg: Wissner-Verlag (2012), pp. 208-228.

• "Happiness is only a Teardrop away: A Neo-Marxist Interpretation of Shrek", in Aurélie Lacassagne, Tim Nieguth and François Dépelteau (eds.) Investigating Shrek: Power, Identity and Ideology, Basingstoke: Palgrave (2011), pp. 59-72 [with Andreas Kruck and Judith Renner].*

• "Old and New European Counter-Terrorism", in Paul Heywood, Erik Jones, Martin Rhodes and Ulrich Sedelmeier (eds.) Developments in European Politics, Second Edition, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (2011), pp. 281-299.*

• "Die Entwicklung der deutschen Terrorismusforschung: auf dem Weg zu einer ontologischen und epistemologischen Bestandsaufnahme", in Alexander Spencer, Alexander Kocks und Kai Harbrich (eds.) Terrorismusforschung in Deutschland, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag (2011), pp. 9-21 [with Alexander Kocks und Kai Harbrich].

• "Stand und Perspektiven der Politikwissenschaftlichen Terrorismusforschung", in Alexander Spencer, Alexander Kocks und Kai Harbrich (eds.) Terrorismusforschung in Deutschland, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag (2011), pp. 25-47 [with Christopher Daase].

• "Ein Goldenes Zeitalter der Terrorismusforschung oder macht der Letzte bitte das Licht aus?", in Alexander Spencer, Alexander Kocks und Kai Harbrich (eds.) Terrorismusforschung in Deutschland, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag (2011), pp. 306-322 [with Kai Harbrich und Alexander Kocks].

• "No: The 'new' terrorism' of Al-Qaeda is not so new", in Stuart Gottlieb (ed.) Debating Terrorism and Counterterrorism, Washington: Congressional Quarterly Press, (2010), pp. 4-15.*

• "Terrorismus", in Carlo Masala, Frank Sauer & Andreas Wilhelm (Hrsg.) Handbuch der Internationalen Politik, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag (2010), pp. 403-425 [with Christopher Daase].

Policy Papers and other Publications (selection) 

• Trump, Brexit & ‘Post-Truth’: How Post-Structuralist IR Theories can help us understand World Order in the 21st Century, Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, Vol. 28, No. 3 [with Judith Renner, Online First]. Full Text
• Images, visions and narrative identity formation of ISIS: a reply, Global Discourse, Vol. 7, No. 2-3 (2017), 260-263.
• Ein deutsches Fiasko? Deutschlands Enthaltung bei der UN-Resolution zu Libyen oder was die Internationalen Beziehungen von der Erzählforschung lernen können, CAS Aviso, No. 9 (2014) [with Kai Oppermann]. Full Text
• Lessons Learnt. Terrorism and the Media, AHRC Public Policy Series, No. 4 (2012). Full Text
• From War to Reconciliation: Changing Security Strategies Towards the Taliban from Bush to Obama, Peace in Progress, No. 10 (2011) [with Judith Renner]. Full Text
• Don’t Mention the War or the World Cup: A Report on a British-German IR Conference, Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2008), 303-315 [with Kai Oppermann].Full Text

• Terrorismus- und Konfliktforschung
• Internationale Sicherheitspolitik
• Theorien der Internationalen Beziehungen
• Diskursanalyse
• Narrative
• Medien
• Cultural Turn

Die Termine der Sprechzeiten finden Sie im LSF.

The chair of International Relations offers the opportunity to complete your individual research project in the field of Peace and Conflict Studies, International Relations or a closely-related subject area.

A PhD or rather the German equivalent “Dr. phil.” is a substantial scientific piece of work which takes on average 4-5 years to complete.

There currently is no graduate school or structured PhD programme. PhDs are supervised individually by Alexander Spencer and the supervision is tailored according to the individual needs and abilities of the candidates.

This includes a research seminar each term in which all the PhD students and scientific staff of the chair present their current research in order to get feedback. PhD students are expected to participate in these seminars on a regular basis.

For those interested in pursuing an academic career after their PhD, the chair offers PhD students the opportunity to gain valuable teaching experience and give seminars in the Master’s Programme of PACS, voluntarily and on topics of their individual research focus.

For detailed information please visit: PhD at the Chair of International Relations