International Relations encompass all cross-border relations between state and non-state actors. This specialization is one of seven areas at the Institute for Political Science. The department deals with key issues in global politics, including international security, global order, foreign policy, international organizations, and transnational networks. Research and teaching combine theoretical approaches with empirical analysis and place a special emphasis on current challenges such as climate change, international conflicts, and shifts in global power relations. Students gain insights into the complex dynamics of international politics and acquire skills that are relevant for careers in academia, diplomacy, international organizations, and NGOs.

The research units of the IB section are:

  • European Integration
    • Theories of European Integration
    • Negotiations and decision-making processes
    • The EU as an actor on the international stage
    • EU Enlargement Policy
    • Climate Policy
    • Common Foreign, Security and Defence Policy of the EU (CFSP/CSDP)
    • Institutional reform and the future of the EU
    • Migration policy
    • Regional integration within and outside Europe
    • Rule of Law in the (New) EU Member States
    • EU-US Relations
    • Minority Policy
  • Football/Sport and European/international politics
  • Peace and Conflict Research
  • International organizations and regimes
  • Foreign and security policy
    • Transatlantic relations
    • US foreign and world policy, with a focus on, among other things, the domestic foundations of foreign policy and US-China relations
    • Development policy as foreign policy
  • Theories of International Relations
  • Media and international politics / Mediatization of international relations

The FANZinE project examines the potential of professional men’s football to shape and promote a common identity and social cohesion in Europe. As one of the most popular and unifying cultural phenomena on the continent, football transcends geographical, cultural, and linguistic boundaries. Its universal appeal makes it a powerful tool for fostering connections and common ground among the diverse European citizens. As a highly Europeanized sport with regular matches between teams from all over Europe, free movement of people for players and staff, intensive media coverage, and dense cross-border networks of fans, football not only creates shared experiences but also reflects the interconnectedness of Europe itself. Fans experience Europe, make connections with other Europeans, and explore a Europeanized world through their lived fandom. By analyzing football and football fandom in Europe, this project aims to demonstrate the complex ways in which following football and participating in football-related activities can contribute to the formation of European identities and the strengthening of social bonds. It aims to provide valuable insights into how a seemingly simple sport can play a crucial role in promoting a united and more coherent Europe “from below.”

Iron as a reactive metal has enormous potential for the energy transition. The Clean Circles project deals with the question of how the metal, together with its oxides, can be used in a cycle as a carbon-free chemical energy carrier to store wind and solar energy. The project is highly interdisciplinary. It is carried out in cooperation with researchers from the Technical University of Darmstadt, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and many other partner institutions. The team led by Prof. Dr. Arne Niemann focuses primarily on the socio-economic considerations of the cycle, for example in potential partner countries.

The Mainz Contributions to International and European Politics (MPIEP) are based on current projects of the work group International Relations and contributions from visiting scholars at the Institute for Political Science of the university Mainz. The MPIEP are works in progress that are usually intended to be submitted to peer-reviewed journals at a later date. To make their production as quick and easy as possible, they are only available online. The authors retain the copyright to their contributions. The contributions are available in PDF format.

EUFoot (2018-2021)

The research project (2018–2021) aimed to investigate the significance of everyday activities, in this case football fandom and spectatorship, for the formation of a European identity. Research on European identity has so far paid little attention to the sport-related and supposedly unpolitical activities of football fans. This is astonishing, as the “global game” is played throughout Europe, increasingly also within the framework of Europe-wide competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League. Player markets and activities of football clubs extend beyond national borders. Our project investigates the extent to which a Europeanization of the perceptions and identities of football fans has taken place in times of Europeanized player markets, competitions, and football governance structures. We used a multi-method research strategy. The combination of comparative analysis and triangulation of data obtained through discourse analysis, survey research and in-depth interviews served us to answer our main research question: To what extent are the identities of football fans across Europe “Europeanized”?

Jean Monnet Chair (2012-2015; 2017-2020)

Prof. Arne Niemann held a Jean Monnet Chair, awarded by the European Commission, from 2012 to 2015 and from 2017 to 2020 for his achievements in teaching and research in the field of European integration. Jean Monnet Chairs are awarded worldwide to enable chair holders to expand and deepen teaching in European integration studies. The Jean Monnet Chair for International Relations at Johannes Gutenberg University focused particularly on the foreign policy of the European Union.

Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence “EU in Global Dialogue” (2015-2018)

A cooperation between the Technical University of Darmstadt and the University of Mainz. Duration 2015–2018: Total budget 80,000 EUR. Director: Prof. Michele Knodt (TU Darmstadt). Deputy Director: Prof. Arne Niemann (University of Mainz). Research: The project supports, for example, workshops on the external dimension of EU migration policy and on regional integration in a comparative perspective. Teaching: The JM Centre of Excellence enables the University of Mainz to continue and expand its innovative teaching in the field of EU simulations.

A Peacemaker in the Making? The European Union as an Actor in International Mediation (2015-2017)

Thanks to the generous funding by the German Foundation for Peace Research (Deutsche Stiftung Friedensforschung, DSF), our unit will be conducting a two-year research project on “A Peacemaker in the Making? The European Union as an Actor in International Mediation” to investigate the EU’s role as mediator in peace negotiations.
The research project pursues three main objectives. First, we aim to better understand how and in what ways the EU has been involved in international mediation activities. Second, we assess the extent to which the EU constitutes an effective mediator in peace negotiations. Third, we seek to explain different degrees of EU mediator effectiveness. In addition, an important objective of this project is to use the insights gained from the analytical and explanatory components of the project as a basis for knowledge transfer from science to practice, and to establish a policy dialogue with relevant actors. The project runs from February 2015 to January 2017 and is funded through a 100.000€ grant by the German Foundation for Peace Research (Deutsche Stiftung Friedensforschung, DSF).

Jean Monnet Multilateral Research Group: “EU-Russia Relations: A Transnational Perspective” (2013-2015)

Duration: 09/2013–08/2015. Coordinator: University of Kent. Role: Project Partner. Budget: 80,000 EUR.
This project critically analyzes the state of relations between the EU and Russia from the perspective of the EU and Russia.

The Empirical Political Research unit offers the following courses in the current semester.

  1. AG Friedens- und Konfliktforschung
    Instructor: Dr. Friedrich Plank
  2. Basissem Internationale Beziehungen
    Instructor: Jonas Biel; Dr. Johannes Muntschick; Dr. Friedrich Plank
  3. Einführungsveranstaltung/Welcoming Trinationalen EU-Masterstudiengang
    Instructor: Dr. Johannes Muntschick; Univ-Prof. Dr. Arne Niemann; Laura Ulrich; Dr. Doris Unger
  4. Koll Examenskolloquium Bereich IB
    Instructor: Univ-Prof. Dr. Arne Niemann
  5. Sem (BA/MEd) Multilateralism in Crisis in Europe and beyond. A new world order
    Instructor: Dr. Johannes Muntschick
  6. Sem (EU Zertifikat/MA-EU/BA BQ) EU-Institutions and Decision Making/EU-Simulation
    Instructor: Univ-Prof. Dr. Arne Niemann
  7. Sem (MA-EU) Orientierungskurs Europamaster (nur Online)
    Instructor: Dr. Johannes Muntschick; Univ-Prof. Dr. Arne Niemann; Dr. Friedrich Plank; Laura Ulrich; Dr. Doris Unger
    Format: online
  8. Sem (MA-EU) Projektseminar: Issues of European Politics (only EU-Master students!)
    Instructor: Univ-Prof. Dr. Arne Niemann
  9. Sem (MA/MA-EU) China’s foreign policy and EU-China Relations
    Instructor: Dr. habil. Christine Hackenesch
    Format: hybrid
  10. Sem (MA/MA-EU) Methodology of the Social Sciences: Qualitative methods
    Instructor: Dr. Friedrich Plank
  11. Sem (MA/MEd/MA-EU) EU-External Relations
    Instructor: Univ-Prof. Dr. Arne Niemann
  12. Seminar (EU Zertifikat): Model European Union Mainz/EU Simulation
    Instructor: Laura Ulrich
  13. V Einführung in die Internationalen Beziehungen
    Instructor: Jonas Biel; Dr. Johannes Muntschick; Univ-Prof. Dr. Arne Niemann; Dr. Friedrich Plank; Laura Ulrich; Dr. Doris Unger

SoSe 2026

Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about term papers (module examinations) and final theses in the IB section.

The prerequisite for a term paper as a module examination is active participation in a seminar in the IB section (see the list of current courses). Contact the lecturer early on about your wish to write a term paper and visit the consultation hour to discuss your topic request. Register for the examination within the official registration period via JOGU-StINe. When writing the paper, be sure to observe the guidelines and recommendations for the preparation of term papers of the institute.

If you would like to write your bachelor’s thesis in the field of International Politics, please be sure to note the following instructions:

  • Before you decide on a bachelor’s thesis in the field of International Politics, please familiarize yourself with both the research units of the International Politics section and the guidelines and guidelines and recommendations for the preparation of term papers and final theses of the institute.
  • Please send your request exclusively to Prof. Dr. Arne Niemann (arne.niemann@uni-mainz.de). Prof. Niemann will discuss with you how to proceed and can refer you to a suitable supervisor of the IR unit. Of course you may also state your wishes for a supervisor.
  • Please note: The International Politics section reserves the right to reject the supervision of your work for reasons of content or capacity.

Please submit your request with sufficient lead time and use this document, which should be completely filled out!

After registering the paper at the examination office, you have two months to work on the BA thesis. This is followed by approximately six weeks of correction time, and approximately four weeks after that, the oral BA examination takes place.

If you would like to write your master’s thesis in the field of International Politics, please be sure to note the following instructions:

Please submit your request with sufficient lead time and use this document, which should be completely filled out!

After registering the paper at the examination office, you have four months to work on the MA thesis. This is followed by approximately six weeks of correction time and approximately four weeks after the end of the correction time, the oral MA examination takes place.

The International Politics section offers a range of services to assist in the planning and execution of final theses, as well as in preparation for examinations. In addition to in-depth advising on questions of individual problems, this advising includes in particular:

• Assistance with the selection of topics for final theses, including their classification in existing research contexts
• Assistance with the concretization of a scientifically viable question and the development of a research design
• Assistance with the operationalization of the question for an empirical analysis
• Assistance with the selection of suitable analysis methods
• Instruction on how to carry out the empirical analysis
• Assistance with the selection of suitable examination topics
• Assistance with preparation for oral examinations

Your personal and academic success is our goal. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are looking for current literature for your term paper or final thesis in the IB section, it is a good idea to consult academic journals. Below are some suggestions. Unless otherwise stated, the call numbers refer to the library of the Institute for Political Science at the University of Mainz:

  • American Journal of International Law; Rewi Library: 40 Z/j 1
  • Blätter für deutsche und internationale Politik
  • Cooperation and Conflict; Library of the Institute for European History: ZCO 5
  • European Foreign Affairs Review
  • European Journal of International Law; Rewi Library: 49 Z/e 2
  • European Journal of International Relations
  • European Security
  • Foreign Affairs: AZ 254
  • Foreign Policy: AZ 78
  • Global Society
  • International Affairs: AZ 116
  • International Economic Review; Rewi Library: Z/r 20
  • International Migration
  • International Migration Review; Education: Z 282
  • Internationale Politik: AZ 1
  • International Organization: AZ 45
  • International Politics
  • International Security: AZ 394
  • International Studies Quarterly
  • International Studies Review (formerly: Mershon International Studies Review)
  • Journal of Common Market Studies; ReWi Library: Z/j 54
  • Journal of Conflict Resolution: AZ 60
  • Journal of European Public Policy
  • Journal of Peace Research
  • Journal of Refugee Studies
  • New Political Economy
  • Review of International Political Economy
  • Review of International Studies
  • Security Studies
  • Survival
  • Third World Quarterly: AZ 71, from 1990 only online
  • West European Politics: AZ 392
  • World Politics: AZ 65
  • Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen: AZ 388
  • American Journal of Political Science: AZ 70
  • American Political Science Review: AZ 55 (1960 ff.)
  • Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte: AZ 5
  • European Journal of Political Research: AZ 385
  • Political Science Quarterly