Anja Menzel

Anja Menzel is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Chair of International Relations at the Otto-Friedrich University Bamberg and a Senior Research Fellow at the SARChI Chair: African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. She is also a Fellow of the Bavarian Science Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Research (FoKS).

• Education:
  • Diploma in Political Science and Adult Education (Otto-Friedrich University Bamberg, 2006–2013)
  • Doctorate in Philosophy (University of Greifswald, 2019; Dissertation: "Sailing the Waters of Institutional Complexity – State-to-State Cooperation on the Combat of Maritime Piracy")

Research Focus: Anja Menzel specializes in complex international governance structures, with a focus on ocean governance at the intersection of maritime security, sustainability, and the Blue Economy. Her work explores institutional effectiveness, policy outcomes in maritime regions, and the interplay between security and sustainable development.

Publication Trends: Her recent works (2022–2026) emphasize maritime security, institutional complexity, Blue Economy, and global governance. She has contributed to journals like Politics and Governance and edited volumes such as Sustainability and the Sea (2024) and International Institutions (2025).

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow of the Bavarian Science Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Research (FoKS)

Grants & Projects: Currently involved in International Monitoring without Ratification and Deliberation in the UN Security Council. Previously contributed to projects on UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, Western democracies' extraterritorial human rights violations, and institutional legitimacy.

Labs & Teams: Affiliated with the SARChI Chair: African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy (University of Johannesburg) and the Bavarian Research Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Research (FoKS). Actively participates in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) project, guiding student delegations to international conferences.