Thijs de Zee

Thijs de Zee is a researcher at the Research Centre for the Study of Democratic Cultures and Politics (DemCP) within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen. His work focuses on the European Union's geopolitical evolution and international actorness.

His research interests span European Union Studies, Geopolitics, International Relations, and EU Policy Analysis, with specific expertise in strategic autonomy, pragmatism in governance, and the EU's role in de-globalizing contexts. Recent publications examine the EU's geopolitical ambitions through the lens of international organizations and policy areas.

The analysis of his four recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a consistent focus on European integration challenges, particularly how the EU navigates global power shifts. Key trends include the interplay between domestic politics and foreign policy, pandemic-era electoral strategies, and the conceptualization of the EU as a geopolitical actor amid de-globalization pressures.

His collaborative work involves significant academic contributions through edited volumes and journal articles, often co-authored with leading scholars in EU studies. Notable activities include organizing the 2023 conference "The European Union in a Globalising World" and presenting research on automated voting-aids' political effects.

De Zee operates within the Research Centre for the Study of Democratic Cultures and Politics, contributing to the university's expertise in democratic governance and European political dynamics through editorial leadership and conference organization.