Christos Kassimeris

Christos Kassimeris serves as Professor of International Relations at the European University Cyprus (EUC) within the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Humanities, Social and Education Sciences, where he has maintained continuous faculty appointment since 2005 following prior research work at the University of Reading (2002-2005).

His academic credentials include:

• PhD in International Relations (University of Reading, 2002)
• MA in International Security (University of Reading, 1997)
• BA in Sociology (University of Reading, 1996)

Professor Kassimeris specializes in the political sociology of football, critically examining racism, discrimination, and identity construction through sports, particularly in European and Cypriot contexts. His research extends to Greek and Cypriot foreign policy analysis, European integration dynamics, and small state behavior in international relations, employing interdisciplinary frameworks from political science and cultural studies. Recent trajectories demonstrate expansion into geopolitical analyses of global initiatives like China's Belt and Road while maintaining core focus on sport-politics intersections.

Publication trends since 2021 reveal dual thematic strands: sustained investigation of football's role in societal discrimination (with transatlantic comparative perspectives) and emerging geopolitical scholarship on international economic initiatives. Keyword analysis shows consistent anchoring in International Relations and Political Science, with subfield evolution from European football identity politics toward broader geopolitical strategy frameworks.

Research leadership includes EU-funded projects:

• CRiTERIA (2021-2024) as Project Coordinator (EC Research Executive Agency)
• HEUREKA (2021-2023) as Research Member (EC Humanitarian Aid)
• BRISWA (2017-2018) as Consulting Expert (Erasmus+)
• DARIAH (2008-2010) as Research Member (FP7)

He contributes to academic discourse through editorial board membership for Soccer & Society and European Journal of Futures Research.