Friedrich Plank

Dr. Friedrich Plank is a Researcher at the Department of International Relations at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. He holds a Master's degree in Conflict Research from the University of Augsburg and a PhD in Political Science (International Relations) from the same institution. His research focuses on comparative regionalism, interregional cooperation between Africa and the EU, and governance of regime complexity. He is a co-editor of the 2024 Routledge volume The Performance of Regionalism in the Global South and has contributed to prominent journals like International Studies Review, Journal of Common Market Studies, and European Security.

His work examines topics such as African security architectures, EU external energy policies (e.g., hydrogen cooperation with Morocco), and the effectiveness of interregional peace operations. He has been involved in interdisciplinary projects like the Clean Circles cluster on circular economy and served as co-speaker of the DVPW Early Career Group on International Relations.

Plank's research emphasizes structural challenges in global governance, including the performance of regional organizations in the Global South. He has also engaged in innovative teaching methods, including blended learning approaches for EU foreign policy education. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of complex policy environments in Africa and beyond.