معرفی
Jennifer Mitzen is a Professor of Political Science at The Ohio State University, specializing in international relations (IR) theory, ontological security, global governance, and international history. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and has authored influential works like Power in Concert: The Nineteenth Century Origins of Global Governance. Her research explores how states navigate shared global challenges through diplomacy and ontological security frameworks, focusing on identity, anxiety, and emotional drivers in policy. Current projects address 'unthinkability' mechanisms in post-WWII contexts, examining claims that certain violent acts (e.g., nuclear war) are rendered unthinkable through collective discourse.
Mitzen’s academic leadership includes co-chairing the APSA International Relations Theory Section, co-editing Ontological (In)Security in the European Union, and serving on editorial boards for journals like Security Studies and International Theory. She has held a visiting professorship at Lund University (2021–2022) and received teaching and mentorship awards at OSU. Her pedagogical work emphasizes critical security studies, global governance, and scholarly writing.
Research interests span ontological security’s role in foreign policy, EU security dynamics, and the interplay between emotion and state behavior. Notable contributions include analyzing how states mitigate existential anxieties through identity work and diplomatic practices. Recent scholarship interrogates how societal taboos shape geopolitical realities, offering fresh perspectives on conflict prevention and global governance efficacy.
Mitzen’s work bridges theoretical innovation with practical implications, addressing both explanatory and normative questions in IR. She actively collaborates through international networks, including the International Relations Theory Colloquium, and mentors students on topics ranging from IR theory foundations to contemporary global challenges.
