Lukas Grundsfeld

Lukas Grundsfeld is a Research Associate at the Otto Suhr Institute for Political Science, Freie Universität Berlin, within the Department of Politics and Social Sciences. He has been actively contributing to the DFG-funded research project on state withdrawals from regional organizations since November 2022 and formally joined as a research associate in May 2024. His work is centered on international relations, particularly the dynamics of regional and international organizations under conditions of regime complexity.

Grundsfeld holds a BA in Political Science and History and an MA in Peace Research and International Politics from the Universities of Tübingen and Groningen. His master’s thesis examined the relationship between the international community and non-state armed actors, reflecting his ongoing interest in global governance and non-traditional security actors.

His research interests span Global Governance, International and Regional Organizations, Multilateral Sanctions, Norm Research, Global Order and Sovereignty, Constructivist and Sociological Theories, Ontological Security Studies, and Non-State Armed Actors. These themes are deeply interwoven in his publications, which analyze institutional resilience, contestation, exit threats, and suspension mechanisms in regional organizations. His recent work frequently explores how organizations like the EU and others respond to internal challenges such as Brexit, regime shifts, and overlapping institutional mandates.

His recent publications, including articles in International Theory, Global Studies Quarterly, and Politische Vierteljahresschrift, as well as book chapters with Routledge and Springer, demonstrate a strong trajectory in high-impact political science research. The articles collectively highlight a focus on institutional behavior under stress, norm dynamics, and the interplay between state actions and organizational responses in global politics.

Scientific contributions include:

• Co-authoring a forthcoming monograph on exit threats in regional organizations (Bristol University Press)
• Multiple peer-reviewed articles on exit, suspension, and contestation in regional organizations
• Numerous conference presentations at leading venues such as the International Studies Association (ISA), European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), and German Political Science Association (DVPW)

Grundsfeld has advised and collaborated on research projects related to security discourses and European cohesion during his time as a tutor and research assistant at the University of Tübingen. While no formal PhD students are listed, his supervisory experience includes academic tutoring and collaborative research mentorship. He is actively involved in interdisciplinary research teams exploring global governance, institutional design, and environmental conflict. Future work appears to focus on the resilience of international organizations amid polycrisis and the evolving nature of community norms under regime complexity.