Martin Holland

Professor Martin Holland serves as Professor and Director of the National Centre for Research on Europe at the University of Canterbury's Faculty of Arts, a position he has held since February 18, 1984. His leadership extends to the EU Studies Association NZ where he has served as President since 2007, and he maintains significant international connections through the Asia-Europe Foundation Programme.

• Director, National Centre for Research on Europe (1984-present)
• President, EU Studies Association NZ (2007-present)
• Board member, Asia-Europe Foundation Programme 'European Studies in Asia' (2006-present)

Holland's research focuses on EU external relations with particular emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region. His work examines EU development policy, EU-Pacific relations, and the evolving dynamics of EU-New Zealand/Australia interactions. He has made significant contributions to understanding the EU's role in the ASEM process, Common Foreign and Security Policy, integration theory, and good governance frameworks. His scholarship also explores the EU diplomatic service and the construction of EU identity in the Asia-Pacific context, providing critical insights into how European integration projects are perceived beyond Europe's borders.

Analysis of Holland's recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory focusing on EU's evolving role in the Indo-Pacific region, with increasing attention to geopolitical shifts following Brexit and the pandemic. His work demonstrates methodological diversity, incorporating perception studies, policy analysis, and theoretical frameworks from integration theory. The publications show a clear progression from examining EU's normative power to analyzing practical diplomatic challenges in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, with particular attention to how Asian perspectives shape EU's global strategy.

• Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (multiple periods: 1997-2002, 2000-2005, 2007-2011)
• Visiting Fellow, Bellagio Center, Rockefeller Foundation, Italy (1997-2002, 2000)
• Keynote speaker at EU Centres World Meeting, EC Commission, Brussels (2008)

Professor Holland actively supervises numerous graduate students working on diverse aspects of EU studies, with recent projects examining EU-China relations, migration flows, sustainable development goals implementation, and European sports diplomacy. His current research is supported by a major European Commission grant (2022-2025) titled 'What role for Europe in the Indo-Pacific? Identifying regional policy responses towards the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy,' which continues his longstanding investigation into EU's evolving role in the Asia-Pacific region. His supervisory approach emphasizes the connection between theoretical frameworks and practical policy challenges in EU external relations.

As Director of the National Centre for Research on Europe, Holland leads a vibrant research hub that serves as New Zealand's primary institution for EU studies. The Centre has been instrumental in major research initiatives including 'The EU through the Eyes of Asia' project conducted with the Asia-Europe Foundation, which examined citizens' perceptions of the EU across 12 research sites in Asia. Under his leadership, the Centre maintains strong connections with EU institutions and academic networks across Europe and Asia, functioning as a critical bridge between New Zealand and European scholarly and policy communities.