Tobias Wille

Prof. Dr. Tobias Wille is an Assistant Professor (W1) of International Security at Goethe University Frankfurt and an Associate Fellow at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)’s Research Department International Security. He serves as Principal Investigator and Academic Coordinator for the interdisciplinary research initiative ConTrust – Trust in Conflict since 2021.

• Education: PhD in Political Science (Goethe University Frankfurt, 2017), MSc in International Relations (London School of Economics and Political Science, 2010), MA in Political Science (University of Munich, 2009)

Research Focus: Trust and mistrust in international politics, international security, diplomatic practices, and the interplay of norms and conflict. His work spans theoretical frameworks (e.g., Bourdieu’s practice theory) and empirical case studies (e.g., Kosovo, Brexit).

Recent Publications: Explores trust erosion post-Brexit, bureaucratic diplomacy in contested states, Clausewitzian political boundaries, and critical analysis of international practices. Articles appear in International Affairs, Review of International Studies, and International Theory.

Projects & Grants: Led the ConTrust initiative (2021–2025) and was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellow (2018–2020) at Columbia University. Earlier, he was a Research Associate at Goethe’s Cluster of Excellence/Normative Orders (2015–2022).

Conferences & Networks: Co-organized the final ConTrust conference (2025) and actively participates in the New Diplomatic History Network (NDH), contributing to panels on diplomatic interiors, caste in Indian diplomacy, and transnational practices.

Labs & Collaborations: Affiliated with Goethe’s Cluster of Excellence “Normative Orders” and PRIF’s International Security Department. Collaborates with scholars like Benjamin Martill, Sebastian Schindler, and networks such as the Leibniz Cooperations and ConTrust.