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Christoph Meyer

Professor Christoph Meyer

Professor of European & International Politics

Research interests

  • Politics

Biography

Christoph Meyer is Full Professor of European & International Politics at King’s College London. He co-convenes the Research Group on European Foreign Policy and is a member of the King’s Centre for the Study of Intelligence.

He studied political science and sociology in Hamburg before completing an MPhil (1997) and a PhD in International Relations at the University of Cambridge in 2001. Christoph worked as a visiting doctoral researcher at the Max Planck-Institute for the Study of Societies, Research Associate at the University of Cologne, Marie Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre of European Policy Studies in Brussels, and Lecturer at the Birkbeck College London before joining King’s in 2007. At King's he was the first head of the new Department of European & International Studies between 2012-2015 and served as the Faculty’s first Vice-Dean for Research between 2016 and 2020. He was elected as a Fellow to the UK Academy of Social Sciences in 2020.

He won a Starting Investigator Award of the European Research Council in 2008 to create the FORESIGHT project on early warning and conflict prevention. Subsequently, he was involved as research lead on the King’s side in the INFOCORE project coordinated from the University of Munich on media and violent conflict. Professor Meyer also lead an ESRC-funded project on intelligence and learning in European foreign policy (INTEL) between 2018-2021.

Office hours

Monday: 13.30 - 14.30

Tuesday: 13.30- 14.30

Research

  • Foreign Policy Analysis with a geographic focus on the EU and its member states and a substantive focus on (conflict) prevention and defence
  • Foresight in international politics and learning through inquiries after alleged failures of preventive action
  • Social constructivist approaches in International Relations, especially strategic cultures related to security and defence
  • International political communication, especially external communications of International Organisations and transnational investigative journalism
  • European Union, integration, politics and public policy, especially foreign security and defence policy

Professor Meyer’s research interests are wide-ranging within the field of European Union studies and International Relations. In terms of policy fields, he has been working on security and defence policy, including conflict prevention, public communication and media coverage as well as economic governance. He has contributed to debates about the European public sphere and political integration, European strategic culture and questions of forecasting, warning and prevention, learning lessons through postmortems and public inquiries.

Professor Meyer has published in leading academic journals at the intersection of International Relations, EU and security studies, political science and political communication, including ISQ, EJIR, International Affairs, JCMS, JEPP, European Security, Intelligence and National Security, and Media, War & Conflict. He co-edited three books, three special issues/sections of journals as well as authored or co-authored three research monographs.

Professor Meyer's book Warning about War (CUP, 2020) won the 2021 best book prize of the International Studies Association and the 2021 best book prize in international communication of the ISA section. His latest co-edited book with Edinburgh University Press (October 2022) is titled Estimative Intelligence in European Foreign Policymaking: Learning Lessons from an Era of Surprise,

Teaching

Expertise and public engagement

Christoph Meyer has provided advice to government and international organisations. Since 2019 he has regularly authored analytical pieces for the European Parliament’s sub-committee on security and defence (SEDE). He was the co-chair of an expert task force on the prevention of mass atrocities through the EU (with Karen E. Smith), which published an influential report in 2013. He has contributed numerous analytical and opinion pieces to public debate, published in the Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Spiegel Online, Tagesspiegel, Razon, the Conversation, the Council on Foreign Relations, Peacelab, EUObserver and NewEurope. He has given television interviews to CNN International, Al Jazeera and BBC World News.

    Research

    European Foreign resized
    The European Foreign Policy Research Group

    The European Foreign Policy group looks at both EU as well as state foreign policies within Europe and their interconnections.

    CGTR
    Centre for German Transnational Relations

    The centre examines Germany's changing transnational role in the economic, political and cultural spheres. We study how the recent rise of Germany to a position as a 'reluctant hegemon' shapes European economies as well as the world economy.

    News

    Academic provides expert insight to government commission

    A King’s College London academic was invited to provide expert insight into key foreign policy and security responses by the German government and offer his...

    SPE_stock

    'Fear of reporting bad news' among factors behind slow reaction to international crises

    A reluctance to report or acknowledge bad news and the politicisation of analysis by member states were major contributors to incidents where the European...

    EU

    Academic's report to help inform European military policy

    A King’s academic has co-authored a report for the European Parliament on how it might establish a new military rapid response force for deployment into...

    meyerparl.

    King's expert gives evidence to House of Lords committee

    A King’s College London academic was invited to share his expertise on the UK’s defence and security outlook with a House of Lords committee.

    ChrisMeyerLords

    Sharing our expertise and insights on the war on Ukraine

    Researchers and academics in our Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are using their expertise to inform discussion and debate around Russia’s invasion...

    ukraine and russia's flags painted on broken concrete

    Hindsight bias a 'serious problem' for COVID inquiries

    Reducing ‘hindsight bias’ will be crucial to the success of any inquires which take place in the UK’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an...

    COVID and RBC

    Academic team present report to European Parliament

    Academics from King’s College London co-authored a study for the European Parliament which examines the impact of climate change on defence and security.

    climate change_promo

    Awards success for book co-authored by academic

    A book co-authored by an academic in the Department of European and International Studies has picked up a prestigious award from the leading association for...

    Books

    Impact of COVID-19 on EU security assessed in new report

    A new report highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected European security and defence and what the longer-term repercussions may be.

    military plane soldiers

    Expert panel discusses elite and public opinion on use of military force in Germany

    A panel of academic experts discussed the German stance on the use of military force and the issues that surround it 30 years after reunification.

    Military

    Events

    25NovEstimative intelligence in Europe event

    Book Launch: Estimative Intelligence in European Foreign Policymaking

    KISG invites attendees to join a book launch to celebrate the release of "Estimative Intelligence in European Foreign Policymaking: Learning Lessons from an...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    10NovEISwar

    War, Crisis and a Changing Europe

    Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

    Please note: this event has passed.

    10Octeduard-delputte-soldier-unsplash

    War, crisis and a changing Europe

    Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

    Please note: this event has passed.

    17MarThe event is taking place on 17 March. Picture: STOCK IMAGE

    The European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy at a Crossroads: What lessons to be learnt and which futures to prepare for?

    Organised by King’s College London’s European Foreign Policy Research Group in cooperation with the European Foreign Policy Unit of the LSE

    Please note: this event has passed.

    17MarAfter 16 years in office, Angela Merkel stepped down as Germany’s Chancellor in December 2021

    Stop or Go? The first 100 days of the German traffic light coalition in government

    A panel of experts take stock of the new government’s first 100 days in office.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    25NovMilitary

    Germany 30 years after reunification: Elite and public opinion about the use of military force

    The political view of the German armed forces, international pressure to increase military investment, and the impact of pacifism on public attitudes will be...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    23AprWarning about War: Conflict, Persuasion and Foreign Policy

    Warning about War: Conflict, Persuasion and Foreign Policy

    Join an expert panel for the launch of a new book which looks at conflict, persuasion and foreign policy.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    Sharing our expertise and insights on the war on Ukraine

    Researchers and academics in our Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are using their expertise to inform discussion and debate around Russia’s invasion...

    ukraine russia banner size

      Research

      European Foreign resized
      The European Foreign Policy Research Group

      The European Foreign Policy group looks at both EU as well as state foreign policies within Europe and their interconnections.

      CGTR
      Centre for German Transnational Relations

      The centre examines Germany's changing transnational role in the economic, political and cultural spheres. We study how the recent rise of Germany to a position as a 'reluctant hegemon' shapes European economies as well as the world economy.

      News

      Academic provides expert insight to government commission

      A King’s College London academic was invited to provide expert insight into key foreign policy and security responses by the German government and offer his...

      SPE_stock

      'Fear of reporting bad news' among factors behind slow reaction to international crises

      A reluctance to report or acknowledge bad news and the politicisation of analysis by member states were major contributors to incidents where the European...

      EU

      Academic's report to help inform European military policy

      A King’s academic has co-authored a report for the European Parliament on how it might establish a new military rapid response force for deployment into...

      meyerparl.

      King's expert gives evidence to House of Lords committee

      A King’s College London academic was invited to share his expertise on the UK’s defence and security outlook with a House of Lords committee.

      ChrisMeyerLords

      Sharing our expertise and insights on the war on Ukraine

      Researchers and academics in our Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are using their expertise to inform discussion and debate around Russia’s invasion...

      ukraine and russia's flags painted on broken concrete

      Hindsight bias a 'serious problem' for COVID inquiries

      Reducing ‘hindsight bias’ will be crucial to the success of any inquires which take place in the UK’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an...

      COVID and RBC

      Academic team present report to European Parliament

      Academics from King’s College London co-authored a study for the European Parliament which examines the impact of climate change on defence and security.

      climate change_promo

      Awards success for book co-authored by academic

      A book co-authored by an academic in the Department of European and International Studies has picked up a prestigious award from the leading association for...

      Books

      Impact of COVID-19 on EU security assessed in new report

      A new report highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected European security and defence and what the longer-term repercussions may be.

      military plane soldiers

      Expert panel discusses elite and public opinion on use of military force in Germany

      A panel of academic experts discussed the German stance on the use of military force and the issues that surround it 30 years after reunification.

      Military

      Events

      25NovEstimative intelligence in Europe event

      Book Launch: Estimative Intelligence in European Foreign Policymaking

      KISG invites attendees to join a book launch to celebrate the release of "Estimative Intelligence in European Foreign Policymaking: Learning Lessons from an...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      10NovEISwar

      War, Crisis and a Changing Europe

      Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

      Please note: this event has passed.

      10Octeduard-delputte-soldier-unsplash

      War, crisis and a changing Europe

      Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

      Please note: this event has passed.

      17MarThe event is taking place on 17 March. Picture: STOCK IMAGE

      The European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy at a Crossroads: What lessons to be learnt and which futures to prepare for?

      Organised by King’s College London’s European Foreign Policy Research Group in cooperation with the European Foreign Policy Unit of the LSE

      Please note: this event has passed.

      17MarAfter 16 years in office, Angela Merkel stepped down as Germany’s Chancellor in December 2021

      Stop or Go? The first 100 days of the German traffic light coalition in government

      A panel of experts take stock of the new government’s first 100 days in office.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      25NovMilitary

      Germany 30 years after reunification: Elite and public opinion about the use of military force

      The political view of the German armed forces, international pressure to increase military investment, and the impact of pacifism on public attitudes will be...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      23AprWarning about War: Conflict, Persuasion and Foreign Policy

      Warning about War: Conflict, Persuasion and Foreign Policy

      Join an expert panel for the launch of a new book which looks at conflict, persuasion and foreign policy.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      Sharing our expertise and insights on the war on Ukraine

      Researchers and academics in our Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are using their expertise to inform discussion and debate around Russia’s invasion...

      ukraine russia banner size