Prof. Dr. Alexander Brand

Professor Alexander Brand was born in Jena (Thuringia). He studied Political Science, Philosophy and Media/Communication Science at the Technical University Dresden, the University of Leipzig and the New School for Social Research (Graduate Faculty), New York City. After having completed his studies, he worked as a Lecturer and PhD Researcher at the Chair for International Politics as well as the School of International Studies at TU Dresden. He held several guest lectureships, for instance at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. In 2010, he defended his PhD thesis on the question of how to conceptualize the intricate relationship of mass media and international relations at TU Dresden’s Faculty of Philosophy. Afterwards, he moved on to the Department of Political Science at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz where he worked as a Senior Lecturer and Post-Doc Researcher. In addition, he held guest lectureships at the School for International Studies Dresden as well as the European Management School Mainz. 

In August 2014, Alexander Brand was appointed as a Professor of Political Science/International Relations at Rhine-Waal University. Starting in March 2023, he also began teaching courses at the German-Kazakh University located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. From March 2015 to July 2020, he acted as Course Leader "International Relations" (BA). Since March 2023, he has been sharing this responsibility with Professor Dingfelder Stone. Additionally, in the spring of the same year, he was elected and appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Faculty Examination Committee.

• Brand, A., & Lempp, J. (2025). Rechtsruck oder zurück zur Normalität? Die Wahlen zum Europäischen Parlament in Zeiten der Polykrise. In K. Hegemann, D. Lud, & F. Sohnrey (editors), Wer rettet die Welt? Transformation gestalten in Zeiten der Polykrise (pp. 13–36). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748950301-13.
• Brand, A. (2024). The US in Central Asia. In J. Lempp & S. Mayer (editors), Central Asia in a Multipolar World (pp. 323–340). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-63727-8_19.
• Brand, A., Niemann, A., & Weber, R. (2024). Introduction: The Europeanisation of identities through everyday practices. Journal of Contemporary European Studies, 32(2), 309–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/14782804.2024.2310021.
• Brand, A., Niemann, A., & Weber, R. (2024). When do football fans tend to acquire a more Europeanised mind-set? The impact of participation in European club competitions. Journal of Contemporary European Studies, 32(2), 368–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/14782804.2023.2186838.
• Niemann, A., Brand, A., & Weber, R. (2024). Football Fandom and Identity in the 21st Century: Vol. Football Research in an Enlarged Europe. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40631-7.
• Brand, A. (2023). Sport Diplomacy. In F. Onditi, K. McLarren, G. Ben-Nun, Y. A. Stivachtis, & P. Okoth (editors), The Palgrave Handbook of Diplomatic Thought and Practice in the Digital Age (pp. 147–171). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28214-0_7.
• Brand, A. (2023). Vaccine Diplomacy. In F. Onditi, K. McLarren, G. Ben-Nun, Y. A. Stivachtis, & P. Okoth (editors), The Palgrave Handbook of Diplomatic Thought and Practice in the Digital Age (pp. 201–222). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28214-0_9.
• Brand, A., & Muno, W. (2023). From Monroe to Bolívar and Back? US-Venezuela Relations. In M. A. Latouche, W. Muno, & A. Gericke (editors), Venezuela – Dimensions of the Crisis (pp. 145–167). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21889-7_9.
• Brand, A., & Robel, S. (2023). Die Außen- und Weltpolitik der USA. In M. Staack (editor), Einführung in die Internationale Politik (pp. 137–178). De Gyruter Oldenbourg. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110722529-005.
• Brand, A., Niemann, A., & Weber, R. (2023). Pipe dream or closed shop? Experiencing the Champions League from the sidelines. Soccer & Society, 24(4), 520–533. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2023.2194515.
• Zitzke, A., Brand, A., & Reiser, D. (2023). Towards Humanistic Management in professional sports: How to make mobility and fan-related tourism more sustainable? Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, 15(2), 153–170. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2023-2003.
• Brand, A., Spero, J., Kadak, H., & Hegemann, K. (2022). Transatlantische Beziehungen unter Stress: Auslaufmodell oder nachhaltige Partnerschaft? In K. Hegemann, D. Lud, & F. Sohnrey (editors), Nachhaltigkeit unter Stress: Frakturen in Gesellschaft, Umwelt und Wirtschaft (pp. 159–176). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783957104069-159.
• Niemann, A., Weber, R., & Brand, A. (2022). Football and European integration(s). In T. Hoerber, G. Weber, & I. Cabras (editors), The Routledge Handbook of European Integrations (pp. 49–64). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429262081-6.
• Weber, R., Brand, A., Koch, F., & Niemann, A. (2022). Cosmopolitans and communitarians: A typology of football fans between national and European influences. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 57(4), 532–551. https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902211028147.
• Brand, A., Geeraert, A., & Niemann, A. (2021). European (dis-)integration theories, Brexit and sport. A double disconnect and tentative remedies. In J. Kornbeck (editor), Sport and Brexit (pp. 23–40). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003162803-3.
• Brand, A., Furness, M., & Keijzer, N. (2021). Promoting Policy Coherence within the 2030 Agenda Framework: Externalities, Trade-Offs and Politics. Politics and Governance, 9(1), 108–118. https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.v9i1.3608.
• Brand, A., & Schöninger, H. S. (2021). Impfdiplomatie als Ausdruck globaler Solidarität? Internationale Kooperation in der Pandemiebekämpfung zwischen Egoismus und Gerechtigkeit. Peripherie, 41(164), 405–437. https://doi.org/10.3224/peripherie.v41i4.03.
• Weber, R., Brand, A., Koch, F., & Niemann, A. (2021). A European mind? Europeanisation of football fan discussions in online message boards. European Journal for Sport and Society, 19(4), 323–346. https://doi.org/10.1080/16138171.2021.1974220.
• Brand, A. (2020). Sport und globale Zusammenarbeit: Von Hoffnungen, Enttäuschungen und Erfolgen. In K. Petry (editor), Sport im Kontext von internationaler Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (pp. 103–118). Verlag Barbara Budrich. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvzsmc7c.12.
• Brand, A. (2020). Die USA in Zentralasien. In J. Lempp, S. Mayer, & A. Brand (editors), Die politischen Systeme Zentralasiens (pp. 275–293). Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-31633-4_17.
• Lempp, J., Mayer, S., & Brand, A. (2020). Die politischen Systeme Zentralasiens. Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-31633-4.
• Muno, W., Brand, A., & McEwen-Fial, S. (2020). China in Latin America. In M.-l. L. Hasenkamp (editor), China and Autocracy: Political Influence and the Limits of Global Democracy (pp. 159–178). I.B. Tauris. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781788318402.0016.
• Niemann, A., & Brand, A. (2020). The UEFA Champions League: a political myth? Soccer & Society, 21(3), 329–343. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2019.1653859.
• Weber, R., Brand, A., Niemann, A., & Koch, F. (2020). Non-elite conceptions of Europe: Europe as reference frame in English football fan discussions. Journal of Contemporary European Research, 16(3), 293–319. https://doi.org/10.30950/jcer.v16i3.1089.
• Brand, A., & Niemann, A. (2019). Die UEFA Champions League als politischer Mythos. Einigung Europas oder Entfremdung der Fans? STADION, 43(1), 76–98. https://doi.org/10.5771/0172-4029-2019-1-76.
• Brand, A., & McEwen-Fial, S. (2018). Das Ringen um Vietnam. Machtpolitische Rivalitäten zwischen China und den USA, strategische Optionen Vietnams und Dynamiken der regionalen (De-)Stabilisierung. In M. Hansel, S. Harnisch, & N. Godehardt (editors), Chinesische Seidenstraßeninitiative und amerikanische Gewichtsverlagerung (pp. 179–208). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783845287102-179.
• Niemann, A., & Brand, A. (2018). Die Europäisierung des Fußballs: Von der Umsetzung politischer Vorgaben zur Gestaltung europäischer Realitäten. In J. Mittag (editor), Europäische Sportpolitik (pp. 167–180). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783845243702-167.
• McEwen-Fial, S., & Brand, A. (2016). Navigating Stormy Waters: The Triangular Relationship between the United States, Vietnam and China and the South China Sea Disputes. In E. Fels & T.-M. Vu (editors), Power Politics in Asia’s Contested Waters (pp. 247–270). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26152-2_12.
• Brand, A., McEwen-Fial, S., & Muno, W. (2015). Ein „autoritärer Nexus“? Chinas vermeintliche Sonderbeziehungen zu autokratischen Staaten in Lateinamerika. In S. Harnisch, K. Brummer, & K. Oppermann (editors), Sonderbeziehungen als Nexus zwischen Außenpolitik und internationalen Beziehungen (pp. 133–158). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783845262550-133.
• Brand, A., McEwen-Fial, S., & Muno, W. (2015). An ‘Authoritarian Nexus’? China’s Alleged Special Relationship with Autocratic States in Latin America. European Review of Latin American & Caribbean Studies, 99, 7–28. https://doi.org/10.18352/erlacs.9588.
• Brand, A., McEwan-Fial, S., Muno, W., & Ribeiro-Hoffmann, A. (2014). Hegemoniale Rivalität. Brasilien, China und die USA in Lateinamerika. In A. Nölke, C. May, & S. Claar (editors), Die großen Schwellenländer (pp. 395–412). Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-02537-3_22.
• Brand, A. (2014). The (BR)IC Way: An Alternative Path to Development? Millennium, 43(2), 706–713. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305829814557556.
• Brand, A., & Muno, W. (2014). Klima versus Öl: Das Ausbleiben der Klima- und Energiewende im Ölstaat Venezuela. Peripherie, 34(136), 445–469. https://doi.org/10.3224/peripherie.v34i136.22474.
• Muno, W., & Brand, A. (2014). Farewell to leadership? Ideas of hegemony and counter-hegemony in the Americas. International Area Studies Review, 17(4), 375–393. https://doi.org/10.1177/2233865914550728.
• Brand, A., Niemann, A., & Spitaler, G. (2012). The two-track Europeanization of football: EU-level pressures, transnational dynamics and their repercussions within different national contexts. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 5(1), 95–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2012.665381.
• Brand, A. (2012). Medien – Diskurs – Weltpolitik. transcript Verlag. https://doi.org/10.14361/transcript.9783839418314.
• Robel, S., Prys, M., & Brand, A. (2012). Empire or Hegemony? Konzeptuelle Überlegungen zur Analyse der Sonderrolle der Vereinigten Staaten in den Internationalen Beziehungen. In J. Hils, J. Wilzewski, & R. Wolf (editors), Assertive Multilateralism and Preventive War (pp. 116–151). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783845238609-116.
• Brand, A. (2011). Sicherheit über alles? Die schleichende Versicherheitlichung deutscher Entwicklungspolitik. Peripherie, 31(122/123), 209–236. https://doi.org/10.3224/peripherie.v31i122-123.24040.
• Brand, A., Niemann, A., & Spitaler, G. (2010). The Europeanization of Austrian football: history, adaptation and transnational dynamics. Soccer & Society, 11(6), 761–774. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2010.510735.
• Brand, A., & Niemann, A. (2007). Europeanisation in the Societal/Trans-National Realm: What European Integration Studies Can Get Out Of Analysing Football. Journal of Contemporary European Research, 3(3), 182–201. https://doi.org/10.30950/jcer.v3i3.47.
• Brand, A., & von der Goltz, N. (2004). Herausforderung Entwicklung. Neuere Beiträge zur theoretischen und praxisorientierten Entwicklungsforschung. LIT.

Alexander Brand’s main research interests include foreign policy analysis (with a focus on US foreign policy), sports/football and politics, mass media and international politics, IR theories, and the politics of development policy/foreign aid in international comparison. From 2012 to 2015, he served as the editor of the journal Sport & EU Review. Starting in 2026, he is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Football Studies. Since 2015, he has been a member of the Forum Sport Politics at the German Sport University Cologne, and since March 2017, he has served on the Academic Advisory Council of the Cologne Forum of International Relations and Security Policy. From 2018 to 2022, Alexander Brand was one of two Principal Investigators in the DFG-sponsored research project "EUFoot - The identity effect of Europeanised lifeworlds". Some information on the project can be found here. The main book publication can be seen here.