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Dr. Jens Herpolsheimer

Research Fellow (Head of Junior Research Group)

Gesellschaft, Politik und Wirtschaft in Afrika
Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum
Beethovenstraße 15
04107 Leipzig

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Abstract

Jens Herpolsheimer studied African Studies in Leipzig, Bordeaux, and Lisbon. From 2016 to 2019, he was a researcher at the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB 1199) “Processes of Spatialization under the Global Condition”, at Leipzig University. In this context, he has completed his PhD, focusing on intervention practices of African regional organizations and their spatializing effects. From 2020 to 2024 Jens Herpolsheimer was a postdoctoral researcher at the SFB 1199 as well as the Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe), studying the practices of inter-regionalism between different actors at African regional organizations and the European Union. Since 2025 he is the Head of the DFG Emmy-Noether Junior Research Group "African RECs in Global Politics". The research group studies the agency and practices of African ROs in shaping and implementing highly inter-related and securitized regional/global policy fields.

Professional career

  • 10/2012 - 12/2015
    Research Assistant, Institute of African Studies and Centre for Area Studies, Leipzig University
  • 01/2016 - 12/2019
    Junior Researcher / PhD candidate, Collaborative Research Centre (SFB 1199) "Processes of Spatialization under the Global Condition", Leipzig University
  • since 01/2020
    Senior Researcher / Postdoc, Collaborative Research Centre (SFB 1199) "Processes of Spatialization under the Global Condition", Leipzig University

Education

  • 10/2009 - 09/2012
    B.A. African Studies, Leipzig University and Sciences Bo Bordeaux (France)
  • 10/2012 - 09/2014
    M.A. African Studies, Leipzig University and Centro de Estudos Internacionais (CEI-IUL) (Lisbon, Portugal)
  • 01/2016 - 12/2019
    PhD student, Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG) of the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB 1199) "Processes of Spatialization under the Global Condition", Leipzig University

Jens Herpolsheimer researches intervention practices of African regional organizations, in particular the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), as well as practices of inter-regionalism between African regional organizations and the European Union. To this end, he conducts field research - including archival research, interviews, and participant observation - in various African countries, mainly across West Africa. For his doctoral thesis, he conducted research in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Abuja (Nigeria), Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), Dakar (Senegal), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), and Bamako (Mali), as well as outside Africa in Brussels (Belgium) and New York (USA).

  • SFB 1199/B07: Interregionalism and Security in the Sahel: The African Union, ECOWAS, and the European Union
    Engel, Ulf
    Duration: 01/2020 – 12/2023
    Funded by: DFG Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe); Institut für Afrikastudien; SFB 1199: Verräumlichungsprozesse unter Globalisierungsbedingungen
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  • New Regionalisms and Violent Conflict in Africa: The Politics of the African Union and ECOWAS in Guinea-Bissau
    Engel, Ulf
    Duration: 01/2016 – 12/2019
    Funded by: DFG Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Centre for Area Studies; Gesellschaft, Politik und Wirtschaft in Afrika; Global and European Studies Institute; SFB 1199: Verräumlichungsprozesse unter Globalisierungsbedingungen
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  • African RECs in Global Politics
    Herpolsheimer, Jens
    Duration: 12/2024 – 12/2027
    Funded by: DFG Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Gesellschaft, Politik und Wirtschaft in Afrika
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more projects

  • Herpolsheimer, J.; Warnck, S. E.
    Mapping Intervention Practices of ECOWAS and the African Union: Methodological and Practical Challenges
    Leipzig. 2020.
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  • Herpolsheimer, J.
    Spatializing Practices of Regional Organizations during Conflict Intervention: The Politics of ECOWAS and the African Union
    Abingdon; New York: Routledge. 2021.
    DOI: 10.4324/9781003106647
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  • Döring, K.; Engel, U.; Gelot, L.; Herpolsheimer, J. (Eds.)
    Researching the Inner Life of the African Peace and Security Architecture: APSA Inside-Out
    Leiden, Boston: Brill. 2021.
    ISBN: 978-90-04-46677-7
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  • Herpolsheimer, J.
    Studying practices of interregional security governance and space-making between ECOWAS and the European Union
    Territory, Politics, Governance. 2024. 12 (4). pp. 554–571.
    DOI: 10.1080/21622671.2023.2235411
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  • Engel, U.; Herpolsheimer, J.
    African Regional and Inter-Regional Health Governance: Early Responses to the Covid-19 Pandemic by ECOWAS and the African Union
    African security. 2021. 14 (4). pp. 318–340.
    DOI: 10.1080/19392206.2021.1982240
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more publications

  • Andere Ehrungen: Katharina-Windscheid-Preis
    Herpolsheimer, Jens (Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe))
    awarded in 2019 by Research Academy Leipzig.
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