My name is Jonas Gejl Kaas and I am Assistant Professor at the Department of Strategy and War Studies at the Royal Danish Defence College. Before coming to the Royal Danish Defence College in 2023, I was Assistant Professor at Aarhus University’s Department of Political Science and taught at Russian as well as European Studies.
In addition to my keen interest in social science methods and methodologies, my teaching, research, and public sector services focuses on topics related to Russian and European defense, security, and foreign policy.
Currently, I am investigating military-strategic adaptation in Russia and the EU. Moreover, I examine the opportunities and challenges associated with Denmark's entry into the EU's security and defense institutions.
My research has been published in Danish and international outlets such as Sociological Methods & Research, International Studies Review, European Politics and Society, University Press of Southern Denmark, DJØF, and Økonomi og Politik. Moreover, I have published a number of policy papers and reports at the Danish Institute for International Studies.
Academic Positions
Assistant Professor
2023-
Royal Danish Defence College
Strategy & War Studies
(1) Teaching: ​
- Military Strategy (MA in Military Studies), 2024-
- Military Science (MA in Military Studies), 2024-
- Russia Flex Module (MA in Military Studies), 2023-
- Academic Writing (MA in Military Studies), 2023-2024
- Denmark as a Strategic Actor (Royal Danish Military Academy), 2024
- Academic Argumentation (MA in Military Studies), 2023
- Operationalization & Case Studies (MA in Military Studies), 2023
- Strategy in the Danish Defence (Military Academy Programme), 2023
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(2) Supervision:
- 3 master’s theses in Military Studies.
- 1 student intern.
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(3) Course development:
- Applied Research in Military and International Security (PhD course), 2023-
- Military Adaptation (MA in Military Studies), 2023-
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Assistant Professor
2019-2023
Aarhus University
Political Science, Russia Studies & European Studies
(1) Teaching:
- Political Institutions in Comparative Perspective (MA seminar), 2022
- Russian Foreign Policy since 1991 (BA seminar), 2022.
- Preparation for stay in Latvia (BA seminar), 2022.
- Russia Now (BA seminar), 2022.
- International Politics (BSc lecture series), 2023, 2022, 2021 & 2020.
- Advanced Political Analysis (MSc seminar), 2021 & 2020.
- What is Foreign Policy Analysis? (BSc seminar), 2020 & 2019.
- Political Institutions (BSc seminar), 2017.
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(2) Supervision:
- 32 bachelor’s theses in Political Science.
- 4 bachelor' theses in Russian Studies
- 7 internship reports in Political Science.
- 3 master’s theses in Political Science.
- 1 master's thesis in International Studies.
- 2 individual project theses in Political Science.
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(3) Courses:
- The Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research (IQMR), Syracuse University, Syracuse, USA, 2022.
- Teacher Training Program for Assistant Professors, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark, 2020.
PhD Candidate
2015-2019
Aarhus University
Political Science
(1) Teaching:
- Advanced Foreign Policy Theory and Analysis (MSc seminar), 2017.
- International Politics (BSc seminar), 2015.
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(2) Supervision:
- 12 synopses for oral examination in Political Science.
- 4 project theses in Political Science.
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(3) Courses:
- ECPR Summer School in Methods and Techniques, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary, 2017 & 2016.
- ECPR Winter School in Methods and Techniques, Bamberg University, Bamberg, Germany, 2017 & 2016.
- Introduction to planning, presentation and teaching Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark, 2017.
Research projects
Ongoing and concluded research project
All Geopolitics is Local: Russia’s Turn to Africa and Its Implications for the UN System (2023-2024)
Concluded. Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
The Bear in the Room: Russia’s Role in the United Nations Security Council
(2022)
Concluded. Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
Cultivating the Union’s Foreign Relations: The EEAS and International Diplomacy
(2019-2023)
Concluded. Funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (Project 2).
Research Networks
InterQual
Established in 2016
The January Meeting
Established in 2022
InterQual is a cross-departmental research network for scholars situated in Denmark working with qualitative and interpretive methods in research and teaching.
The primary goal of InterQual is to advance scholars' and students' competencies in using qualitative and interpretive methods for generating and analyzing data.
The January Meeting - formerly the Standing Group on Post-Soviet States (SGRPS) - is a multidisciplinary and cross-departmental research network for scholars and practitioners doing research on a variety of topics related to the post-Soviet area.
The main aim of the annual meetings is to promote the exchange of thoughts and perspectives on various phenomenon related to the post-Soviet area cutting across institutions, disciplines, and research traditions.
Public Outreach
Public Lectures
I believe it is a key task for scholars to disseminate the research produced available to a wider audience than academia alone.
Since the begining of my doctoral studies in 2015, I have prioritized giving over 100 research-based public lectures about various topics realted to Russian and European foreign policy at various clubs, societies, and associations as well as high schools, Folkeuniversitetet (The People's University), and folk high schools.
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If you want me give a lecture, please fill out the contact form below (Bestilt et Foredrag) and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Media Appearances
I believe it is very important that scholars contribute with their research-based knowledge in the media. I frequently contribute to various Danish media outlets contribute with research-based iknowledge about different aspects of Russian and European foreign, defense, and security policy.
Since the beginning of the second Russo-Ukrainian War, in February 2022, I have given more than 130 interviews in Danish radio, TV, podcasts, and newspapers (e.g., Danmarks Radio, Jyllands-Posten, Politiken, Radio4, TV2, Zetland, BT, Avisen Danmark, Ekstrabladet, Forsvarspodcasten, Ritzaus Bureau etc.).
Are you looking for an interview? Feel free to send me an e-mail: joka@fak.dk.
Publications
Interesseret i et foredrag om russisk eller europæisk udenrigs-, forsvars- eller sikkerhedspolitik? Skriv til mig!
Foredragshonorar begynder fra 5000 DKK, og aftales endeligt ud fra dit ønske til format og deltagerantal.