My name is Jonas Gejl Kaas and I am an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Strategy and War Studies at the Royal Danish Defence College (RDDC). Before coming to the RDDC, I was an Assistant Professor at Aarhus University’s Department of Political Science.
My teaching, research, and government services are focused on topics related to Russian and EU defense and security. Moreover, I have a keen interest in Social Science methods and methodologies.
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.
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:
- Master’s theses in Military Studies.
- Student interns.
- PhD applicants
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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:
- Bachelor’s theses in Political Science.
- Bachelor' theses in Russian Studies
- Internship reports in Political Science.
- Master’s theses in Political Science.
- Master's thesis in International Studies.
- Individual project theses in Political Science.
​
(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:
- Synopses in Political Science.
- 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 Danish scholars working with qualitative and interpretive methods in research and teaching.
InterQual's primary goal is to advance the competencies of scholars and students in using these methods to generate and analyze data.
The January Meeting, formerly known as the Standing Group on Post-Soviet States (SGRPS), is a multidisciplinary, cross-departmental research network for scholars and practitioners studying various topics related to the post-Soviet region.
The main aim of the annual meetings is to promote the exchange of thoughts and perspectives on various phenomena related to the post-Soviet area, transcending institutions, disciplines, and research traditions.
Dissemination
Public Lectures
I believe it is a key task for scholars to make their research available to a wider audience beyond academia.
Since beginning my doctoral studies in 2015, I have prioritized delivering over 115 public lectures on various topics related to Russian and European foreign policy.
I have presented these lectures at clubs, societies, and associations, as well as at high schools, Folkeuniversitetet (The People's University), and folk high schools.
Media Appearances
I believe it is important for scholars to contribute their research-based knowledge to the media. I frequently contribute research-based knowledge about different aspects of Russian and European foreign, defense, and security policy to various Danish media outlets.
I have given more than 140 original interviews on Danish radio, TV, podcasts, and in newspapers (e.g., DR, Jyllands-Posten, Politiken, Radio4, TV2, Zetland, BT, Avisen Danmark, Ekstrabladet, Forsvarspodcasten, Weekendavisen, and Ritzau Bureau).
Publications
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