Research British Political Scientist and Asia Specialist Pursues Research at Universität Heidelberg
13 August 2025
Brendan M. Howe is a visiting scholar at the Institute for Political Science – funding by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
British political scientist and Asia specialist Prof. Dr Brendan M. Howe has been invited to do research at Heidelberg University with funding by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. From mid-August he will conduct his research for twelve months at the Institute for Political Science. His host is Prof. Dr Aurel Croissant. Together with their teams, Prof. Howe, who teaches and researches at Ewha Womans University in Seoul (South Korea), and Prof. Croissant will explore the development of middle powers, as well as questions of peace and conflict in Asia. Prof. Howe has received the Humboldt Research Award to finance his research leave.
“Brendan Howe’s important role in political science associations in Korea and Asia makes him extremely suited to mediating between the research communities,” Prof. Croissant underlines. “We expect substantial, novel contributions to social science research in the fields of governance and human security in Asia.” The time as visiting scholar is also intended to contribute to strengthening the connections between social science research on Asia in Germany and the respective research communities in Asia. “After years in a leading position in university administration I’m looking forward to focusing on my research projects while enjoying the support and encouragement of an academic center of excellence,” Prof. Howe says.
Brendan M. Howe is a leading scholar worldwide on the theory and practice of Asian governance, peace-building and regional security. His main research interests lie in the fields of peace, development, human rights and democratic governance. He was the first non-Korean to receive a professorship at a Korean university and was appointed dean. He serves as an advisor to the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consultant to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Humboldt Research Award is financed by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and the Federal Foreign Office, and is granted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. It recognizes outstanding research achievements by internationally renowned scholars from abroad. The funding that comes with the award is meant to enable them to conduct their chosen research projects at an academic institution in Germany in collaboration with the specialist colleagues there.