Faculty of Social Sciences
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Dr. Sebastian Biba

Research Fellow at the Professorship for Political Science with the Focus on Area Studies China/East Asia

sebastian-biba

Goethe-University
Faculty 03 Social Science
Institute for Political Science

Westend Campus, PEG-building
Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 6 
Room 3 G.156 (3rd floor)
60323 Frankfurt am Main
Tel.: +49 (0)69 798-36556
Fax: +49 (0)69 798-763-36556
E-Mail: biba@soz.uni-frankfurt.de

Mailing Address:
Westend Campus
Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 6 
PEG building, Post box 17
60629 Frankfurt am Main

Dr. Biba's office hours will be held on Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the summer semester 2022 and digitally via Vidyo until further notice. Please make an appointment via Doodle by following the link: Doodle Office Hours. There you will also find more information on how to prepare for the office hours.

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VITA | RESEARCH | TEACHING | PUBLICATIONS | TALKS | MEDIA APPEARANCES 


VITA

Jan 2021 -Fellow at Johanna Quandt Young Academy, Goethe-University Frankfurt    

Sept 2020 - June 2021DAAD Fellow for “The United States, Europe, and World Order Program" at Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

Jan 2020 - March 2021Visiting scholar at German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Institute of Asian Studies

Jun 2016 -   Aug 2016Visiting fellow at Peking University, School of International Studies

Okt 2014PhD thesis defense at University of Frankfurt, Institute for Political Science (Dissertation title: From Securitization Moves to Positive Outcomes: The Case of the Spring 2010 Mekong Crisis)

Okt 2012 –PhD thesis defense at University of Frankfurt, Institute for Political Science (Dissertation title: From Securitization Moves to Positive Outcomes: The Case of the Spring 2010 Mekong Crisis)

July 2009MA Chinese Studies, Politics, and Legal Sciences, Goethe-University Frankfurt

Aug 2008BA Chinese Studies, University of Vienna


RESEARCH

Chinese foreign policy (esp. river politics), Europe-U.S.-China relations, international relations in Asia, regionalism and regional order in East Asia, global governance

TEACHING

Summer Term 2021
Wasser in den Internationalen Beziehungen

Summer Term 2020
Krisen, Konflikte und Kooperationen in Ostasien
Wasser in den Internationalen Beziehungen

Winter Term 2019/20
Regionalismus in Ostasien
Water in China's Domestic Politics and International Relations

Summer Term 2019
China und die USA
Wasser in den Internationalen Beziehungen

Winter Term 2018/19
Chinesische Außenpolitik
Water in China's Domestic Politics and International Relations

Summer Term 2018
Wasser in den Internationalen Beziehungen

Winter Term 2017/18
Klassiker der Internationalen Beziehungen
Chinesische Außenpolitik
Krisen, Konflikte und Kooperation in Ostasien

Summer Term 2017
Regionalismus in Ostasien
Wasser in den internationalen Beziehungen Asiens und anderer Weltregionen

Winter Term 2016/17
Theoretical Perspectives on Current Topics in East Asian International Relations
Chinesische Außenpolitik

Summer Term 2016
EU(ropa)-China-Beziehungen
Regionalismus in Ostasien

Winter Term 2015/16
Einführung in die chinesische Außenpolitik
Evaluation of the seminar

Non-traditional Security Threats in East Asia
Evaluation of the seminar

Summer Term 2015
Krisen, Konflikte und Kooperationen in Ostasien
Evaluation of the seminar

Theoretical Perspectives on Current Topics in East Asian International Relations
Evaluation of the seminar

Winter Term 2014/15
Einführung in die chinesische Außenpolitik
Evaluation ot the seminar

Regionalismus in Ostasien
Evaluation of the seminar

Summer Term 2014
Theoretical Perspectives on Current Topics in East Asian International Relations 
Evaluation of the seminar

Krisen, Konflikte und Kooperationen in Ostasien 
Evaluation of the seminar

Winter Term 13/14
The Emergence and Evolution of Multilateralism in China's Foreign Policy Since the 1990s 
Evaluation of the seminar

Summer Term 2013
Krisen, Konflikte und Kooperationen in Ostasien (Crises, Conflicts and Cooperation in East Asia) 
Evaluation of the seminar

Winter Term 2012/13
The Emergence and Evolution of Multilateralism in China's Foreign Policy Since the 1990s  
Evaluation of the seminar

PUBLICATIONS

Monographs and Editions

2021: Europe in an Era of Growing Sino-American Competition: Coping
with an Unstable Triangle, London and New York: Routledge (ed.
together with Reinhard Wolf).
2018: China's Hydro-politics in the Mekong: Conflict and Cooperation in Light of Securitization Theory, London and New York: Routledge.
2016: “Non-traditional Security in Sino-Indian Relations", Journal of Current Chinese Affairs (Special Issue), 45: 3 (Editor of Special Issue). https://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/jcca/issue/view/145.
2016: “Eclipsed by Clashing Titans? Europe and the Risks of US-Chinese Confrontation", European Foreign Affairs Review, 21:3/1 (Special Issue) (with Markus Liegl und Reinhard Wolf),1-133. https://kluwerlawonline.com/journalissue/European+Foreign+Affairs+Review/21.3/19293.

Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals

Forthcoming:  "Germany's Relations with the United States and China from a Strategic Triangle Perspective", International Affairs (SSCI).  
2020: “Ganging Up on Trump? Sino-German Relations and the Problem with Soft Balancing against the USA, Journal of Chinese Political Science (SSCI), 25:4, 531-50, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-020-09669-5.
2018: "China's 'Old' and 'New' Mekong River Politics: The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation from a Comparative Benefit-sharing Perspective", Water International (accepted for publication). https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2018.1474610
2016: “It's Status, Stupid: Explaining the Underlying Core Problem in US-China Relations", Global Affairs, 2:5, 455-464, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23340460.2016.1276077.
2016: “Global Governance in the Era of Growing US-China Rivalry: What Options Exist for Europe?", European Foreign Affairs Review, 21:3/1 (October), 47-64. http://www.kluwerlawonline.com/abstract.php?area=Journals&id=EERR2016033.
2016: “From Securitization Moves to Positive Outcomes: The Case of the 2010 Mekong Crisis", Security Dialogue (SSCI), 47:5 (October), 420-39. http://sdi.sagepub.com/content/47/5/420.abstract.
2016: “The Goals and Reality of the Water-Food-Energy Security Nexus: The Case of China and Its Southern Neighbours", Third World Quarterly (SSCI), 37:1 (January), 51-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2015.1086634.
2014: “Desecuritization in China's Behavior Towards Its Transboundary Rivers: the Mekong River, the Brahmaputra River, and the Irtysh and Ili Rivers", Journal of Contemporary China (SSCI), 23:85 (January), 21-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2013.809975.
2012: “China's Continuous Dam-building on the Mekong River", Journal of Contemporary Asia (SSCI), 42:4 (November), 603-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00472336.2012.712257.

Additional Publications in Scholarly Journals and Editions

2021: "Introduction", in Sebastian Biba und Reinhard Wolf (Hrsg.), Europe in an Era of Growing Sino-American Competition: Coping with an Unstable Triangle, London and New York: Routledge, 1-20.
2021: "Sustaining the European Project in an Era of Sino-American Confrontation: An End to Complacency", in Sebastian Biba und Reinhard Wolf (Hrsg.), Europe in an Era of Growing Sino-American Competition: Coping with an Unstable Triangle, London and New York: Routledge, 191-209.
2021: "China's Hydro-Hegemony in the Mekong Region: Room for Improvement", in Jean-François Rousseau und Sabrina Habich-Sobiegalla (Hrsg.), The Political Economy of Hydropower in Southwest China and Beyond, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 215-34.
2020: "China's 'Old' and 'New' Mekong River Politics: The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation from a Comparative Benefit-sharing Perspective", in Selina Ho (Hrsg.), A River Flows Through It: A Comparative Study of Transboundary Water Disputes and Cooperation in Asia, London and New York: Routledge, 47-56.
2020: “China-India River Conflicts: Towards a Solution through Launching a Cooperation Spiral", in Kanti Bajpai, Manjari Chatterjee Miller und Selina Ho (Hrsg.), Routledge Handbook on China-India Relations, London and New York: Routledge, 209-24.
2016: “New Concerns, More Cooperation?: How Non-traditional Security Issues Affect Sino-Indian Relations", Journal of Current Chinese Affairs (Special Issue), 45: 3, 3-30. https://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/jcca/article/view/995/1002.
2016: “Introduction: Perils of US-China Confrontation – Implications for Europe", European Foreign Affairs Review, 21: 3/1 (October), (with Reinhard Wolf and Markus Liegl), 1-10, http://www.kluwerlawonline.com/abstract.php?area=Journals&id=EERR2016030.
2012: “Book Review: When a Billion Chinese Jump", IDAS Asia-Pacific Newsletter, 4:2 (April), 49.
2012: “Economic Integration in East Asia and the Role of the State", IDAS Asia-Pacific Newsletter, 4:2 (April), 35-36.
2009: “In Case of Peaceful Unification...", IDAS Asia-Pacific Newsletter, 1:3 (November/ December), 15-16.

Contributions Online

2021: "Charting Its Own, Nuanced Course on China Is in Europe's Interest", Internationale Politik Quarterly, 27 May, https://ip-quarterly.com/en/charting-its-own-nuanced-course-china-europes-interest.
2019: "China's Hegemonic Choice in the Mekong Region", East Asia Forum, 30 August, https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2019/08/30/chinas-hegemonic-choice-in-the-mekong-region/.
2017: "North Korea Conflict: It's All about Security Interests" (in German), Zeit Online, 23 September, http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2017-09/nordkorea-konflikt-china-usa-suedkorea.
2017: “China in the G20: A Narrow Corridor for Sino–European Cooperation" (with Heike Holbig) in: GIGA Focus,  Asia, Number 02,  May 2017, ISSN 1862-359X; https://www.giga-hamburg.de/en/publication/china-in-the-G20
2016: “China Drives Water Cooperation with Mekong Countries", China Dialogue (1 February), https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/8577-China-drives-water-cooperation-with-Mekong-countries.
2014: “China Cooperates with Central Asia over Shared Rivers", China Dialogue (24 February), https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/6741-China-cooperates-with-Central-Asia-over-shared-rivers-.
2010: “U.S.-China Relations after Obama's Asian Trip", Research Paper, MacArthur Center for Security Studies in Taipei, Taiwan, (10 February)
2009: “Zwischen Bilateralismuns und Multilateralismus: Die Zentralasienpolitik der Volksrepublik China" [Between Bilateralism and Multilateralism: The Central Asia Policy of the People's Republic of China], Master Thesis, University Publications, University of Frankfurt; http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/volltexte/2009/6803/.

TALKS

Talks at Academic Conferences, Seminars, Workshops (selection of the last years)

2021/09: "The European Union in a New Game of Great Power Competition – Lessons from the Strategic Triangle Approach", European International Studies Association, 14th Pan-European Conference on International Relations, 13.-17. September, online.
2021/09: "Contending Water Infrastructures in the Mekong River Basin", European International Studies Association, 14th Pan-European Conference on International Relations, 13.-17. September, online.
2021/04: The Rightly Recalcitrant Pivot: Germany's Relations with the USA and China from the Perspective of the Strategic Triangle Approach", International Studies Association (ISA), 62nd Annual Convention, 6.-9. April, online.
2020/10: "Responsibilization: A New Framework for Analyzing Transnational Responsibilities", Deutsche Vereinigung für Politikwissenschaft, IB-Sektionskonferenz, 7.-9. Oktober, online.
2020/07: China's Hegemonic Test in the Mekong River Region: Achievements and Pitfalls", International Political Science Association (IPSA), 26th World Congress, 25.-29. Juli, Lisbon, Portugal. (postponed to 2021; participation cancelled)
2020/03: "Under What Conditions Do States Fulfill Transnational Responsibilities?: A New Approach through the Prism of 'Responsibilization'", International Studies Association (ISA), 61th Annual Convention, 25.-28. März, Honolulu, USA. (cancelled)
2020/03: "Ganging Up on Trump? Sino-German Relations and the Problem with Soft Balancing against the US", International Studies Association (ISA), 61th Annual Convention, 25.-28. März, Honolulu, USA. (cancelled)
2018/04: "Germany and China under Trump: The New 'Dream Team' in International Relations?", International Studies Association, 59th Annual Convention, 4-7 April, San Francisco, USA.
2018/04: "China's New River Politics: The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation", International Studies Association, 59th Annual Convention, 4-7 April, San Francisco, USA.
2017/04: “The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC): A New Era in China's International Hydro-politics?", World International Studies Committee (WISC), 5th Global International Studies Conference, 1-3 April, Taipeh, Taiwan.
2017/04: “Germany-China Relations: Reaching a Tipping Point?", World International Studies Committee (WISC), 5th Global International Studies Conference, 1-3 April, Taipei, Taiwan.

Talks upon invitation (selection) 

2021/07: "China's Hydro-politics in the Mekong and Its Impact on Water Security", Think Next, Act Next – The Next Gen EU-ASEAN Think Tank Dialogue (EANGAGE) 2021-2022, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, 7. Juli, online.
2021/04: "Europe in an Era of Growing Sino-American Competition", Buchvorstellung, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, 29. April, online.
2017/04: “The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism: Potentials and Pitfalls", Talks at the Graduate School of International Studies, Korea University, 12 April and at the Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University, 13 April, Seoul, South Korea.
2016/06: “Global Governance in an Era of US-China Rivalry: What Options for EUrope?", Talk at the Rotary Club Beijing, 21 June, Beijing, China.
2015/03: “Understanding China's International Hydro-politics and Its Impacts", talk at the event “Water Management and Supply: The Biggest Threat to China and Asia's Security?", Madariaga – College of Europe Foundation, 19 March, Brussels, Belgium.
2013/03: “The Myth of Leverage?: China and the North Korean Nuclear Problem" (in German), talk at the preparatory seminar for a study tour to North Korea, South Korea and China, organized by the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt and Encounter Korea from 2-14 April, 11-12 March, Frankfurt, Germany.
2012/12: “Conducting Field Research in Southeast Asia: An Experiential Report", talk at the International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific Studies at National Chengchi University, 7 December, Taipei, Taiwan.
2012/06: “China's Water Scarcities Between National and Regional Priorities" (in German), talk at the Confucius Institute Frankfurt, 28 June, Frankfurt, Germany.

MEDIA APPEARANCES

2020/12: Cited in “Satellites to track Chinese dams on Mekong river, as US likens 'threat' facing Southeast Asia to South China Sea", South China Morning Post, 16 Dezember, https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3114206/us-satellites-track-chinese-dams-mekong-river-it-likens-threat.
2020/08: Cited in “The Next US-China Battleground: Chinese Dams on the Mekong River?", South China Morning Post, 3. August, https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3095581/next-us-china-battleground-chinese-dams-mekong-river.
2017/06: “US president Trump and his foreign affairs and security policy" (in German), interview in radio broadcast “Aus Kultur und Sozialwissenschaften", DLF (Deutschlandfunk)
2016/04: “China's New Role: Demand and Promote" (in German), expert interview for ZDF heute.de and 3SAT Makro, 7 April.
2014/11: “The APEC Summit in Beijing" (in German), expert interview in radio broadcast “Der Mittag", Domradio Köln, November 12.
2013/06: “China's Vassals" (in German), expert interview in live TV show “Makro," 3Sat, 7 June.