Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, ETH Zurich, Haldeneggsteig 4, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland. marius.ghincea@eup.gess.ethz.ch · ORCID 0000-0001-8061-6769
Academic positionsEducationPublicationsPublic commentaryFellowships, grants and awardsInvited talks and lecturesConference presentationsWorkshops organisedTeachingService to societyAcademic serviceLanguages and methods
Academic positions
Sept 2024–present
Postdoctoral Researcher, European Politics (Prof. Frank Schimmelfennig), ETH Zurich
Feb–June 2026
External Lecturer, Department of Political Science, University of Lucerne
Sept 2024–June 2026
Visiting Fellow, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute
Jan 2023–May 2024
External Lecturer, Syracuse University, Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Program in Florence
Sept 2022–Aug 2023
Research Fellow, Centre for International Security, Hertie School, Berlin
Education
2024
PhD, Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute
Jury: Jeffrey T. Checkel (supervisor), Stephanie Hofmann, Elizabeth Saunders, Wolfgang Wagner.
2020
MRes, Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute
Coursework at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, George Washington University, as a Fulbright Scholar (2018–2019).
2018
MA, International Relations (with distinction), Central European University
2016
BA, Political Science (valedictorian), University of Bucharest
Publications
Books
- Ghincea, M.*, Invernizzi, A., Nasr, M. & Schimmelfennig, F. (2027). The European Union and the Russia–Ukraine Crisis. Cambridge Elements in European Politics. Cambridge University Press. Forthcoming.
- Freudlsperger, C., Ghincea, M., Invernizzi, A., Nasr, M. & Schimmelfennig, F. (in preparation). The European Union in Crisis. Monograph in preparation for Oxford University Press.
Peer-reviewed articles
- Ghincea, M. (2026). Steering or Building? How Crisis Type Shapes Organizational Change in the EU. West European Politics. Online first.
- Ghincea, M. (2026). Crisis Windows and Reversible Empowerment in the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. Journal of European Public Policy. Online first.
- Ghincea, M.* & Pleșca, L. (2025). From transformation to demarcation: explaining the EU’s shifting motivations of the enlargement policy. Journal of European Public Policy 32(12): 2999–3033.
- Ghincea, M. (2025). Shrouded in Secrecy: Explaining Why Some Countries Refuse to Disclose Their Military Aid to Ukraine. Foreign Policy Analysis 21(2): oraf002.
Book chapters
- Ghincea, M. & Pleșca, L. (2026). Ukraine. In B. C. H. Fong (Ed.), The Palgrave Geopolitical Atlas: State and Quasi-States in Great Power Competition. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Ghincea, M. (2025). Economia politică a relațiilor civil–intelligence sub președinția Iohannis [The political economy of civil–intelligence relations under the Iohannis presidency]. In M. Bâlici, A. Bîrnoiu, V. Lazăr, C. Rădoi & V. Stan (Eds.), Epoca Klaus Iohannis? România între 2014 și 2025. Editura Tact.
- Ghincea, M. (2025). Între Deal și Aleea Alexandru: Politica externă românească în epoca Iohannis [Between the Hill and Aleea Alexandru: Romanian foreign policy in the Iohannis era]. In M. Bâlici, A. Bîrnoiu, V. Lazăr, C. Rădoi & V. Stan (Eds.), Epoca Klaus Iohannis? România între 2014 și 2025. Editura Tact.
- Ghincea, M.* & Zulean, M. (2024). Protracted Transition: Civilian Control over the Military and Intelligence in Romania. In L. Stan & D. Vancea (Eds.), Post-Communist Progress and Stagnation at 35: The Case of Romania. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Ghincea, M. (2022). The Russo-Ukrainian War and Great Power Competition. In V. Năumescu (Ed.), Great Powers’ Foreign Policy: Approaching the Global Competition and the Russian War against the West. Brill.
Working papers
- Ghincea, M. & Minatti, W. Domestic Politics and Military Aid to Ukraine: Explaining Transparency Policies in France and Germany. Revise and resubmit, International Studies Quarterly.
- Ghincea, M. A Game Changer or Just Another Crisis? A Bayesian Assessment of the EU’s Political Development After the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Revise and resubmit, European Union Politics.
- Freudlsperger, C. & Ghincea, M. Economic Deterrence and the Design of Anti-Coercion Instruments. Under review.
- Ghincea, M. & Schimmelfennig, F. Divided over What? Crisis Types and Intergovernmental Conflict in the European Union. Working paper.
Policy papers and reports
- Ghincea, M. & Chiscop, C. (Eds.) (2025). Mai multă vizibilitate. Politica externă românească în context european și global [More visibility: Romanian foreign policy in a European and global context]. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Bucharest.
- Butnaru-Troncotă, M., Ghincea, M., Bărăgănescu, C. & Răuță, R.-V. (2025). The (Geo)politics of EU Enlargement: Romanian Perspectives on the Western Balkans. Tritonic. ISBN 978-606-749-777-9.
- Ghincea, M. (2025). Making waves: Romania is determined to reshape the Black Sea’s security architecture. International Politics & Society. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
- Butnaru-Troncotă, M., Ghincea, M., Răuță, R.-V. & Bărăgănescu, C. (2024). The European Integration Process in the Western Balkans: Romanian Perspectives and Directions. European Institute of Romania.
- Ghincea, M. & Inayeh, A. (2024). Security Cooperation in the Wider Black Sea Region. Policy paper, Global Focus Center.
- Ghincea, M. (2021). Zeitenwende: Time for a Reassessment of Romania’s Foreign Policy? Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
- Ghincea, M., Volintiru, C. & Nikolovski, I. (2021). Who Summons the Dragon? China’s Demand-Driven Influence in Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. Global Focus Center.
Book reviews
- Ghincea, M. (2025). Review of Crises of European Integration: Joining Together or Falling Apart?, by Lucas Schramm. Swiss Political Science Review 31(2): 367–369.
- Ghincea, M. (2022). Review of Greatness and Decline: National Identity and British Foreign Policy, by Srdjan Vucetic. Cambridge Review of International Affairs 35(6): 936–938.
* lead author
Public commentary (selection)
2026
“Dismantling Transnistria’s Self-Declared Statehood: Structural Decay as Strategic Opportunity.” With Laurențiu Pleșca. Small Wars Journal, 17 July 2026.
2026
“La Romania, l’Unione Europea e la NATO.” Il Veltro. Rivista della Civiltà Italiana, 1–4/2026.
2026
“Romania’s Deterrence Problem Is Bigger Than One Drone.” Review of Democracy, CEU Democracy Institute, 4 June 2026.
2025
“Enlargement reimagined: the shifting logics behind the EU’s expansion.” With Laurențiu Pleșca. The Loop (ECPR), 15 July 2025.
2024
“What role can Romania play in facilitating Western Balkan integration?” With Miruna Butnaru-Troncotă. New Eastern Europe 1–2/2024, 7 February 2024.
2022
“Power competition will bring new opportunities – and crises – for small powers.” The Loop (ECPR), 7 November 2022.
2021
“Moldova’s president now has a legislative majority to push through her anti-corruption agenda.” The Washington Post (Monkey Cage), 15 July 2021.
2020
“Moldova’s new president is likely to seek closer ties with Europe. Russia won’t be pleased.” The Washington Post (Monkey Cage), 23 November 2020.
Fellowships, grants and awards
2026
Policy Research Grant, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (€10,000)
2026
Workshop Grant, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (€2,000)
2025
Workshop Grant, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (€3,000)
2023
Re:Constitution Fellowship, Forum Transregionale Studien (€15,000)
2021
Dahrendorf Fellowship, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford
2020
Early Career Researcher Grant, European University Institute (€2,500)
2019–2024
Doctoral Grant, European University Institute
2019
Research Assistantship, George Washington University ($7,000)
2018
Fulbright Scholarship, Romanian–U.S. Fulbright Commission ($70,000)
2018
Global Leaders Fellowship, George Washington University ($20,000)
2017
Master’s Excellence Scholarship, Central European University (€20,000)
2016
Master’s Scholarship, Central European University (€18,000)
2014
Erasmus Study Grant, University of Bucharest (€3,000)
Invited talks and lectures
Oct 2026
“External Coercion and European Polity-Building.” KU Leuven, Leuven
June 2025
“Maritime Connectivity, Cooperation, and Security in the Black Sea.” Burgas Connectivity Forum, Burgas
Feb 2025
“Shaping a Sustainable Security Architecture for Europe.” British American Security Information Council workshop, Istanbul
Jan 2025
“Great Power Competition and European Integration.” Zürichberg Colloquium, Zurich
Nov 2024
“The European Security Architecture and the U.S. Elections.” Rethink Romania Summit, Brașov
July 2023
“Black Sea Security and the Russo-Ukrainian War: A Policy Agenda.” Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Bulgaria
June 2022
“Security Policy and Theory in the 21st Century.” Romanian Diplomatic Institute
Conference presentations
APSA
2019, 2024, 2025, 2026
ECPR Joint Sessions
2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
ECPR General Conference
2021, 2023, 2026
EISS
2022, 2024, 2026
Other
EWIS 2023; EISA 2024; ISA–CEEISA 2024; EPSA 2025; SPSA 2026; CES 2026; SGEU 2026
Workshops organised
May 2026
“The ‘New’ Domestic Politics of Romanian Foreign and Security Policy.” With Sorina Soare and Laurențiu Pleșca, University of Bucharest
Teaching
ETH Zurich
Methods I: Research Design, Qualitative Methods, and Data Collection (graduate, co-taught), Fall 2025 and 2026
ETH Zurich
Contemporary European Politics (undergraduate, co-taught), Spring 2025 and 2026
Lucerne
European Security and Great Power Competition (graduate), Spring 2026
Syracuse Florence
NATO in Crisis: The Ukraine War (undergraduate), Spring and Fall 2023, Spring 2024
Teaching assistant
Introduction to Theories of International Relations (graduate, Prof. Nina Hall), Johns Hopkins SAIS Bologna, Winter 2020, Winter 2021, Fall 2022
Teaching assistant
Policies and Processes of Transnational Governance (graduate, Prof. Diane Stone), EUI School of Transnational Governance, Fall 2022
Teaching assistant
Markets and Politics (undergraduate, Prof. Ernie Englander), George Washington University School of Business, Winter 2019
Service to society
Feb 2026–present
Member, Strategic Reflection Group for European Affairs, Presidential Administration of Romania
Aug 2025–present
Member, Advisory Board of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2025
Member, Working Group on the National Security Strategy of Romania, convened by the President of Romania
Member, ‘Club Europa’ Expert Network, European Commission
Co-founder, Quartet Institute, Bucharest
Academic service
Nov 2025–present
Member, Academic Advisory Board, EU Security Initiative, European University Institute
Sept 2025–Feb 2026
Member, Hiring Committee for Assistant and Full Professor in History of Technology and Philosophy of Science, ETH Zurich
Sept 2023–present
Member, Editorial Board, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Journal
2021–2024
Convener, International Relations Working Group, European University Institute
2020–2024
Founder and convener, Talk Series on International Politics, European University Institute
Reviewer
Bloomsbury, Contexto Internacional, European Union Politics, Government and Opposition, JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, Journal of European Integration, Journal of European Public Policy, Nationalities Papers, New Perspectives, SAGE Open
Grant reviewer
Czech Research Foundation; Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Methods
Research design
Process tracing, qualitative Bayesian reasoning (Fairfield and Charman), (cross-)case study research, congruence analysis, multi-method triangulation
Measurement
Hand-coded and dictionary-based content analysis; original event datasets with codebooks and robustness checks
Fieldwork
Elite interviews with EU and national officials (more than 50)
Software
R, AQDA, NVivo
References available on request.