On May 23, I participated in a book workshop organized by Paul van Hooft (RAND Europe) to discuss his ongoing project that addresses the strategic legacies of World War II for the United States and several Western European countries. Other workshop participants included Linde Desmaele (Leiden University), Peter J. Dombrowski (U.S. Naval War College), Annette Freyberg-Inan (University of Amsterdam), William D. James (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), and Brian Rathbun (Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto). Thanks to Paul van Hooft for setting this up and to all participants for the engaged discussions!
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Book Workshop on Legacies of World War II
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Paper Presented at the EUIA Conference in Brussels
On May 21, I took part in the 9th European Union in International Affairs (EUIA) Conference in Brussels. Wolfgang Wagner and I presented our paper “Pacifism, Isolationism or Anti-Americanism? Explaining Public Opposition to Supporting Ukraine against Russia’s War of Aggression” as part of the panel “The Ukraine effect in European security and defence: lessons after three years of war”, organized and chaired by Yf Reykers (Maastricht University), who also served as our discussant. The panel further included contributions from Michelle Haas (Ghent University), Jocelyn Mawdsley (Newcastle University), and Elie Perot (Brussels School of Governance). Thanks to Yf Reykers for the constructive discussant points and to the audience for the superbly well-attended panel.
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Register for Exploring Causal Complexity with Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), Lugano Summer School 2025
The program for the 29th Summer School in Social Science Methods at the Università della Svizzera italiana in Lugano, Switzerland has been announced: I’m offering Exploring Causal Complexity with Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) during the week of August 11-15, 2025. For impressions from previous years, see here. For more information, also on registration, please see the USI Summer School Website. If you have any questions about the course, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
From the course description: Social phenomena rarely have straightforward, single-cause explanations. Instead, outcomes often emerge through intricate combinations of factors, where multiple pathways lead to similar results, and different explanations may be required for success and failure. This interplay of conjunctural causation, equifinality, and causal asymmetry represents the essence of causal complexity – a concept at the heart of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). Rooted in set theory and the logic of necessary and sufficient conditions, QCA offers a structured approach to understanding these complexities.
This workshop provides participants with a comprehensive introduction to QCA, emphasizing research design and empirical application. Participants will follow an ideal-typical research process, starting with empirical illustrations of how and why QCA is used in the social sciences. These foundational sessions explore key principles, such as set theory, Boolean algebra, and the calibration of crisp and fuzzy sets, while guiding participants through the protocol for identifying patterns of causal complexity using truth tables and Boolean minimization.
The course progresses step by step, from study design to the interpretation of results, incorporating hands-on exercises with real-world examples. Advanced topics – including multi-method research, robustness tests, and recent developments in QCA – are tailored to participants’ needs and research interests. Opportunities to present individual projects and explore potential applications further enhance the workshop.
Designed to be inclusive, the workshop welcomes participants at all levels – from PhD students to senior researchers – and strikes a balance between theory, practical exercises, and individualized support. A strong emphasis on collaboration and dialogue ensures ample time for consultation, group discussions, and networking. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to apply QCA effectively, providing a robust framework for addressing causal complexity in comparative social science research.