CEPEL

Laurent BORZILLO

Career History

  • 2021: Qualified as an associate professor of political science.
  • March 2021: Researcher at the CNRS; postdoctoral fellow (DGRIS Ambassador Program,Ministry of the Armed Forces) at CEPEL, University of Montpellier; researcher on secondment to UQAM (Faculty of Law and Political Science) and the RAS (Strategic Analysis Network).
  • Jan. 2019–Feb. 2021: Assistant Professor, University of Montpellier (Jan. 2019–June 2019; Jan. 2020–June 2020; Sept. 2020–Feb. 2021).
  • 2015 (spring): parliamentary assistant in the Bundestag.
  • Fall 2012: Research Officer, Strategic Affairs Directorate, French Ministry of Defense.
  • 2012: Student at Ihedn.

Degrees

  • 2020: PhD in Political Science, a joint program between the University of Montpellier and the University of Montréal.
  • 2012: Degree from Sciences Po, with a major in international relations, Sciences Po Aix.
  • 2012: Master II in Research from Sciences Po Aix, specializing in comparative military history, geostrategy, defense, and security.

Awards, Honors, and Coordination of or Participation in Research Projects

  • 2021: Thesis Award from the Defense & Aerospace Chair.
  • 2020: Special Jury Prize at the European “Civics, Security, and Defense” Award, presented by the “Civisme Défense Armées Nation” Association in collaboration with the European Interparliamentary Association for Security and Defense and with the support of Behörden Spiegel, for dissertation work conducted at the Universities of Montreal and Montpellier.
  • 2017: Writing Fellowship from Cérium (University of Montreal’s Center for International Studies and Research)
  • 2016 and 2017: Field Fellowships from the IHEDN (Institute for Higher National Defense Studies)
  • 2016 and 2017: Field Research Grants from the CCÉAE (Canadian Center for German and European Studies) at the University of Montreal (UdeM)
  • 2013: Recipient of the Frontenac Fellowship (a Franco-Quebec scholarship for joint supervision).
  • 2013: Award for the 5th-year major at the Institute of Political Studies in Aix-en-Provence.
  • 2013: Research Master’s Award (top student among all IEP research master’s programs).
  • 2013: Special Thesis Award from the Institute of Higher National Defense Studies, with a mention for the Élysée Treaty (see the 2012 thesis on the Bundeswehr).
  • 2013: 2013 Military History Prize from the Institute for Strategic Research at the École Militaire (see the 2012 thesis on the Bundeswehr).

Administrative Responsibilities, Research, and Commercialization

  • University of Montpellier(Jan. 2019–June 2019; Jan. 2020–June 2020; Sept. 2020–Feb. 2021). Courses taught: Public Policy and Governance (lecture course), General Culture (lecture course); Introduction to Political Sociology (methodology seminar).
  • Sciences Po Aix(September 2017–June 2018). Courses taught: Common Security and Defense Policy (lecture); International Relations (lecture and seminar); History of International Relations (seminar)
  • Air Force Academy, Ministry of the Armed Forces (September 2017–December 2017). Course taught: International Organizations (lecture).
  • Université du Québec à Montréal (September 2015–December 2015). Course taught: POL 4043-40: Political Systems of Western Europe (lecture course)
  • University of Montpellier (Jan. 2015–Mar. 2015). Course taught: Sociology of Public Organizations (methodology seminar).
  • University of Montreal (Sept. 2013–Apr. 2014; Sept. 2015–Dec. 2015; Jan. 2016–Apr. 2016; Jan. 2017–Apr. 2017). Courses taught: POL 2510: International Organizations (lecture course); POL 2350: European Political Systems (lecture course); POL 1600: Introduction to International Relations (teaching assistant); INT 1010: Human Ecology of Development (teaching assistant); POL 1000: Political Analysis, Theories, and Concepts (teaching assistant).

Research Areas

  • European and Transatlantic Security (TU, NATO)
  • Foreign and Defense Policy (France, Germany, Canada)
  • Theories of International Relations
  • Government Agencies and Public Policy in the Field of Defense

The most representative books or chapters of books

  • Delphine Deschaux-Dutard, “Secondary Analysis of Qualitative Data in Defense Studies: Methodological Opportunities and Challenges,” in: Delphine Deschaux-Dutard (ed.), *Research Methods in Defense Studies: A Multidisciplinary Overview*, London: Routledge, 2020.
  • The Bundeswehr: The Relevance of Reforms in the Context of Overseas Operations. Inter-National Collection, Sciences Po Series, L’Harmattan, Paris, 2014.

The Most Representative Articles

Symposia and Conferences

  • With Justin Massie, “Alliance Imperatives and Electoral Constraints: Canada, France, and the War Against Daesh,” symposium titled “Defense Policy in Canada and France in a Chaotic World,” held in Paris on November 17, 2021.
  •  “The Deployment of Multilateral European Forces: A Realistic Option or a Pipe Dream? The Case of the Franco-German Brigade,” Biennial Conference of the Association for the Study of the European Community – Canada (ECSA-C),TU : A Green, Digital, and Democratic Future?” online, September 22–26, 2021.
  • With Delphine Deschaux-Dutard, “Is a Secondary Analysis of Qualitative Data Possible in Political Science Research on Defense Issues?”, Conference “Investigating ‘Sensitive’ Fields: Methodological Tips, Positioning, and Dilemmas,” June 7–8, 2021, virtual conference organized by CERI (Sciences Po) in partnership with IRSEM and IHEDN.
  • With Dominika Kunertova, “Can I Count on You?TakingForce Readiness Seriously in the NATO-EU Cooperative Framework,” conference “The Future of EU/NATO Relations,” IRSEM and NATO Defense College, Paris, July 2, 2018.
  •  “Can France Count on Germany If It Needs to Project Force?” La Relève stratégique – “Young Researchers” Seminar, IRSEM, Paris, August 29, 2017.