Dr. Pascal Abb
Research Group Coordinator
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Senior Researcher
Dr. Pascal Abb is coordinator of the Research Group Regime Competition and Senior Researcher in the Research Department Intrastate Conflict, with a focus on China. His research centers on how a rising China engages with global conflict environments, most recently in a project on Chinese adaptation to overseas conflict risks.
Press photo
CV
| since 2023
Coordination of the Research Group Regime Competition at PRIF
| since 2020
Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)
| 2018–2020
Senior Researcher at the Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR), Vienna
| 2016
Visiting fellow at Tsinghua University, Beijing
| 2015
Visiting fellow at National Chengchi University, Taipei
| 2013–2017
Research fellow at the GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg
| 2009–2013
Research fellow and PhD candidate at the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA) and University of Hamburg, awarded PhD (Dr. phil.) degree in 2013
| 2004–2005
Scholarship for Modern Chinese studies at Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing
| 2002–2008
University studies in Political Science, Sinology and Philosophy at the University of Zurich, Switzerland
Highlights
New edited volume on Chinese “flagship project” in Pakistan released
Conference report on PRIF's international Annual Conference 2023 published
New article by Pascal Abb in the Journal of Contemporary China
Publications
- Is There a Chinese “Developmental peace”?
| 2024
Abb, Pascal (2024): Is There a Chinese “Developmental peace”?. Evidence from the Belt and Road Initiative’s Impact on Conflict States, Journal of Contemporary China, Journal of Contemporary China: Online first, 1–19. DOI: 10.1080/10670564.2024.2378043 - Road through a broken place
| 2024
Abb, Pascal; Zin Khay, Saw Kyaw; Overland, Indra; Vakulchuk, Roman (2024): Road through a broken place. the BRI in post-coup Myanmar, Pacific Review, Online first, 1–25. DOI: 10.1080/09512748.2024.2420929
Publication - With friends like these: the Sino-Russian partnership is based on interests, not ideology
| 2023
Abb, Pascal; Polianskii, Mikhail (2023): With friends like these: the Sino-Russian partnership is based on interests, not ideology, Zeitschrift für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung. DOI: 10.1007/s42597-023-00090-2 - All geopolitics is local: the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor amidst overlapping centre–periphery relations
| 2022
Abb, Pascal (2022): All geopolitics is local: the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor amidst overlapping centre–periphery relations, Third World Quarterly. DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2022.2128329 - From "Peaceful Rise" to "Peacebuilder"? How Evolving Chinese Discourses and Self-Perceptions Impact Its Growing Influence in Conflict Societies (online first)
| 2020
Abb, Pascal (2020): From "Peaceful Rise" to "Peacebuilder"? How Evolving Chinese Discourses and Self-Perceptions Impact Its Growing Influence in Conflict Societies (online first), Journal of Contemporary China.
Publication - The Korean Peace Process: A Regional Solution?
| 2019
Abb, Pascal (2019): The Korean Peace Process: A Regional Solution?, ASPR Policy Brief 1/2019.
Publication - Leaders or "Guides" of Public Opinion? The Media Role of Chinese Foreign Policy Experts
| 2019
Abb, Pascal (2019): Leaders or "Guides" of Public Opinion? The Media Role of Chinese Foreign Policy Experts, Modern China.
Publication - The Hong Kong Protests: A Hybrid Governance Failure
| 2019
Abb, Pascal (2019): The Hong Kong Protests: A Hybrid Governance Failure, ASPR Policy Brief 2/2019.
Publication - The Future of Nonproliferation
| 2018
Abb, Pascal (2018): The Future of Nonproliferation, ASPR Policy Brief 3/2018.
Publication - China’s Emergence as a Peacebuilding Actor
| 2018
Abb, Pascal (2018): China’s Emergence as a Peacebuilding Actor, ASPR Policy Brief 4/2018.
Publication - What Drives Inter-State Balancing? Estimations of Domestic and Systemic Factors
| 2018
Abb, Pascal (2018): What Drives Inter-State Balancing? Estimations of Domestic and Systemic Factors, International Politics, 55: 2, 279–296.
Publication - Understanding the Development of Think Tanks in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan
| 2018
Abb, Pascal; Köllner, Patrick; Xufeng, Zhu (2018): Understanding the Development of Think Tanks in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan, Pacific Affairs, 91: 1, 5–26.
Publication - The Impact of Democratization, Political Culture, and Diplomatic Isolation on Think Tank Development in Taiwan
| 2018
Abb, Pascal; Yang, Alan (2018): The Impact of Democratization, Political Culture, and Diplomatic Isolation on Think Tank Development in Taiwan, Pacific Affairs, 91: 1, 73–94.
Publication - The "Trump Phenomenon" in the Eyes of Chinese Experts: Promises and Challenges of a Transactional Presidency
| 2017
Abb, Pascal (2017): The "Trump Phenomenon" in the Eyes of Chinese Experts: Promises and Challenges of a Transactional Presidency, Monde Chinois, 48, 41–52. - Trump und das außenpolitische Erbe Obamas
| 2016
Abb, Pascal; Nolte, Detlef; Kappel, Robert; Fürtig, Henner (2016): Trump und das außenpolitische Erbe Obamas, GIGA Focus Global 7/2016.
Publication - A Review of Expert Voices in Chinese Media: The Case of the Diaoyu/Senkaku Dispute
| 2016
Abb, Pascal (2016): A Review of Expert Voices in Chinese Media: The Case of the Diaoyu/Senkaku Dispute, Asian Politics and Policy, 8: 2, 361–365.
Publication - Foreign Policy Think Tanks in China and Japan: Characteristics, Current Profile, and the Case of Collective Self-Defense
| 2015
Abb, Pascal; Köllner, Patrick (2015): Foreign Policy Think Tanks in China and Japan: Characteristics, Current Profile, and the Case of Collective Self-Defense, International Journal, 70: 4, 593–612.
Publication - China-Southeast Asian Relations: Global and Regional Linkages
| 2015
Abb, Pascal; Strüver, Georg (2015): China-Southeast Asian Relations: Global and Regional Linkages, Issues & Studies, 51: 4, 33–83. - China's Foreign Policy Think Tanks: Institutional Evolution and Changing Roles
| 2015
Abb, Pascal (2015): China's Foreign Policy Think Tanks: Institutional Evolution and Changing Roles, Journal of Contemporary China, 24: 93, 531–553.
Publication - Taiwan und die Transpazifische Partnerschaft: wirtschaftliche Integration oder politische Aufwertung?
| 2014
Abb, Pascal; Finkensiep, Sarah (2014): Taiwan und die Transpazifische Partnerschaft: wirtschaftliche Integration oder politische Aufwertung?, GIGA Focus Asien 1/2014.
Publication - Chinas außenpolitische Thinktanks: neue Rollen und Aktivitäten
| 2013
Abb, Pascal (2013): Chinas außenpolitische Thinktanks: neue Rollen und Aktivitäten, GIGA Focus Asien 3/2013.
Publication - Die US-Außenpolitik nach den Halbzeit-Wahlen 2010: Der Blick geht nach Innen
| 2010
Abb, Pascal (2010): Die US-Außenpolitik nach den Halbzeit-Wahlen 2010: Der Blick geht nach Innen, GIGA Focus Global 12/2010.
Publication
- The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor at Ten
| 2024
Abb, Pascal; Boni, Filippo; Karrar, Hasan (2024): The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor at Ten. Taking Stock of the Belt and Road’s “Flagship” Project, in: Abb, Pascal/Boni, Filippo/Karrar, Hasan (eds), China, Pakistan and the Belt and Road Initiative: The Experience of an Early Adopter State, London: Routledge. - The Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia: a delicate balance between external and internal security
| 2023
Abb, Pascal; Tan, Jeslyn; Phan, Hien (2023): The Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia: a delicate balance between external and internal security, in: EANGAGE edited volume (eds), Singapur: Select Books. - The Devil Is in the Detail: The Positions of BRICS Countries Towards UN Security Council Reform and the Responsibility to Protect
| 2019
Abb, Pascal; Jetschke, Anja (2019): The Devil Is in the Detail: The Positions of BRICS Countries Towards UN Security Council Reform and the Responsibility to Protect, in: Stephen, Matthew D./Zürn, Michael (eds), Contested World Orders: Rising Powers, Non-Governmental Organizations, and the Politics of Authority Beyond the Nation-State, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 167–201. - Punish the Philippines, Forgive Vietnam? The South China Sea Disputes in the Eyes of Chinese Experts
| 2016
Abb, Pascal (2016): Punish the Philippines, Forgive Vietnam? The South China Sea Disputes in the Eyes of Chinese Experts, in: Fels, Enrico/Truong, Minh Huy Vu (eds), Power Politics in Asia’s Contested Waters. Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea, Berlin: Springer, 139–157.
- China, Pakistan and the Belt and Road Initiative. The Experience of an Early Adopter State
| 2024
Abb, Pascal; Boni, Filippo; Karrar, Hasan (2024): China, Pakistan and the Belt and Road Initiative. The Experience of an Early Adopter State, London: Routledge.
Publication - China's Foreign Policy Think Tanks: Explaining Institutional Developments and Shifting Roles
| 2014
Abb, Pascal (2014): China's Foreign Policy Think Tanks: Explaining Institutional Developments and Shifting Roles.
Publication
- Going over the Guardrails? China Policy in the 2024 US Election
| 2024
Abb, Pascal (2024): Going over the Guardrails? China Policy in the 2024 US Election, PRIF Blog.
Publication - Do regime differences shape developmental engagement? How China and Japan compete in post-coup Myanmar
| 2023
Abb, Pascal; Yennie Lindgren, Wrenn (2023): Do regime differences shape developmental engagement? How China and Japan compete in post-coup Myanmar, PRIF Blog.
Publication - International Conference Dealing with Autocracies in a Fragmented World Conference Report
| 2023
Abb, Pascal; Weipert-Fenner, Irene; Wolff, Jonas; Driedger, Jonas J. (2023): International Conference Dealing with Autocracies in a Fragmented World Conference Report, PRIF Conference Report, Frankfurt a/M. - An Audible Silence. The Role of Autocracy and Democracy in Germany’s National Security Strategy
| 2023
Abb, Pascal; Pfeifer, Hanna; Weipert-Fenner, Irene; Wolff, Jonas (2023): An Audible Silence. The Role of Autocracy and Democracy in Germany’s National Security Strategy, EDP Wire.
Publication - Germany’s New China Strategy: A Defensive Shift
| 2023
Abb, Pascal (2023): Germany’s New China Strategy: A Defensive Shift, PRIF Blog.
Publication - Nicht darüber reden ist auch keine Lösung: Die Rolle von Autokratie und Demokratie in der Nationalen Sicherheitsstrategie
| 2023
Abb, Pascal; Pfeifer, Hanna; Weipert-Fenner, Irene; Wolff, Jonas (2023): Nicht darüber reden ist auch keine Lösung: Die Rolle von Autokratie und Demokratie in der Nationalen Sicherheitsstrategie, PRIF BLOG.
Publication - Institutionelle Friedenssicherung: Handel und Frieden: Wie viel Entflechtung verträgt der Frieden?
| 2023
Abb, Pascal; Deitelhoff, Nicole; Kroll, Stefan; Peez, Anton; Schreiber, Franziska; Wolff, Jonas (2023): Institutionelle Friedenssicherung: Handel und Frieden: Wie viel Entflechtung verträgt der Frieden?, in: onn International Center for Conversion (BICC)/Leibniz-Institut Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (HSFK)/Institut für Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik an der Universität Hamburg (IFSH)/Institut für Entwicklung und Frieden (INEF) (eds), Friedensgutachten 2023, Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, 103-121.
Publication - Xi and Putin’s Strategic Tango: Unpacking the Complexities of Russia-China Relations After the 2023 Moscow Summit
| 2023
Abb, Pascal; Polianskii, Mikhail (2023): Xi and Putin’s Strategic Tango: Unpacking the Complexities of Russia-China Relations After the 2023 Moscow Summit, PRIF Blog.
Publication - Regime Competition in a Fragmented World: Consequences for Peace and Conflict
| 2023
Abb, Pascal; Weipert-Fenner, Irene (2023): Regime Competition in a Fragmented World: Consequences for Peace and Conflict, PRIF Blog.
Publication - China's New Global Security Initiative
| 2023
Abb, Pascal (2023): China's New Global Security Initiative. A rising power spreads its wings, PRIF Spotlight, 2, Frankfurt/M. DOI: 10.48809/prifspot2302 - Inklusion statt Systemkonkurrenz
| 2023
Abb, Pascal; Pfeifer, Hanna; Wolff, Jonas (2023): Inklusion statt Systemkonkurrenz, PRIF BLOG.
Publication - Standpunkt: Inklusion statt Systemkonkurrenz
| 2022
Abb, Pascal; Pfeifer, Hanna; Wolff, Jonas (2022): Standpunkt: Inklusion statt Systemkonkurrenz, Vereinte Nationen.
Publication - Together Against Evil Autocracies? On the Pitfalls of Basing Germany’s Security Strategy on Democratic Alliance-building
| 2022
Wolff, Jonas; Abb, Pascal; Pfeifer, Hanna (2022): Together Against Evil Autocracies? On the Pitfalls of Basing Germany’s Security Strategy on Democratic Alliance-building, EDP Wire.
Publication - Gemeinsam gegen die bösen Autokratien? Zu den Fallstricken demokratischer Allianzbildung als Pfeiler einer zukünftigen deutschen Sicherheitsstrategie
| 2022
Abb, Pascal; Pfeifer, Hanna; Wolff, Jonas (2022): Gemeinsam gegen die bösen Autokratien? Zu den Fallstricken demokratischer Allianzbildung als Pfeiler einer zukünftigen deutschen Sicherheitsstrategie, PRIF BLOG.
Publication - Chinas Belt-and-Road-Initiative ist ein Sicherheitsproblem – aber nicht so, wie oft gedacht
| 2022
Abb, Pascal (2022): Chinas Belt-and-Road-Initiative ist ein Sicherheitsproblem – aber nicht so, wie oft gedacht, PRIF BLOG.
Publication - Fokus: Friedens- und Sicherheitspolitik nach der Zeitenwende
| 2022
Abb, Pascal; Daase, Christopher; Debiel, Tobias; Dembinski, Matthias; Deitelhoff, Nicole; Polianskii, Mikhail; Schetter, Conrad; Schröder, Ursula; Schörnig, Niklas (2022): Fokus: Friedens- und Sicherheitspolitik nach der Zeitenwende, in: Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC)/Leibniz-Institut Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (HSFK)/Institut für Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik an der Universität Hamburg (IFSH)/Institut für Entwicklung und Frieden (INEF) (eds), Friedensgutachten 2022, Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, 25-43.
Publication - Institutionelle Friedenssicherung: Nur Mittel zum Zweck: Erfolgsbedingungen von Sanktionen
| 2022
Deitelhoff, Nicole; Daase, Christopher; Peez, Anton; Brzoska, Michael; Abb, Pascal; Attia, Hana; Grauvogel, Julia (2022): Institutionelle Friedenssicherung: Nur Mittel zum Zweck: Erfolgsbedingungen von Sanktionen, in: Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC)/Leibniz-Institut Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (HSFK)/Institut für Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik an der Universität Hamburg (IFSH)/Institut für Entwicklung und Frieden (INEF) (eds), Friedensgutachten 2022, Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, 111-131.
Publication - Infrastructural transformation in high-risk environments: The BRI’s impact on conflict states
| 2022
Abb, Pascal (2022): Infrastructural transformation in high-risk environments: The BRI’s impact on conflict states, Belt & Road in Global Perspective.
Publication - Nicht viel Liebe in Zeiten des Krieges: Sicherheitspolitik als neues Konfliktfeld in den europäisch-chinesischen Beziehungen
| 2022
Abb, Pascal (2022): Nicht viel Liebe in Zeiten des Krieges: Sicherheitspolitik als neues Konfliktfeld in den europäisch-chinesischen Beziehungen, PRIF BLOG.
Publication - Frieden am Ende? Die Eskalation im Russland-Ukraine-Konflikt und die Rolle der Friedenspolitik
| 2022
Daase, Christopher; Abb, Pascal; Dembinski, Matthias; Fehl, Caroline; Kroll, Stefan; Marauhn, Thilo; Peez, Anton (2022): Frieden am Ende? Die Eskalation im Russland-Ukraine-Konflikt und die Rolle der Friedenspolitik, PRIF BLOG.
Publication - A new Sino-Russian Entente?
| 2022
Abb, Pascal; Polianskii, Mikhail (2022): A new Sino-Russian Entente?. The limits of cooperation on Ukraine and beyond, PRIF Spotlight, 2, Frankfurt/M. DOI: 10.48809/prifspot2202 - Der Koalitionsvertrag von SPD, Grünen und FDP zur Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik
| 2021
Abb, Pascal; Birchinger, Sophia; Coni-Zimmer, Melanie; Gromes, Thorsten; Scheyer, Victoria; Wisotzki, Simone (2021): Der Koalitionsvertrag von SPD, Grünen und FDP zur Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik, PRIF Blog.
Publication - Deutsche China-Politik zwischen Partnerschaft und Rivalität
| 2021
Abb, Pascal (2021): Deutsche China-Politik zwischen Partnerschaft und Rivalität, PRIF Blog.
Publication - Deutsche China-Politik zwischen Partnerschaft und Rivalität
| 2021
Abb, Pascal (2021): Deutsche China-Politik zwischen Partnerschaft und Rivalität, PRIF Blog.
Publication - China’s ‘constructive involvement’ in Afghanistan: an alternative to Western peacebuilding?
| 2021
Abb, Pascal; Swaine, Robert (2021): China’s ‘constructive involvement’ in Afghanistan: an alternative to Western peacebuilding?, PRIF Blog.
Publication - Road to Peace or Bone of Contention? (chin.)
| 2021
Abb, Pascal; Swaine, Robert; Jones, Ilya (2021): Road to Peace or Bone of Contention? (chin.). The Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Conflict States, PRIF Report, 3, Frankfurt/M. - Road to Peace or Bone of Contention?
| 2021
Abb, Pascal; Swaine, Robert; Jones, Ilya (2021): Road to Peace or Bone of Contention?. The Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Conflict States, PRIF Report, 1, Frankfurt/M. - Fokus: China – Partner, Konkurrent oder Rivale?
| 2021
Abb, Pascal; Hartmann, Christof; Kreuzer, Peter; Noesselt, Nele; Sebastian, Gregor (2021): Fokus: China – Partner, Konkurrent oder Rivale?, in: Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC)/Leibniz-Institut Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (HSFK)/Institut für Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik an der Universität Hamburg (IFSH)/Institut für Entwicklung und Frieden (INEF) (eds), Friedensgutachten 2021, Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, 24-47.
Publication - China in transitionary Myanmar. Challenging paths to democratization and peace
| 2021
Abb, Pascal; Adhikari, Monalisa (2021): China in transitionary Myanmar. Challenging paths to democratization and peace, PRIF Spotlight, 5, Frankfurt/M. - The EU-China Investment Agreement: a sign of political naïveté or strategic autonomy?
| 2021
Abb, Pascal (2021): The EU-China Investment Agreement: a sign of political naïveté or strategic autonomy?, PRIF Blog.
Publication - From China Threat to Red Scare: a Post-Trump Republican Perspective on US-China Relations
| 2020
Abb, Pascal (2020): From China Threat to Red Scare: a Post-Trump Republican Perspective on US-China Relations, PRIF Blog.
Publication - China Policy in the 2020 Election: Same Same, but Different?
| 2020
Abb, Pascal (2020): China Policy in the 2020 Election: Same Same, but Different?, PRIF Blog.
Publication - Fraying Ties
| 2020
Abb, Pascal (2020): Fraying Ties. The Securitization of the US-China Relationship, PRIF Spotlight, 11, Frankfurt/M. - Taiwan’s Think Tanks and the Practice of Unofficial Diplomacy
| 2019
Abb, Pascal (2019): Taiwan’s Think Tanks and the Practice of Unofficial Diplomacy, Taiwan Insight.
Publication - Taiwan-Focused Research Institutes in China
| 2017
Abb, Pascal (2017): Taiwan-Focused Research Institutes in China, Global Taiwan Brief, 2: 22.
Publication - China’s New Think Tank Diplomacy
| 2016
Abb, Pascal (2016): China’s New Think Tank Diplomacy, ECFR China Analysis.
Publication - Are Think Tanks in Asia Unique?
| 2016
Abb, Pascal (2016): Are Think Tanks in Asia Unique?, On Think Tanks.
Publication - How Will Beijing React to a Tsai Presidency?
| 2016
Abb, Pascal (2016): How Will Beijing React to a Tsai Presidency?, China Policy Blog.
Publication - China, Southeast Asia and Taiwan: Navigating Uncertain Waters
| 2015
Abb, Pascal (2015): China, Southeast Asia and Taiwan: Navigating Uncertain Waters, CSCAP Asia-Pacific Watch.
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Further Activities
- Dealing with Autocracies in a Fragmented World: PRIF Annual Conference 2023, October 12–13, 2023, PRIF, Frankfurt (organization togetehr with Jonas Wolff and Irene Weipert-Fenner)
- Moving into fragile spaces: the Belt and Road Initiative’s transformative impact on conflict states, September 09, 2023, presentation at the 16th Pan-European Conference on International Relations, European International Studies Association (EISA), Potsdam University
- Der neue Regimewettbewerb und seine sicherheitspolitischen Konsequenzen, May 14, 2024, Deutsches Forum Sicherheitspolitik (DFS) der BAKS, Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik (BAKS), Berlin (with Irene Weipert-Fenner)
- Infrastructure in high-risk environments: the case of the BRI, March 23, 2023, Connectivity Conversations, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Helsinki, Finland