Sabrina Zearott (Bulletin editor) (SZ): What brought you to Erfurt? What are your plans here?

Professor Lior Herman (LH): My visit this week has three primary objectives. Firstly, I am here to deliver a series of lectures, fostering academic exchange through teaching. Secondly, we are finalizing plans for a collaborative capstone project between Erfurt and the Hebrew University, scheduled for next year. This innovative program will not only facilitate online joint study but also include a physical meeting of students at a location to be determined. We are currently in the process of identifying a suitable client for the capstone project, which will influence the meeting venue. Recognizing the profound academic, professional, and intercultural value of this cooperation, my university has allocated dedicated funds to support this initiative. Thirdly, we are engaged in developing a more comprehensive framework to further strengthen our institutional ties. A key component of this expanded collaboration will be the establishment of a joint study program. This initiative represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to deepen and broaden the academic partnership between Erfurt University and the Hebrew University.

Erasmus programs primarily facilitate academic exchanges for students and researchers. Several years ago, Professor Oliver Kessler from Erfurt was hosted in our department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI), which sparked a mutual interest in strengthening our institutional ties. Leveraging my existing collaboration with Professor Goldthau, we determined that a formal partnership between the Brandt School and HUJI would be highly beneficial. We are actively exploring various avenues to further solidify and expand this relationship. These collaborative initiatives are invaluable since they foster research partnerships and provide students with exposure to diverse perspectives and academic environments. So it’s not just about signing contracts aiming for collaboration because it’s nice to have. No, these collaborations present an exceptional opportunity for students from both HUJI and Erfurt. As a representative of a globally recognized top-100 university, I can attest that while we maintain numerous international partnerships, the true value lies not in the mere existence of agreements, but in their substantive implementation. The learning experience extends beyond traditional academics; it is experiential in nature. By physically immersing oneself in a different academic setting, students gain a nuanced understanding of complex cultural and institutional dynamics that cannot be replicated through conventional means.

SZ: That understanding - how has that influenced people’s research?

LH: In my experience, academia is truly a global endeavor. In my department, like many others, we often have just one or two experts in each specific research area. My closest collaborators, the people I'm in constant dialogue with, aren't necessarily in the office next door - they're scattered across the globe.

Take my work on international trade in services, for instance. I found myself in a unique position where I didn't have a single colleague in Israel working on directly relevant topics. Instead, my research network spanned continents - from Australia to Europe to the United States. This global collaboration wasn't just beneficial; it was essential.

I've learned that being internationally connected is crucial in academia. It's about knowing the key players in your field worldwide and staying at the forefront of cutting-edge research. Without these global connections, you risk falling behind and producing average research. I've seen firsthand how international collaboration elevates the quality and impact of research. It's not just about keeping up; it's about pushing the boundaries of knowledge together with the best minds in your field, wherever they may be.

SZ: Is that international aspect of research something you see expanding with the Brandt School at some point in the future?

LH: Funding is the lifeblood of academic work. It's what allows us to employ bright students, access crucial data, utilize cutting-edge methodologies, and conduct field research beyond our immediate surroundings. I've seen firsthand how proper funding can transform a good research idea into a groundbreaking study. At my university, we've implemented a system that I'm particularly proud of. We have agreements with several institutions worldwide where we offer competitive funding for joint research teams. I've witnessed how this financial incentive brings together researchers who might not have collaborated otherwise. Shared resources can spark partnerships between academics working on related topics, even if they're halfway across the world from each other.

Looking ahead, I'm excited about the potential for even more collaboration. I know colleagues at my university who are eager to visit Erfurt, meet the experts here, and start conversations that could lead to fruitful partnerships. These initial discussions, perhaps seemingly casual at first, can evolve into significant joint projects. It's this kind of cross-pollination of ideas that keeps our work dynamic and relevant. In my view, fostering these connections is not just beneficial - it's essential for pushing the boundaries of our respective fields.

SZ: Can you tell me a little bit about your Geopolitics and Energy Research Group?

LH: When I shifted my focus to energy research, I knew I needed a strong network of like-minded scholars. So, I took the initiative to form the geopolitics research group. It wasn't just about finding people directly in my field - I cast a wide net, looking for anyone whose work might intersect with energy studies. I saw an opportunity to secure funding for this group, which became a powerful tool for bringing us together. The group quickly became more than just a research collective. We turned it into a launchpad for securing seed money, which we then leveraged to apply for larger grants. And it paid off in spades. But remember that funding is a means to do good research. It is not an end in and of itself.

The diversity of our group was its strength. We brought together minds from across the social sciences, public policy, and even natural sciences. This interdisciplinary approach led to some of our most successful research endeavors. I'm proud to say we secured three major grants in rapid succession. This allowed us to expand our team, bring on PhD students, and create a vibrant intellectual community. What started as a small group of colleagues turned into a nucleus of researchers passionate about energy geopolitics and politics. We weren't just talking - we were collaborating, challenging each other, and producing what I hope was and is creative and innovative work.

Personally, this group pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way. As someone rooted in international relations and international political economy, I discovered fascinating new aspects of energy geopolitics. For example, energy geopolitics in urban settings - something I hadn't considered before. This particular issue led to an exciting three-year project with Humboldt University, examining energy geopolitics in contested cities like Nicosia, Berlin, and Jerusalem. The results of this collaboration have been phenomenal. We're looking at about nine publications coming out of this project alone, some still in the pipeline. It's a testament to what can happen when you bring diverse minds together around a common interest.

SZ: In terms of energy and geopolitics - I know this is a relatively new field, I mean blending them the way you've described. What do you think might be the most important research agenda for the next several years?

LH: This is a great question. I wouldn’t say that energy and geopolitics is a new field, but in terms of interest it was abandoned for many years. Then bam! The 1973 oil crisis hit, and suddenly everyone was talking about it again. But that interest fizzled out fairly quickly. Fast forward to about 15 years ago, and it's like someone flipped a switch. Now, it's everywhere you look.

For me, the interesting bit is the transition to renewables. Why? Because the transition is connected to one of the world's most important and most immediate problems, climate change. I'm interested in the geopolitics, security aspects of the transition, but I'm also interested in other elements. I’ll give you an example: I've done a lot of digging into the social acceptance of renewables, or how people feel about renewables. We're all nodding our heads saying, "Yes, we must embrace renewable energy," right? But then you go and say, "Hey, mind if I put a wind turbine in your backyard?" Suddenly it's all, "Uhh... maybe not." Funny how that works, huh? So yes, getting people on board is hugely important too.

By the way, when I say “renewables,” or “the transition to renewable energy,” I obviously also mean the issue of rare earth elements and so on.

SZ: You mentioned rare earth elements. What do you picture as the impact of things like that – of the energy transition overall as well – on geopolitics?

LH: When it comes to geopolitics in the future, it's going to be a mix of the old and the new. Take critical minerals, for example. That's classic fossil fuel geopolitics, just wearing a new hat. When we hop in our electric cars, we're not thinking about the long supply chain behind it all. Batteries, components - there's a whole world of things going on there, including rare earth elements. That's why this transition isn't going to be as smooth as some people are hoping. It's going to take a while, and honestly, we might never fully get there. But here's where it gets interesting geopolitically: we're starting to see territories in a whole new light. Your rooftop? Your farm? The water reservoir? Suddenly those are prime real estate for electricity production. The grid needs them. Spaces we never thought twice about as strategic are now becoming crucial for energy security, and they conflict with and complement food security, national security, you name it. Solar panels, as an example, need space, right? But what about growing food on that land? Are we going to end up incentivizing farmers to "grow" solar instead of crops? That's a big deal in an age where food security is already a massive issue. And don't forget, this ties right back into climate change. It's all connected, and it's all crucial.

So yes, we're seeing geopolitics play out in some pretty new ways. It's a new ballgame, but with some familiar rules.

SZ: What about diplomacy?

LH: In geopolitics and in international relations this whole energy/politics/security nexus can go different ways. We have a lot of examples of bad things - conflicts, wars, etc., etc. But we do have examples also of cooperation. I mean, the European Union was established on sort of its predecessor. The European Coal and Steel Community. It's the Coal and Steel Community. So this is about Germany and France managing together a very important commodity, coal, which is also important for war. Having said that, this is quite an exceptional thing. I don't know many examples where it's the energy cooperation that actually led to peace. I do know examples, lots of examples, where first you have other incentives for peace and then energy was something that further cemented part of the parcel.

But I don't think that energy is enough. Energy is the lifeblood of national economies and security. That's why countries are always so hesitant to play nice when it comes to energy. Unless they're backed into a corner, they'll always try to keep the power balance tipped in their favor, fearing that if a country that is energy poor subjects itself to a country that is energy rich, this can be misused.

Still, there is room for energy diplomacy. There are many things energy diplomacy can do. Sometimes it's not about grand diplomacy, but the little things. There's a big field related to energy diplomacy, which is conducted by states but also by the private sector and civil society. For example, in the area of aid, going to developing economies and aiding with off-grid initiatives. Seems small, but it's got some serious political importance behind it.

Take the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, as another example. You've got all these countries, who were former enemies, sitting together and cooperating in various energy initiatives. And I have to say, they've pulled off far more than I thought they would. But here's the kicker - it only worked because these countries already had some kind of relations.

So yes, energy is an important factor in this diplomatic game, but it’s not sufficient by itself.

SZ: Along these lines – what do you think is the biggest challenge related to the energy transition?

LH: Here's the thing: renewables aren't "green" - they're clean. And that's a crucial difference because they also have an environmental footprint, though probably a better one than that of fossil energy resources. The key challenge is that we can't just swap out everything for renewables and expect it to be smooth sailing. There are so many systems we rely on that we just can't easily replace.

Think about it. Aviation? Shipping? Railways? Maritime transport? Our entire agricultural system runs on oil-based fertilizers. And don't even get me started on cement and steel. We'd need to completely reimagine how we build our homes, cities, and roads. These aren't simple switches - we're talking about technologies that haven't changed much in decades.

We need to be really careful about buying into this idea that we can just flip a switch and change everything. Some of the policies we're putting in place now might actually come back to bite us later. Now, I'm not saying we should halt the transition - far from it. But we've got to manage expectations here.

The public isn't always clued in to these realities. This matters because if we don't handle these expectations right, we're setting ourselves up for major disappointment. That disappointment could have serious ripple effects, economically and politically. We're talking about consequences that could be far bigger than people are prepared for, especially in this era where populist regimes are popping up everywhere.

So yes, we need to push forward with the transition, but with our eyes wide open to the challenges ahead. It's not going to be easy, but understanding the full picture is the first step to making real, lasting change.

SZ: Let's see. I want to be careful of your time here. Is there anything you want to add?

LH: I'll just say one thing. I'm very happy with my stay here in Erfurt. I had a great time here, wonderful hospitality. I met very smart students and researchers at the forefront of science. We had different exchanges, which hopefully will continue as collaborative initiatives and intellectual exchanges. The Brandt School and the University of Erfurt are wonderful academic environments! I was also fortunate to be greeted by very warm weather. [Laughs] So all this was a very, very successful visit and I'm optimistic for the future in this regard.

SZ: Thank you so much.