Thierry Balzacq is Professor of International Relations at Sciences Po and Professorial Fellow at CERI-Sciences Po.

He has been featured in the Stanford/Elsevier "World’s Top 2% Scientists" and listed in the top 1% for the subfield “International Relations”, since 2020.

In 2024, Thierry Balzacq conducted a study for the development of the future EU Diplomatic Academy (EUDA), on behalf of the diplomatic service of the European Union – the European External Action Service (EEAS).

He was the 2022/2023 Susan Strange Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the George Soros Distinguished Visiting Professor at Central European University (CEU) in Vienna.

A former Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University (2017-2018), Balzacq was awarded a Francqui Research Chair (Belgium’s highest academic title) at the University of Namur. He was formerly the Scientific Director at the French Ministry of Defense’s research center (2014-2016), where he contributed to the development of a multi-million euro program to support the study of security in France. Balzacq was Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Edinburgh (2012-2015) and Fellow for "outstanding research" at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. In 2015, Balzacq was awarded a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Diplomacy and International Security ("Tier 1 Chairs are for outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields").

Thierry Balzacq has held various appointments at McGill, the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, The International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC), Aberystwyth, the University Abdou Moumouni of Niamey (Niger), and ENA. He has published over a hundred and fifty books, articles and book chapters on comparative grand strategy, theories of security, and diplomatic studies. His most recent books include The Oxford Handbook of Grand Strategy (2021 co-ed., with Ron Krebs); Radicalization in Theory and Practice (Michigan University Press; co-éditeur avec Elyamine Settoul); Comparative Grand Strategy: A Framework and Cases (Oxford University Press, 2019 – co-ed. with Peter Dombrowski and Simon Reich) which was n°2 in the Annual reading list of the journal International Affairs in 2020, Théories de la sécurité (Presses de Sciences Po, 2016), The Routledge Handbook of Security Studies (2016, co-ed with M. Dunn Cavelty). His articles have been published in outlets such as Review of International Studies, Security Studies, Journal of Global Security Studies, European Journal of International Security, International Studies Review, Cooperation and Conflict, European Journal of International Relations, Security Dialogue, Polity, International Relations, and the Journal of Common Market Studies.

He is the co-convenor (with Simon Reich and Peter Dombrowski) of The Global Initiative on Comparative Grand Strategies (GICGS) and edits the Oxford Studies in Grand Strategy book series. He advised different institutions and organizations on security matters, including the EU Commission, the EU Parliament, and the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Thierry Balzacq holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and completed his postdoctoral studies at Harvard University. He sits on the editorial boards of Security Studies and Critical Studies on Security. Balzacq is an elected member of the Governing board of the European International Studies Association (EISA). He served on the editorial boards of International Political Sociology and The Hague Journal of Diplomacy.

He is the Director of Graduate Studies in Political Science at the School of Research and Scientific Advisor of the Master in International Governance and Diplomacy, at PSIA. He is member of the National Council for Universities (CNU), Section 4 (Political Science).

Comparative Grand Strategy, Compromise, Ambiguity and World Order, Ethics and Multilateralism, Diplomatic Rituals

Sciences Po

• Licence : Théories des relations internationales

• Master, Ecole des affaires internationales (PSIA) : Système international contemporain

• Master, Ecole des affaires internationales (PSIA) : Comparative Grand Strategy and World Order

• Thierry Balzacq, Giuliano da Empoli, Hugo Micheron. Brutalité, prédation et techno-utopie. Comprendre son temps, 2025, 3, pp.4-13. ⟨hal-05269195⟩
• Ronald Krebs, Robert Ralston, Thierry Balzacq, David Blagden, Shaul Shenhav, et al.. Citizenship Traditions and Cultures of Military Service: Patriotism and Paychecks in Five Democracies. Armed Forces and Society, 2024, 31 p. ⟨10.1177/0095327X241275635⟩. ⟨hal-04735715⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Frédéric Ramel. The Enduring Crisis: Reclaiming the Normative Foundations of Multilateralism. Crisis of Multilateralism? Challenges and Resilience, Palgrave Macmillan, pp.93-110, 2023, The Sciences Po Series in International Relations and Political Economy, 9783031396700. ⟨10.1007/978-3-031-39671-7_5⟩. ⟨hal-04268449⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Frédéric Ramel. Le multilatéralisme, radiographie d'un malaise. Eberhard Kienle, Carola Klöck, Adrien Estève et Alain Dieckhoff (dir.). Un monde en crises, Presses de Sciences Po, pp.15-28, 2023, L'Enjeu mondial, 9782724641400. ⟨hal-04193810⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Elyamine Settoul (Dir.). Radicalization in Theory and Practice. Understanding Religious Violence in Western Europe. University of Michigan Press, 296 p., 2022, 9780472902835. ⟨10.3998/mpub.12202059⟩. ⟨hal-03890664⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Elyamine Settoul. Radicalization and Religious Violence in Western Europe: An Introduction. Thierry Balzacq; Elyamine Settoul. Radicalization in Theory and Practice. Understanding Religious Violence in Western Europe, University of Michigan Press, pp.1-21, 2022, 9780472902835. ⟨hal-03890678⟩
• Thierry Balzacq. The Site of Foreign Policy: A Field Theory Account of Ministries of Foreign Affairs. Ministries of Foreign Affairs in the World. Actors of State Diplomacy, 18, Brill, pp.378-388, 2022, Diplomatic Studies, 9789004505872. ⟨10.1163/9789004505889_019⟩. ⟨hal-03613719⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Mark Corcoral. Modern Grand Strategic Studies: Research Advances and Controversies. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies (OREIS), Oxford University Press, pp.en ligne, 2022, ⟨10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.498⟩. ⟨hal-03558151⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Ronald R. Krebs. The Enduring Appeal of Grand Strategy. Thierry Balzacq; Ronald R. Krebs. The Oxford Handbook of Grand Strategy, Oxford University Press, pp.1 - 24, 2021, 9780198840299. ⟨hal-03380925⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Ronald R Krebs (Dir.). The Oxford Handbook of Grand Strategy. Thierry Balzacq; Ronald R Krebs. Oxford University Press, pp.800, 2021, 9780198840299. ⟨hal-03380924⟩
• Stephane J Baele, Thierry Balzacq. International rituals: An analytical framework and its theoretical repertoires. Review of International Studies, 2021, 48 (1), pp.1-23. ⟨10.1017/S0260210521000401⟩. ⟨hal-03380826⟩
• Thierry Balzacq. Une grande stratégie française ?. Frédéric Charillon. La France dans le monde, CNRS Éditions, pp.195 - 211, 2021, 9782271136053. ⟨hal-03283886⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Pablo Barnier-Khawam. Ideas and Ideology in Grand Strategy. Thierry Balzacq; Ronald R. Krebs. The Oxford Handbook of Grand Strategy, Oxford University Press, pp.159 - 172, 2021, 9780198840299. ⟨hal-03476094⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Elise Rousseau. Blame and Complicity in International Relations: Making Non-intervention Morally Bearable. European Review of International Studies, 2020, 7 (2 (December 2020), pp.293 - 316. ⟨10.1163/21967415-BJA10025⟩. ⟨hal-03380864⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Pablo Barnier-Khawam. Ideology and International Security. Klaus-Gerd Giesen. Ideologies in World Politics, Springer, pp.51-70, 2020, 9783658305116. ⟨10.1007/978-3-658-30512-3_4⟩. ⟨hal-03380987⟩
• Thierry Balzacq. The Site of Foreign Policy: A Field Theory Account of MFAs. Hague Journal of Diplomacy, 2020, en ligne, ⟨10.1163/1871191X-BJA10002⟩. ⟨hal-03566830⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Frédéric Charillon, Frédéric Ramel (Dir.). Global Diplomacy. An Introduction to Theory and Practice. Thierry Balzacq; Frédéric Charillon; Frédéric Ramel. Palgrave Macmillan, pp.344, 2020, The Sciences Po Series in International Relations and Political Economy, 9783030287887. ⟨hal-03381031⟩
• Ayrton Aubry, Thierry Balzacq, Frédéric Ramel. The Evolution of International Relations in France. 2019. ⟨hal-03391805⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Simon Reich. What is Grand Strategy? Interview with Thierry Balzacq and Simon Reich. 2019. ⟨hal-03392086⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Wendy Ramadan Alban, Eitan Shamir, Céline Marangé, Delphine Allès, et al.. Qu’est-ce que la « Grande stratégie » ?
  . 2019. ⟨hal-02869807⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Peter Dombrowski, Simon Reich. Is Grand Strategy a Research Program? A Review Essay. Security Studies, 2019, 28 (1), pp.58 - 86. ⟨10.1080/09636412.2018.1508631⟩. ⟨hal-03393685⟩
• Thierry Balzacq. Securitization Theory: Past, Present, and Future. Polity, 2019, 51 (2 (April 2019)), pp.331 - 348. ⟨10.1086/701884⟩. ⟨hal-03381097⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Peter Dombrowski, Simon Reich. Comparing Grand Strategies in the Modern World. Comparative Grand Strategy: A Framework and Cases, Oxford University Press, pp.1 - 22, 2019, 9780198840848. ⟨hal-03605866⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Peter Dombrowski, Simon Reich (Dir.). Comparative Grand Strategies: A Framework and Cases. Thierry Balzacq; Peter Dombrowski; Simon Reich. Oxford University Press, pp.368, 2019, 9780198840848. ⟨hal-03381102⟩
• Thierry Balzacq. Major Powers - France. Thierry Balzacq; Thierry Balzacq; Peter Dombrowski; Simon Reich. Comparative Grand Strategy: A Framework and Cases, Oxford University Press, pp.99 - 122, 2019, 9780198840848. ⟨hal-03381101⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Peter Dombrowski, Simon Reich. Author's Response to H-Diplo/ISSF Article Review 118 on “Is Grand Strategy a Research Program? A Review Essay”. 2019. ⟨hal-03392118⟩
• Thierry Balzacq. Interview with Thierry Balzacq, Professor. 2019. ⟨hal-03392679⟩
• Thierry Balzacq. Entretien avec Thierry Balzacq. 2019. ⟨hal-03392677⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Frédéric Charillon, Frédéric Ramel (Dir.). Manuel de diplomatie, T. Balzacq, F. Charillon et F. Ramel (dir.), Presses de Sciences Po, 2018, 400 p. Les Presses de Sciences Po. 400 p., 2018, 978-2724622904. ⟨hal-01936070⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Frédéric Charillon, Frédéric Ramel. Manuel de diplomatie. Presses de Sciences Po, pp.400, 2018, Relations internationales, 9782724622904. ⟨hal-01882698⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Benjamin Puybareau. The economy of secrecy: security, information control, and EU‒US relations. West European Politics, 2018, ⟨10.1080/01402382.2018.1431490⟩. ⟨hal-03413609⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Jérémie Cornut, Frédéric Ramel. Les Global International Relations comme alternative à la discipline hégémonique. Critique Internationale, 2017, 74, pp.69 - 93. ⟨10.3917/crii.074.0069⟩. ⟨hal-03414352⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Sarah Léonard, Jan Ruzicka. ‘Securitization’ revisited: theory and cases. International Relations, 2016, 30 (4), pp.494-531. ⟨10.1177/0047117815596590⟩. ⟨hal-04074808⟩
• Thierry Balzacq. Théories de la sécurité. Les approches critiques. Presses de Sciences Po, pp.508, 2016, Références, 9782724618150. ⟨hal-03393966⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Myriam Dunn Cavelty. A theory of actor-network for cyber-security. European Journal of International Security, 2016, 1 (2), pp.176-198. ⟨10.1017/eis.2016.8⟩. ⟨hal-04074792⟩
• Thierry Balzacq. Contesting Security. Strategies and Logics. Routledge, pp.262, 2015, 9780415643863. ⟨hal-03393965⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Pierre Baudewyns, Jérôme Jamin, Vincent Legrand, Olivier Paye, et al.. Fondements de science politique. De Boeck, pp.440, 2014, 9782804170721. ⟨hal-03393968⟩
• Frédéric Ramel, Thierry Balzacq (Dir.). Traité de relations internationales. Frédéric Ramel; Thierry Balzacq. Presses de Sciences Po, pp.1228, 2013, 9782724613308. ⟨hal-01520524⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Sarah Leonard. Progress and Method in Securitization Theory: Audience and Practice in the EU Context. Workshop on ‘Securitization and European Security Studies, Feb 2012, Sciences Po, CEE, France. ⟨hal-02385853⟩
• Thierry Balzacq (Dir.). Securitization Theory. How Security Problems Emerge and Dissolve. Thierry Balzacq. Routledge, pp.258, 2011, PRIO New Security Studies, 9780415556286. ⟨hal-03393967⟩
• Thierry Balzacq, Sarah Leonard. Theory and Evidence in Securitization Studies. Research Seminar of the Department of Political Science, Social Sciences and Communication, Jan 2011, Namur University, Belgium. ⟨hal-02385852⟩
• Thierry Balzacq (Dir.). The External Dimension of EU Justice and Home Affairs Governance, Neighbours, Security. Thierry Balzacq. Palgrave Macmillan, pp.283, 2009, Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics, 9780230219779. ⟨hal-03393226⟩