Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf
Expert in South Asian Politics & Security
Director of Research, South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF)
About
Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf is a renowned political scientist with extensive expertise in international relations and security affairs in South Asia. After completing his academic studies and earning his doctorate (Ph.D.) in 2009, he established himself as a leading analyst of geopolitical developments in the region.
Throughout his career, Dr. Wolf has held numerous prestigious academic and policy-oriented positions. He served as an Assistant Professor (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter) at the distinguished South Asia Institute (SAI) of Heidelberg University, Germany, where he continues to be affiliated as a member. For more than fourteen years, he has served as Director of Research at the South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), a Brussels-based think tank dedicated to fostering cooperation between Europe and South Asia.
In addition, Dr. Wolf acts as a strategic consultant and reviewer for various institutions, including Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and has contributed to several NATO-sponsored research projects. Alongside his Europe-based institutional engagements, he serves as a Visiting Professor at Naresuan University (Thailand) and as a Visiting Scholar at De La Salle University in Manila (Philippines).
His previous appointments include Research Fellow at the Institute of Political Science (IPW), Heidelberg University; Research Fellow at the Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH) in New Delhi, India; Visiting Fellow at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad, Pakistan; and Affiliated Researcher at the Pakistan Security Research Unit (PSRU), Durham University, United Kingdom.
As Research Director of SADF, Dr. Wolf was a partner in the Horizon 2020-funded Global India programme, an innovative doctoral training network supported by the European Union. During his tenure at the South Asia Institute, he participated in several major research initiatives funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany's central research funding organization.
A sought-after expert on South Asian affairs, Dr. Wolf regularly provides analysis and commentary on contemporary political developments for international media outlets, including Deutsche Welle (DW).
Expertise
South Asia & International Security
Analysis of conflict dynamics, security policy, and regional cooperation across the Indian subcontinent and beyond.
Connectivity
Strategic, socio-political, and economic assessment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) within the context of China's global infrastructure policy (Belt and Road Initiative).
Civil-military Relations
In-depth examination of the military's political role and democratization processes, with particular focus on Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Religious Minorities & Migration
Examining the persecution, displacement, and migration of religious minorities, particularly Ahmadis, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians in Sunni- as well as Shia-majority Muslim societies.
Terrorism & Religious Extremism
Analyzing extremist movements, jihadist violence, and the impact of religious radicalization on regional and global security.
Major Publications
"The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor of the Belt and Road Initiative: Concept, Context and Assessment"
(Springer, Cham, 2017)
"Terrorism Revisited: Islamism, Political Violence and State-Sponsorship"
Ed. by Paulo Casaca & Siegfried O. Wolf
Springer (Cham), 2017
"The Merits of Regional Cooperation: The Case of South Asia"
Ed. by Siegfried O. Wolf, Paulo Casaca, Anne J. Flanagan & Cátia Rodrigues
Springer (Cham), 2014
"A Political and Economic Dictionary of South Asia"
By Subrata K. Mitra, Siegfried Wolf & Jivanta Schöttli
Routledge (London), 2006
"Politics in South Asia: Culture, Rationality and Conceptual Flow"
Ed. by Siegfried O. Wolf, Jivanta Schöttli, Dominik Frommherz, Kai Fürstenberg, Marian Gallenkamp, Lion König & Markus Pauli
Springer (Cham), 2014
Contact
For lectures, consulting requests, academic exchange, or media interviews.