Research Associate at the Chair of Political Science, in particular Political Theory
Helmut-Schmidt-Universität
Gebäude H1
Holstenhofweg 85
22043 Hamburg
Telefon: +49406541-3343
Fax: +49-40-6541-3370
E-Mail: kocakd [at] hsu-hh.de
CV
Dr Deniz Kocak is a political scientist whose research focuses on maritime security, the protection of critical maritime infrastructure and security governance in the Indo-Pacific. At Helmut Schmidt University/University of the Federal Armed Forces in Hamburg, he is the Research Coordinator of the interdisciplinary research focus on Maritime Security (iFMS). He is also a Research Associate at the German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (GIDS).
His current work focuses on how states protect their critical maritime infrastructure and make it resilient. This research builds on many years of work on security governance in Southeast Asia.
Previously, he worked, amongst other roles, at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), as a lecturer at the Free University of Berlin, as a visiting scholar at Singapore Management University (SMU), and at the DFG Collaborative Research Centre 700 ‘Governance in Spaces of Limited Statehood’. He is a member of the UNDP-RSCA Governance and Peacebuilding Experts Roster, the UN SSR Advisory Network and the Steering Committee of the ECPR Standing Group on Political Violence.
He studied political science and modern/contemporary history at the University of Potsdam and Humboldt University of Berlin. He completed his PhD in 2015 at the Freie Universität Berlin.
Research Interests
Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific
Protection and Resilience of Critical Maritime Infrastructure
Security Governance in Southeast Asia
Security Sector Reform, Police Reform and Civil-Military Relations
Publications
Journal Articles
Kocak, Deniz (2026): “Governing Critical Maritime Infrastructure in the European Union; Path-Dependent Transformation and Institutional Change”, in European Journal for Security Research, Online First, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41125-026-00113-y
Kocak, Deniz (2026): “Where Institutions Intersect: Analyzing Governance Seams in Hybrid Attacks on Critical Maritime Infrastructure”, in Connections: The Quarterly Journal 25: 1, https://doi.org/10.11610/conn.25.048
Kocak, Deniz (2026): “Maritime Critical Infrastructure in Southeast Asia: Policy Frameworks and Resilience”, in Journal of Territorial and Maritime Studies 13: 1, 30-49, https://doi.org/10.2307/48877160
Kocak, Deniz (2023): “Rebel Security Governance in Transition: The Case of Post-Independence Timor-Leste”, in Small Wars & Insurgencies 34: 1, 113-137, https://doi.org/10.1080/09592318.2022.2064702
Kocak, Deniz (2019): “On the Spatial-Temporal Diffusion of Community Based Policing from Japan to Peninsula Southeast Asia: The Case of Timor-Leste”, in Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding 13: 1, 25-40, https://doi.org/10.1080/17502977.2018.1516390
Kocak, Deniz (2015): “Beyond Control: Militias as Inherent Part of the National Security Policy in Indonesia”, in Sicherheit und Frieden / Security and Peace 33: 4, 212-217.
Chappuis, Fairlie / Kocak, Deniz / Sangar, Eric (2014): “What’s African? Identifying Traits of African Security Governance”, in Journal of Regional Security 9: 1, 7-30.
Schroeder, Ursula C. / Chappuis, Fairlie / Kocak, Deniz (2014): “Security Sector Reform and the Emergence of Hybrid Security Governance”, in International Peacekeeping 21: 2, 214-230.
Schroeder, Ursula C. / Chappuis, Fairlie / Kocak, Deniz (2013): “Security Sector Reform from a Policy Transfer Perspective: Comparing External Security Interventions in the Palestinian Territories, Liberia and Timor-Leste”, in Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding 7: 3, 381-401.
Kocak, Deniz (2013): “Insurgencies, Border Clashes, and Security Dilemma. Unresolved Problems for ASEAN”, in Central European Journal of International & Security Studies 7: 1, 60-80.
Policy Papers and Commentary
Kocak, Deniz (2026): “Europe as a Security Partner: Strategic Added Value for Southeast Asia?”, in POINTER. Journal of the Singapore Armed Forces, October 2026.
Kocak, Deniz (2026): „Maut auf der Straße von Malakka? Indonesiens Vorstoß und die maritime Ordnung im Indo-Pazifik“, #GIDSstatement 05/2026, Hamburg, German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (GIDS).
Kocak, Deniz / Pawlak, Julian (2026): “A Sustainable Approach to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery?”, Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC), https://cimsec.org/a-sustainable-approach-to-counter-piracy-and-armed-robbery/
Kocak, Deniz (2026): “Security Through Accountability: A Case for Institutional Reform”, CPD Policy Blog, University of Graz, February 2026, https://policyblog.empowermentforpeace.org/2026/02/security-through-accountability-a-case-for-institutional-reform/
Kocak, Deniz (2025): “Maritime Choke Points. Global Maritime Trade and International Security”, in Europäische Sicherheit & Technik, Munich Security Conference Special Edition, 16-18.
Kocak, Deniz / Pawlak, Julian (2024): „Ozeane in Gefahr. Der globale Kampf gegen illegale Fischerei“, in Europäische Sicherheit & Technik 2024 (4), 63-65.
Kocak, Deniz / Pawlak, Julian (2023): „Nachhaltige Sicherheit“, in Marine Forum 2023 (4), 32-36.
Kocak, Deniz (2023): „Wie kann sich die Europäische Union in der indo-pazifischen Region engagieren? Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Kooperation“, #GIDSstatement 04/2023, Hamburg, German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (GIDS).
Kocak, Deniz (2021): „Eine Grand Strategy als strategischer Ansatz für die deutsche Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik im 21. Jahrhundert“, #GIDSstatement 04/2021, Hamburg, German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (GIDS).
Kocak, Deniz (2014): “Timor-Leste. The Continuing Challenge of Police Building and Security Governance”, Security Sector Reform Resource Centre, http://www.ssrresourcecentre.org/2014/08/19/timor-leste-the-continuing-challenge-of-police-building-and-security-governance/
Kocak, Deniz (2013): “Security Sector Reconstruction in a Post-Conflict Country: Lessons from Timor-Leste”, SFB-Governance Working Paper Series, Berlin, DFG Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 700.
Monographs and Book Chapters
Kocak, Deniz (2020): “On the Spatial-Temporal Diffusion of Community Based Policing from Japan to Peninsula Southeast Asia: The Case of Timor-Leste”, in Ansorg, Nadine / Gordon, Eleanor (eds.): Co-Operation, Contestation and Complexity in Peacebuilding. Post-Conflict Security Sector Reform, Oxon, Routledge, 24-39.
Kocak, Deniz (2018): Rethinking Community Policing in International Police Reform. Examples from Asia, DCAF SSR Paper 17, London, Ubiquity Press.
Kocak, Deniz (2016): “Security Sector Reconstruction in Post-Conflict: The Lessons from Timor-Leste”, in Miklaucic, Michael / Hughes, Michelle (eds.): Impunity. Confronting Illicit Power Structures in War and Transition, Washington, D.C., National Defense University, 348-365.
Kocak, Deniz (2015): Robustes Polizieren. Empirische Befunde zu Kontinuitäten der Repression und Chancen der Implementation von Polizeireformen in Timor-Leste, doctoral dissertation, Freie Universität Berlin.
Schroeder, Ursula C. / Chappuis, Fairlie / Kocak, Deniz (2015): “Security Sector Reform and the Emergence of Hybrid Security Governance”, in Schroeder, Ursula C. / Chappuis, Fairlie (eds.): Building Security in Post-Conflict States. The Domestic Consequences of Security Sector Reform, London, Routledge.
Kocak, Deniz / Kode, Johannes (2014): “Impediments to Security Sector Reform in Thailand”, in Heiduk, Felix (ed.): Security Sector Reform in Southeast Asia. From Policy to Practice, Houndmills, Palgrave, 83-101.
Chappuis, Fairlie / Kocak, Deniz (2013): „Sicherheitssektorreform in Lateinamerika. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen“ [Security Sector Reform in Latin America. Opportunities and Limits], in Maihold, Günther / Brombacher, Daniel (eds.): Gewalt, organisierte Kriminalität und Staat in Lateinamerika, Opladen, Verlag Barbara Budrich, 255-273.
Working Papers, Reports and Reviews
Kocak, Deniz (2017): Review of Nygaard-Christensen, Maj / Bexley, Angie (eds.): Fieldwork in Timor-Leste. Understanding Social Change through Practice, in Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 36: 3, 145-147.
Kocak, Deniz (2015): “Identifying Prospects and Challenges to Intraorganizational Communication Practices of the Policía Nacional de Timor-Leste”, Díli, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Kocak, Deniz (2014): Review of Kent, Lia: The Dynamics of Transitional Justice. International Models and Local Realities in East Timor, in Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 33: 1, 142-144.
Letzte Änderung: 3. November 2026