Robin Neumann honoured for her award-winning thesis
Nominated as best Master thesis by the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA), Robin Neumann has received the second prize in the Leiden University best thesis competition, a prestigious recognition of her research conducted in the advanced MSc International Relations and Diplomacy (MIRD) programme.
Since she was unable to attend the Dies Natalis to accept the award in person, MIRD faculty and staff organised a celebratory gathering to honor this achievement. Surrounded by friends, family, and MIRD faculty members, Robin was addressed by Dean Professor Koen Caminada, Professor Madeleine Hosli, and Dr. Jaroslaw Kantorowicz, who shared inspiring words about her accomplishment. Robin then provided a brief overview of her thesis, highlighting the methodology used, key insights obtained and their potential impact. Additional inspiring comments on the thesis and its relevance were offered by Robin’s thesis supervisor Dr. Silvia D’Amato and by faculty member Dr. Marinko Bobić.
This gathering not only celebrated her achievement but also emphasized the importance of academic research in the fields of international relations and diplomacy.
Why did you choose the MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy?
‘I chose the MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy because of its multidisciplinary approach and the wide range of elective courses available. This appealed to me as I was still exploring my career direction, and it allowed me the space and time to do so. Additionally, the collaboration with the Clingendael Institute was invaluable—ensuring a balance between academic knowledge and practical experience. The opportunity to do an internship was also a significant advantage for me.’
What was the subject of your thesis, and why did you choose it?
‘I knew early on that I wanted to research migration, as it is a central theme in contemporary societal debates. Migration influences voting behaviour, reflects emotions surrounding globalisation, impacts political campaigns, and remains high on the agenda—both on the right and the left, within the EU and globally.
While conducting preliminary research for my thesis, I noticed that European rhetoric on migration partnerships increasingly emphasises mutual benefit as a prerequisite for success. But how can success be achieved when migration cooperation is inherently sensitive and controversial? How do we even define ‘success’ in migration partnerships, and what does it look like in practice? These questions led me to my core research question: What are the key conditions that contribute to successful EU migration partnerships?’
What was the biggest challenge during your research, and how did you overcome it?
‘Writing a thesis comes with numerous challenges, but I learned that these are all part of the process. The moments when you feel stuck often lead to breakthroughs—forcing you to think creatively and find solutions. It is precisely at these obstacles that a thesis becomes stronger.
The biggest challenge in my research was twofold: first, finding relevant sources for the twenty countries I analysed, and second, fully understanding my chosen methodology—both of which took far more time than I initially anticipated. I overcame these challenges by exercising patience, breaking tasks down into manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed, trusting the process, and—perhaps most importantly—seeking help from others.’
What makes your thesis stand out?
‘What makes my thesis special is that it addresses a highly relevant issue in today’s societal and political discourse—migration—in a factual manner. Migration is often surrounded by emotions, assumptions, and myths, but I consciously aimed to take a step back and use a quantitative approach to determine what actually contributes to the success of EU migration partnerships.
My conclusions—such as the importance of cooperation and a long-term vision for migration management—are backed by data and systematic analysis. I hope this contributes to a more substantive and evidence-based discussion—one that cannot simply be dismissed.’
How did it feel to win the second prize for best thesis?
‘It was a great honour! I can hardly describe it any other way—it’s an incredible feeling to see a thesis you worked so hard on receive recognition. At the same time, I didn’t achieve this alone. I would like to thank my thesis supervisor, Professor Dr Silvia D’Amato, the MIRD faculty, as well as my family, friends, and colleagues for their support, feedback, and inspiration throughout the process.’
What are your future plans?
‘Since September last year, I have been working as the Personal Assistant to the Director and as a Researcher at the Clingendael Institute. Recently, I started a new research project on migration, which I am very excited about. For now, my plan is to continue developing as a researcher within Clingendael. Beyond that, I’m not entirely sure yet—I have broad interests, so anything is possible!’
Do you have any advice for prospective and current students?
‘Dare to ask for help and take risks—you never know what opportunities might arise!’