About Dr. David Sirakov

[Translate to English:] © Landtag Rheinland-Pfalz, Foto: A. Linsenmann

Short Biography

David Sirakov is the Director of the Atlantische Akademie Rheinland-Pfalz and holds a Ph.D. in Political Science. He is a member of the advisory board of the Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and serves on the board of the Association of German-American Centers (Verbund Deutsch-Amerikanischer Zentren, VDAZ). His work focuses on strengthening transatlantic relations through education, dialogue, and public engagement.

Together with Sarah Wagner, he co-hosts the podcast “Amerikas Verfassung. Politik und Gesellschaft in den USA,” which explores key issues in American domestic and foreign policy. His research and publications center on U.S. domestic politics, with particular attention to political and societal polarization, the rise of populism in both the United States and Europe, and U.S. foreign and security policy. Through his lectures, writing, and public outreach, he contributes to a deeper understanding of contemporary political developments on both sides of the Atlantic.

Extended Biography

David Sirakov studied Political Science and Public Law in Trier, completing his master’s thesis on Russian policy toward Japan during the Putin era. During his studies, he worked at the chair of Professor Hanns W. Maull. After graduating, he served as a research associate in Political Science at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, where he taught seminars—primarily within teacher training programs—on comparative government, domestic politics, political theory, and international relations/foreign policy.

In July 2009, Sirakov earned his doctorate with highest distinction (summa cum laude) from the Technical University of Kaiserslautern. His dissertation focused on U.S.–Russia relations from 2000 to 2008.

From 2010 to 2014, he was the Program Director of the Atlantische Akademie Rheinland-Pfalz and has served as its Director since January 2015.

In September 2016, Dr. Sirakov was invited by the Warburg Chapters of the American Council on Germany to give a lecture tour across the United States on the rise and challenges of populism in Europe and the U.S. In October 2020, he was a Visiting Lecturer at the Richard L. Walker Institute of International Studies at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he gave talks on populism in Europe and the U.S.

Since 2015, Dr. Sirakov has been a member of the State Working Committee of the State Agency for Civic Education of Rhineland-Palatinate. He has also been a member of the advisory board of the Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz since 2017. Additionally, he is a member of the “USA Roundtable” and, since 2023, serves on the board of the Association of German-American Centers (VDAZ | AGAC). As part of the “USA Expert Group” at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin, he conducted research on the effects of polarization on politics and society in the U.S.

His research focuses on U.S. domestic politics—especially political and societal polarization—the rise of populism in Europe and the U.S., U.S. foreign policy, U.S.–Russia relations, theories of international relations, and comparative political systems.