Prannavan Surendran

Prannavan Surendran is currently an intern with the Japan Chair at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS), where he contributes to research and policy-oriented analysis on contemporary security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and Studies in Languages, Literatures and Cultures from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, where he developed a strong interdisciplinary foundation combining historical analysis with cultural perspectives.

Prannavan has cultivated regional expertise through international study experiences in East Asia. At Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, he focused on Korean history, politics and international relations, gaining insight into the complexities of inter-Korean relations and regional security. He further expanded his knowledge at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, where he completed the “Japan in Today’s World” (JTW) programme, deepening his understanding of Japan’s domestic politics, foreign policy and societal developments.

In addition to his academic background, Prannavan has acquired extensive practical experience across research institutions and policy environments. He has worked at the German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ) in Tokyo and the Centre for Military History and Social Sciences of the German Armed Forces (ZMSBw) in Potsdam, Germany, contributing to research, science communication and public relations, and policy-relevant analysis.

His experience includes research internships with the Japan Chair at the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS) in Tallinn, Estonia, and with Japan Studies at Aarhus University in Denmark, where he engaged in research and supported conference and publication projects. He engages in youth initiatives such as EPIS Think Tank and the Young Indo-Pacific Forum.

His research interests focus on Japanese foreign and security policy, Indo-Pacific geopolitics and the comparative study of East Asian and European security dynamics. He is particularly interested in alliance structures, regional security cooperation and contemporary foreign policy in shaping international relations and broader questions of global strategic competition.