Dr Petar Petrov

Lecturer in International Relations/EU External Relations

I joined the Department of Political Science at Maastricht University as a lecturer in IR and EU External Relations in September 2008. Previously I did a Master Degree in Political Science at Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria (2000) and an M/Res. Degree in EU Politics and Public Policy at the University of Manchester, UK (2004). In June 2009 I defended  my doctoral research project at the University of Manchester. My thesis investigated the development of the early governance arrangements of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) in the context of the first two EU-led military operations. In theoretical terms, I critically utilised the explanatory potential of historical and sociological institutionalist approaches to the processes of institutional change and development over time.

My principle research interests remain in the field of EU crisis management and conflict prevention and the development of the ESDP governance arrangements over time. I am also interested in the role of the EU as a security actor in Southeast Europe and sub-Saharan Africa (more specifically in Kosovo and the DR Congo). I am particularly interested in comparing and contrasting the ability of the EU to speak with one voice and apply coherent approach to conflict prevention/crisis-management, democratisation, institution building and long-term stability in post-conflict societies.

At the University of Manchester, I taught various Bachelor and Master courses in International Relations, European politics and EU Foreign and Security Policy.

At Maastricht University I teach Bachelor and Master courses such as Policy Domains - CFSP/ESDP (BA); Negotiation skills - EU Policy Making (BA); Cooperation and Conflict (MA); EU as International Actor (MA); European Security and Defence Policy (MA), etc.

Master Thesis supervision in the 2008-9 academic year included:

1. Corporate Involvement in North-Kivu's Armed Conflict: Natural Resources Extraction as the Sinew of War - Yann Delomez

2. Autonomy Through Strategic Culture: the ESDP and NATO - Per Anders Grini

 3.The European Union and Kosovo Independence - Ansgar Schreiber

4. Pervading the Big Chessboard: EU Actorness in the context of Kosovo Status Negotiations - Iskren Marinov

5. Reconsidering Normative Power Europe through the EU-Russia Strategic Partnerhsip - Sacha Bongard

6. The Development Pollicy of the European Union: A tool for Advancing European Interests - Matthijs Korzilius

7. ESDP Missions: Evidence for a changing path of the EU-NATO cooperation? - Viktor Popovski