Holds degrees in history from the University of Paris I-Sorbonne, political science from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (IEP), a Master’s in Soviet Studies from Harvard University (1974) and a Ph.D. in history of international relations from the University of Paris I (1978). Former associated researcher at the Russian Research Center, Harvard University (1974-1975); Eastern Europe expert for the BBC World Service (1977-1982); executive director of the International Commission for the Balkans, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (1995-1996); member of the Independent International Commission on Kosovo (1999-2000); and visiting professor at the Department of Government, Harvard University (2006). Editor-in-chief of Transeuropéennes (1992-2003). Advisor to the President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel (1990-1992); advisor to the European Commission since 2007.
Member of the scientific committee of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague (since 1998); visiting professor at the College of Europe, Bruges (since 1999); member of the scientific board of the Prague Institute of International Relations (since 2007).
Teaching
- Sciences Po: “Trajectories of democratization and European integration”; “Central Europe, the Balkans and the new neighborhood of the EU” (Master’s level)
- College of Europe, Bruges: Wider Europe: EU and its neighbors”
Research interests
- Democratic transition in Eastern Europe and the Balkans
- European integration (the enlargement of the EU and neighborhood policies).
- Nationalism: the demise of federal States and the building of the Nation-States in Eastern Europe