Welcome

 

This website is an interactive visiting card to share knowledge, interests and to develop contacts. In ‘Wim’ I briefly explain my professional development. In ‘Publications’ and ‘Databases’ you can look at material I wrote, collected, collated and which possibly could help you with your own research. ‘Projects’ refers to a general intellectual direction. ‘Think Pieces’  provide food for thought.                    

 

Biography

 

I have finished my Ph.D. in political science at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence (Italy). I successfully defended my dissertation on 19 March 2007 with compliments of the Committee. During my PhD studies I was a visiting scholar at the Politics Department of New York University (NYU). My research has taken me to Hungary (CEU), Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland (Collège de Natolin) as well as Brussels.

 

I took a masters degree (MSc) in political economy of transition at the London School of Economics (LSE) and a masters degree (MA) in contemporary history at Leuven University (KUL). My interests in political science developed during an exchange programme at Exeter University. I also have a school of education degree from the KUL.

        

I am specialised in international political economy and international relations, which I have applied to the analysis of European Integration and the transition process in Central and Eastern Europe. More specifically, I am thoroughly familiar with the transformation processes in the new EU member states, the EU enlargement process, the political mobilisation of economic sectors and EU member state voting behaviour in the EU Council of Ministers. I have a background in international trade and negotiation theory and theories of nationalism.

 

I enjoy sports, particularly long distance running, cycling (as a means of transport) and a regular game of football.

 

You can find my cv here.

 

 

© Wim Van Aken