Benedikt Harzl

Benedikt Harzl is Professor of Law, International Relations and Politics in Eastern Europe at the Department of Global Governance since 1 October 2026. He also serves as Deputy Director of the Centre for East European Law and Eurasian Studies. His research lies at the intersection of public international law, international relations and political science, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet space.

His research interests include unresolved territorial conflicts and secessionist entities, the relationship between self-determination and territorial integrity, the European Union’s engagement with conflict regions, and minority and language protection. His research interests also revolve around the role of law in shaping European security architectures and the relationship between international law, European security and geopolitical interests.

He has regularly undertaken international teaching and research appointments, including as Botstiber Visiting Professor at the Institute of European Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and as a guest professor at Rutgers University–Camden and New Vision University in Tbilisi. He has also been affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) through the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation.

Benedikt Harzl is General Editor of the Review of Central and East European Law and co-editor of the Law in Eastern Europe book series. Alongside his research and teaching, he is actively involved in international academic cooperation, particularly with partner institutions in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus.