Univ.-Prof. Dr. Valentina Petrović

Acting professor for Comparative Political Science
Focus on Southeast and Eastern Europe

Contact

Neues Institutsgebäude
Universitätsstr. 7/2nd floor
Room: B 206
1010 Vienna
T: +43-1-4277-49424
E-Mail: valentina.petrovic@univie.ac.at

Office Hour

Upon agreement by e-mail to student assistant Sarah Schlaier, sarah.schlaier@univie.ac.at

Teaching

Courses: u:find

Research areas

I see the societal relevance of my research in debates about how to move beyond competitive authoritarian regimes, which currently characterize parts of Eastern European. More precisely, my research sheds light on how an individual's economic position and clientelism (the exchange of political support for material benefits or access to resources) shape political outcomes, such as the emergence of democratic opposition and broader processes of democratization. These insights are relevant for policymakers, civil society actors, and citizens seeking to understand and strengthen democracy.

Comparative politics, political sociology and political behaviour in Eastern Europe, with a particular interest in social classes, party–voter linkages and democratization processes.

Short CV

• 2012 Exchange Semester, Sciences Po Bordeaux France
• 2013 BA in Political Science, University of Zurich Switzerland 
• 2015-2017 Research Assistant, University of Zurich 
• 2016 Exchange Semester, American University of Beirut Lebanon 
• 2016 MA in Political Science, University of Zurich Switzerland 
• 2016-2022 Research Assistant, European University Institute 
• 2017 MRes in Political Science, European University Institute (EUI), Florence Italy 
• 2020-2023 Senior Researcher, Transform! Europe & Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Project “Hundred Shades of the European Union – Mapping the Political Economy of the Euro Peripheries” 
• since 2021 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Zurich, Department of Sociology
• 2022 PhD in Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute (EUI), Florence Italy 
• since 2025 Associated Researcher University of Zurich, Department of Political Science 
• since March 2026 Professorship (temporary) in Comparative Political Science, University of Vienna

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