Petra Bezděková

Petra Bezděková

Petra Bezděková, PhD candidate at the Department of Politics and European Studies, Palacký University in Olomouc, Czech Republic

Ahoj, I’m Petra Bezděková and I’ve joined the 2024-25 cohort of Doctoral Research
Fellows at the Wirth Institute at U of A. I’m a PhD student at Palacký University in
Olomouc, where I broadly focus on EU’s external policies and international
development. However, my dissertation research is more niche as I analyse how the EU
balances human rights – economic, social and cultural rights and civic and political
rights – in its development policy.

Studying across Europe, with Master’s degrees from Charles University in Prague and
Université de Lille in France, gave me a strong foundation in international relations but
also fed my passion for exploring new places and perspectives. Early in my career, I
worked at the European Commission in Brussels, gaining insight into into how
development policies are designed at the highest levels. But eager to see these policies
in action, I headed to Ethiopia with the UNDP, where I helped coordinate social
protection programs across Sub-Saharan Africa. Just as I was settling into that role, the
covid-19 pandemic hit, and my team was suddenly managing emergency responses for
46 countries! It was an intense but rewarding experience, showing me firsthand the
critical role social protection systems play in times of crisis. Most recently, I spent nearly
four years managing bilateral projects in Moldova for the Czech Development Agency,
gaining experience in effective, on-the-ground policy work – and, of course, becoming
well-acquainted with the art of navigating bureaucracy.

Today, I balance my research with teaching and remote consulting. Back in Olomouc, I
taught courses on EU politics and international negotiations, and served as faculty
advisor to student teams for the National Model United Nations (NMUN). My goal is to
help bridge the gap between academic research and real-world practice, creating
policies that work better for the communities they’re meant to support.

Here in Edmonton, I’m looking forward to my time at the U of A, not only to advance my
research in an inspiring academic environment but also to take in Alberta’s stunning
landscapes and vibrant culture – an experience I’m sure will be as enriching personally
as it is professionally.

 

Contact

 

E-mail: petra.bezdekova@ualberta.ca
Address:
University of Alberta
Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies
300-F
Arts & Convocation Hall
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6G 2E6