Bela Greskovits

Béla Greskovits is a University Professor at the Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, Austria, holding dual roles in the Department of International Relations and Department of Political Science, alongside Emeritus statuses in both departments. He also serves as a University Professor in the Doctoral School of Political Science, Public Policy, and International Relations. His research focuses on the political economy of East-Central Europe, comparative economic development, social movements, and democratization, with a current emphasis on civil society’s role in the rise of right-wing populism.

Academic appointments include visiting roles at Harvard University (2008-09), Cornell University (1998-99), and the European University Institute (2016-21). He earned a PhD in Economics from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1996) and an MA from the Budapest University of Economics (1980). Fluent in Hungarian, English, and German, he has authored over 100 publications, including the influential book Capitalist Diversity on Europe's Periphery (2012, co-authored with Dorothee Bohle), which won the Stein Rokkan Prize in 2013.

• Key Awards: 2021 East European Politics Best Article Prize, 2021 Polányi Károly Prize, Danubius Award (2018), Bibó István Prize (2014), and CEU Outstanding Research Award (2014).

His work bridges political economy and sociology, analyzing how economic systems interact with democratization processes. Recent publications explore nationalism, rule of law crises in Europe, and Hungary’s illiberal turn. He has advised numerous policy initiatives and remains a leading voice on post-socialist transformation and civil society dynamics.