About
Kristel Vits is a researcher at the University of Tartu, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies. Her career spans roles such as PhD Researcher, International Programme Coordinator, and Junior Research Fellow in International Relations, focusing on de facto states and post-Soviet politics.
- PhD in Political Science (University of Tartu, ongoing since 2014)
- Master's in International Relations (University of Tartu, 2014)
Her research interests revolve around international relations, de facto states, post-Soviet political dynamics, and conflict resolution. Recent publications analyze patron-client relations, frozen conflicts, and geopolitical strategies of unrecognized states.
Projects she has participated in include Exploring Dynamics of Frozen Conflicts (2023–2027, €531,600 funding) and Political Community in Flux (2014–2019, €689,217 funding), both funded by the Estonian Research Council.
