Rick Fawn

Professor Rick Fawn is a leading scholar in international security with a focus on the former communist space. He holds a Professorship at the School of International Relations, University of St Andrews, and directs the Institute for the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia Studies. His work examines regional cooperation, post-communist transitions, and security dynamics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

• Research Focus: International security, EU-NATO relations, Russian foreign policy, and conflict zones in the post-Soviet space.
• Grants: Recipient of a £4.7M ESRC/AHRC Centre of Excellence grant and a €580,000 EU Marie Curie ITN grant.
• Leadership Roles: Former Director of the Centre for Russia and East European Studies; current Director of the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia Studies Institute.
• Publications: Author/editor of 15 books, including recent works on the Visegrad Group and EU-Central Asian relations.

His research bridges academia and policy, with contributions to governmental agencies and think tanks. Key themes include regionalism, authoritarian influence, and the geopolitical implications of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.