Christopher Hartwell

Professor Christopher Hartwell serves as Head of the International Management Institute at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) School of Management and Law. His research spans international business, political economy, and economic transition, with particular expertise in post-communist economies and geopolitical dynamics. He maintains an active research agenda addressing contemporary challenges in international business and institutional development.

Hartwell's research interests focus on the intersection of politics and business, examining how political institutions shape economic outcomes and business strategies. His work explores populism's impact on corporate social responsibility, geopolitical disruptions in international business, and institutional evolution in transition economies. He investigates the complex relationships between political volatility, financial markets, and corporate decision-making, with special attention to Eurasian contexts and environmental governance challenges.

His recent publications reveal a strong thematic focus on populism's effects on business practices, geopolitical disruptions in international markets, and institutional dynamics in transition economies. The research demonstrates methodological diversity spanning historical analysis, quantitative economic modeling, and qualitative case studies, with particular emphasis on Eastern Europe, Russia, and Eurasian integration processes.

Hartwell leads and contributes to multiple research projects, including the Marshall Plan for Ukraine, Economic Priorities in Post-War Ukraine, and The Economic Reconstruction of Belarus as project leader, and several ongoing initiatives as deputy project leader including Purpose-driven Design and Innovation at Logitech, Soviet-Swiss trade relations during the Cold War, and EcoLink: Cross-border Linking of Sustainability Data. His ORCID identifier is 0000-0003-3340-1276, reflecting his extensive scholarly contributions across numerous peer-reviewed journals and book chapters.