Gëzim Visoka

Dr Gëzim Visoka serves as Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Dublin City University (DCU), where he also completed his PhD in Politics and International Relations. A prolific scholar, he has authored or co-edited 10 books, published 25 journal articles, and contributed 20 book chapters, establishing himself as a leading voice in critical peace studies and state recognition theory.

Education:

• PhD in Politics and International Relations, Dublin City University

Visoka's research interrogates the intersections of peacebuilding, state formation, and global governance, with particular emphasis on diplomatic recognition practices, the foreign policy of small states, and Kosovo's contested statehood. His critical approach challenges liberal peacebuilding paradigms while exploring emancipatory alternatives through concepts like 'normal peace' and 'peace multitudes,' grounded in extensive fieldwork across the Western Balkans.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals three dominant trajectories: 1) Theoretical innovations in state recognition/derecognition dynamics, 2) Critical examinations of 'counter-peace' as systemic obstruction to conflict resolution, and 3) Investigations into micro-level normalization practices in post-conflict settings. His work consistently bridges high theory with empirical studies of Kosovo, demonstrating how everyday state-making practices intersect with international governance structures.

Dr Visoka holds influential editorial positions including Associate Editor of Peacebuilding journal, editor of Routledge Studies in Statehood book series, co-editor of Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies, and editor-in-chief of the Palgrave Encyclopaedia of Peace and Conflict Studies. Complementing his academic work, he maintains 15+ years of practical engagement with civil society organizations and policy institutions in post-conflict environments, providing critical insights into transitional justice implementation and peacebuilding effectiveness.