Heiko Pleines

Prof. Dr. Heiko Pleines serves as Head of the Department of Politics and Economics at the Research Centre for East European Studies (Forschungsstelle Osteuropa) at the University of Bremen, where he has also been Vice Director of the Research Centre since 2015. He holds the position of Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Bremen and leads research on political regimes, social policy, and energy politics in post-Soviet states.

His educational background includes:

• B.A. in Russian Studies at University College London (1991-1997)
• M.A. in History, Economics and Communication Studies at Ruhr-University Bochum (1991-1997)
• Doctoral degree in Political Science from Freie Universität Berlin (2002)
• Habilitation in Political Science at the University of Bremen (2006)

Prof. Pleines specializes in comparative politics of post-socialist states, with particular expertise in political regime trajectories, social policy development, and energy politics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. His research examines how socialist legacies shape contemporary political systems, with significant focus on Ukraine, Russia, and Central Asian states. He investigates the composition and evolution of political elites, media dynamics under authoritarian rule, and the relationship between resource wealth and social policy in authoritarian contexts.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on political elites in post-socialist transformation, social policy in authoritarian Kazakhstan, energy materialities in the context of Russia's war on Ukraine, and the dynamics of protests by journalists in competitive authoritarian regimes. His work often employs comparative approaches across post-Soviet states and integrates insights from political economy, institutional analysis, and elite studies.

Prof. Pleines is actively involved in the CRC 1342 'Global Dynamics of Social Policy' research project, examining social policy development across different political regimes. His research has significant policy relevance, particularly regarding Ukraine's political development and post-conflict reconstruction.

He has supervised numerous PhD projects through the Research Centre for East European Studies, mentoring the next generation of scholars in Eastern European studies. His work has established him as a leading expert on post-Soviet political systems, with particular recognition for his analyses of political elites and social policy development in authoritarian contexts.

At the Research Centre for East European Studies, Prof. Pleines leads a team of researchers focusing on various aspects of Eastern European politics, society, and economics. The Centre serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research on the region, with particular strengths in comparative political analysis and social policy research.