Pieter Troch

Pieter Troch is an assistant professor (tenure track) in Southeast European Languages and Cultures at Ghent University's Department of Languages and Cultures, specializing in Slavic and East European Studies. His academic work focuses on the modern social and cultural history of Southeast Europe, examining dynamics of social relations and identification within contexts of political and socio-economic transformations throughout the twentieth century.

Dr. Troch's research engages multiple disciplines including nationalism studies, labour history, business history, and urban studies through the lens of Southeast European area studies. His scholarly work investigates how political and economic changes shaped social identities, community relations, and urban development, particularly in socialist Yugoslavia and its aftermath. His methodological approach combines field research with geographic and map-based analysis to explore complex historical transformations.

His publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly productivity with recent works appearing in prestigious journals such as Nationalities Papers, Business History, and Journal of Urban History. His research consistently centers on Kosovo, Mitrovica, and other Southeast European contexts, exploring themes of ethnic relations, labor dynamics, urban development, and political transformations under socialism and in its aftermath.

• Predoctoral research fellow of the Flemish Science Foundation (2008-2012)
• Marie Skłodowka Curie individual fellowship recipient

Dr. Troch supervises multiple research projects including 'Social change in Southeast Europe after the second world war' (2024) and 'Internal Migration and Regional Development in Socialist Yugoslavia' (2021-2025). He serves as the internationalization coordinator for the East-European Languages and Cultures program and actively engages with contemporary political developments in Southeast Europe, particularly regarding Kosovo. His research is conducted through multiple Ghent University research groups including CCROC, ECC, and GCSEES, demonstrating his integration into collaborative networks focused on Southeast European studies.