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Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network
Understanding Russian influence in Europe’s Eastern periphery
INFLUENCE looks beyond the reductionist depictions of influence that dominate the news, building knowledge of the mechanisms, structures and relationships behind Russian influence in the Baltic States and the Western Balkans.
Funded by Horizon Europe under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
At a glance
Programme
Horizon Europe MSCA-DN
Duration
2027–2031
Coordinator
Vilnius University
Partners
5 universities
Doctoral candidates
10
Grant agreement
No. 101312705
About the project
Russian influence in Europe is a multifaceted phenomenon. When considering how the EU and its Member States should manage their relations with Russia, it is important to look beyond the reductionist depictions of influence that dominate the news media.
The INFLUENCE Doctoral Network builds knowledge of the mechanisms, structures and relationships that facilitate Russian influence, focusing on Europe’s strategically important Eastern periphery.
Read the full project description
Regional focus
The Baltic States and the Western Balkans.
Doctoral training
Systemic, holistic training for ten doctoral candidates, combining research and transferable skills with intersectoral and international networking.
Lasting capacity
Strengthening partner universities to continue high-quality doctoral training and research after the project ends.
The team
Ehlimana Spahić
Full Professor, Department of Political Science
University of Sarajevo
Margarita Šešelgytė
Marta Jas-Koziarkiewicz
Associate Professor (dr hab.)
University of Warsaw
Nedžma Džananović Miraščija
Full Professor, Department of Political Science
University of Sarajevo
Andrzej Szeptycki
Professor
University of Warsaw
Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen
Professor in Russian Environmental Studies
University of Helsinki
Vilius Mačkinis
Assistant Professor at IIRPS VU
Vilnius University
Lesley Arnold
Administrator
University of Glasgow
Vainius Bartaševičius
Associate Professor at IIRPS VU
Vilnius University
Sari Autio-Sarama
Senior University Lecturer, Russian and Eurasian Studies
University of Helsinki
Karolina Motiejūnaitė
Head of Project Communication
Vilnius University
Damir Kapidžić
Team Leader · Full Professor of Comparative Politics
University of Sarajevo
Marek Madej
Team Leader
University of Warsaw
Ramūnas Vilpišauskas
Jean Monnet Chair Professor at IIRPS VU
Vilnius University
Dovilė Jakniūnaitė
Professor at IIRPS VU · Project Principal Investigator
Vilnius University
Ira Jänis-Isokangas
Project Administrator · Finnish team coordinator
University of Helsinki
Aleksandra Borycka-Dziekańska
Administrator
University of Warsaw
Kaarina Aitamurto
Team Leader · Associate Professor of the Study of Religion
University of Helsinki
Alicja Curanović
Professor
University of Warsaw
Sead Turčalo
Full Professor · Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences
University of Sarajevo
Vladimir Gel’man
Professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies
University of Helsinki
Rūta Vyšniauskaitė
Project Administrator · PhD Candidate at IIRPS VU
Vilnius University
Luca Anceschi
Team Leader
University of Glasgow
Doctoral candidate DC1
[Research project title]
Vilnius University
Marta Jas-Koziarkiewicz
Associate Professor (dr hab.)
University of Warsaw
Sead Turčalo
Full Professor · Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences
University of Sarajevo
Nedžma Džananović Miraščija
Full Professor, Department of Political Science
University of Sarajevo
Luca Anceschi
Team Leader
University of Glasgow
Marek Madej
Team Leader
University of Warsaw
Alicja Curanović
Professor
University of Warsaw
Margarita Šešelgytė
Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen
Professor in Russian Environmental Studies
University of Helsinki
Kaarina Aitamurto
Team Leader · Associate Professor of the Study of Religion
University of Helsinki
Sari Autio-Sarama
Senior University Lecturer, Russian and Eurasian Studies
University of Helsinki
Damir Kapidžić
Team Leader · Full Professor of Comparative Politics
University of Sarajevo
Dovilė Jakniūnaitė
Professor at IIRPS VU · Project Principal Investigator
Vilnius University
Ehlimana Spahić
Full Professor, Department of Political Science
University of Sarajevo
Vladimir Gel’man
Professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies
University of Helsinki
Vainius Bartaševičius
Associate Professor at IIRPS VU
Vilnius University
Andrzej Szeptycki
Professor
University of Warsaw
Ramūnas Vilpišauskas
Jean Monnet Chair Professor at IIRPS VU
Vilnius University
Doctoral candidate DC1
[Research project title]
Vilnius University
Rūta Vyšniauskaitė
Project Administrator · PhD Candidate at IIRPS VU
Vilnius University
Vilius Mačkinis
Assistant Professor at IIRPS VU
Vilnius University
Ira Jänis-Isokangas
Project Administrator · Finnish team coordinator
University of Helsinki
Lesley Arnold
Administrator
University of Glasgow
Aleksandra Borycka-Dziekańska
Administrator
University of Warsaw
Karolina Motiejūnaitė
Head of Project Communication
Vilnius University
Research
Publications
Articles, chapters and working papers.
Policy briefs
Concise analysis for decision-makers.
Browse
Datasets
Research data produced in the network.
Browse
Doctoral theses
Dissertations by network candidates.
Browse
Visits
Research visits between partners.
Browse
Partner institutions
Vilnius University
Lithuania · Coordinator
University of Helsinki
Finland
University of Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
University of Warsaw
Poland
University of Glasgow
United Kingdom
Associated partners
Citizens’ Association “Why Not?” ↗
Atlantic Initiative Sarajevo ↗
Finnish Institute of International Affairs ↗
Polish Institute of International Affairs ↗
New Europe Institute Foundation ↗
BASIC (British American Security Information Council) ↗
Civic Resilience Initiative ↗
European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats ↗
Eastern Europe Studies Centre ↗
Citizens’ Association “Why Not?” ↗
Atlantic Initiative Sarajevo ↗
Finnish Institute of International Affairs ↗
Polish Institute of International Affairs ↗
New Europe Institute Foundation ↗
BASIC (British American Security Information Council) ↗
Civic Resilience Initiative ↗
European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats ↗
Eastern Europe Studies Centre ↗
Follow the network’s research
Occasional updates on publications, events and open positions from INFLUENCE.