Elia, Bescotti/Jon-Wyatt, Matlack (Hrsg.): Sovereignty Through Practice. Multiscalarity, Reflexivity, and Interdisciplinarity.. Abingdon and New York: Routledge, 2025.
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Dr. Elia Bescotti
Leibniz ScienceCampus "Europe and America"
Research Associate
Research Associate
- Description
- Publications
- Curriculum vitae
- Presentations
Description
Elia Bescotti holds a double master’s degree (2017) in International Relations and World Politics from the University of Florence and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations – Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MGIMO – MID Rossii), as well as a bachelor’s degree (2015) in International Sciences and European Institutions from the University of Milan. He gained practical experience as an intern at the Russian International Affairs Council (Moscow) and as a research trainee at the European Union Experts NGO (Brussels). Before joining the project, Bescotti received a short-term DAAD grant to conduct research at the IOS from October 2018 to March 2019. Bescotti’s research interests include secession, nation-building and identity-building, ethnic conflicts, critical security studies, and the politics of international law. His regional research focus is on the post-Soviet space. He is fluent in Italian, English, and French. Currently, he is working on improving his Russian and German language skills. Since April 2019, Bescotti has been a research associate for the project group “Between Conflict and Cooperation: The Politics of International Law in the Post-Soviet Space,” funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, at the IOS.
Elia Bescotti's research interests include: politics of international law: self-determination of people, territorial integrity, non-intervention; secession and (non-) recognition, non-recognized de facto states; critical and constructivist security studies, securitization, ontological security; ethnic conflicts and geopolitics in the post-Soviet space; theory of international relations
Publications
Publikationen
Edited Volumes and Special Issues
Journal Articles
Bescotti, Elia: A Non-Resolution Limbo: Better Status Quo than Settled? Georgian Territorial Integrity, Russian Security Interests, and the Status of De Facto States in the Peace Process. [Eine nicht auflösende Schwebe: Besserer Status Quo als erledigt? Georgianische territoriale Integrität, russische Sicherheitsinteressen und der Status der De-facto-Staaten im Friedensprozess.]. In: OSCE Yearbook 2019, 2020, S. 151 - 162 (In: Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg / IFSH (Hrsg.)
Yearbook on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE Yearbook), 2019, Seite 151 - 162
1. Auflage 2020, ISBN print: 978-3-8487-6500-31). (Open Access)
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DOI: 10.5771/9783748906421-151
Bescotti, Elia: Oltre l'Impero. La politica mediterranea dell'Italia fascista [Jenseits des Imperiums. Die Mittelmeerpolitik des faschistischen Italien]. In: Eurasia. Rivista di Studi Geopolitici, 52, 4, 2018, S. 23-44 (Revision der Bachelorarbeit).
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Chapters in Edited Volumes
Bescotti, Elia/Jon-Wyatt, Matlack: Introduction. In: Elia, Bescotti/Jon-Wyatt, Matlack (Hrsg.): Sovereignty through Practice Multiscalarity, Reflexivity, and Interdisciplinarity. Abingdon and New York: Routledge, 2025, S. 1-21. (Open Access)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003493747
Online Publication/Blog posts
Bescotti, Elia/Burkhardt, Fabian/Wittke, Cindy: Passportization. Russia’s “humanitarian” tool for foreign policy, extra-territorial governance, and military intervention (co-authored with Maryna Rabinovych) [Passportisierung. Russlands "humanitäres" Instrument für Außenpolitik, extraterritoriale Governance und militärische Interventionen (gemeinsam mit Maryna Rabinovych)]. In: Verfassungsblog, 2022. (Open Access)
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DOI: 10.17176/20220323-121238-0
Bescotti, Elia: #SOUTH OSSETIA: Closer to Russian Annexation? [#SÜDOSSETIEN: Näher an der russischen Annexion?]. In: OstBlog Spezial. Russlands Krieg gegen die Ukraine, 2022. (Open Access)
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Bescotti, Elia: Russlands Passportisierung des Donbas. In: Dekóder, 2022. (Open Access)
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Bescotti, Elia: The Coronavirus Emergency in the Post-Soviet Breakaway Regions [Der Coronavirus-Notstand in den postsowjetischen abtrünnigen Regionen]. In: OstBlog Spezial. Corona in Ost- und Südost Europa, 2020. (Open Access)
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Bescotti, Elia: The Collective Security Treaty Organisation and its limits on integration [Die Organisation des Vertrags über kollektive Sicherheit und ihre Grenzen der Integration]. In: Analytical Media "Eurasian Studies", 2018. (Open Access)
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Bescotti, Elia: Nagorno-Karabakh: can the “Velvet Revolution” in Armenia bring to a conflict with Azerbaijan? [Berg-Karabach: Kann die "Samtene Revolution" in Armenien zu einem Konflikt mit Aserbaidschan führen?]. In: Russian International Affairs Council Blogs, 2018. (Open Access)
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Bescotti, Elia: The logics of secession [Die Logiken der Sezession]. In: Russian International Affairs Council Blogs, 2018. (Open Access)
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Bescotti, Elia: Proliferation of actors, authority crisis and systems of fragmentation [Proliferation von Akteuren, Autoritätskrise und Systeme der Fragmentierung]. In: Russian International Affairs Council Blogs, 2018. (Open Access)
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Bescotti, Elia: ‘Anti-propaganda’ legislation and government reshuffle: the Moldovan Constitutional Court suspends (again) the Head of State [Anti-Propaganda-Gesetz und Regierungsumbildung: Das moldawische Verfassungsgericht suspendiert (erneut) den Staatschef]. In: NAD, Osservatorio su “NUOVI AUTORITARISMI E DEMOCRAZIE”, 2018. (Open Access)
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Bescotti, Elia: New Prime Minister and Government have been appointed in Romania [In Rumänien wurden ein neuer Premierminister und eine neue Regierung ernannt]. In: NAD, Osservatorio su “NUOVI AUTORITARISMI E DEMOCRAZIE”, 2017. (Open Access)
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Bescotti, Elia: Attracting students: a compared analysis of the English version Russian universities' websites [Anwerbung von Studenten: eine vergleichende Analyse der englischsprachigen Websites russischer Universitäten]. In: Russian International Affairs Council Blogs, 2017. (Open Access)
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Bescotti, Elia: Bosnia and Kosovo: the Balkan forges of the European Jihad [Bosnien und Kosovo: die Balkan-Schmieden des europäischen Dschihad]. In: Russian International Affairs Council Blogs, 2017. (Open Access)
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Other Publications
Elia, Bescotti: Book review: Eugen Străuțiu, Steven D. Roper, William E. Crowther, Dareg Zabarah-Chulak, Victor Juc, and Robert E. Hamilton, eds. 2023. The Armed Conflict of the Dniester. Three Decades Later. New York et al.: Peter Lang (South-East European History 3). 2. Comparative Southeast European Studies, 73, 1, 2025. (Open Access)
DOI: 10.1515/soeu-2024-0031
Bescotti, Elia: Die Rolle Transnistriens im Diskurs des Präsidentschaftswahlkampfs in der Republik Moldau. Russland-Analysen, № 394, 2020. (Open Access)
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DOI: 10.31205/R A.394.02
Curriculum vitae
Professional Career
- Postdoctoral Researcher at Leibniz ScienceCampus Regensburg, since 04/2025
- PhD in Political Science, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 10/2019–12/2024
- Doctoral Associate, Graduate School of East and Southeast European Studies, University of Regensburg (GSOSES-UR), 04/2020–12/2024
- Recognised Student, Wiener-Anspach Fellow, Russian and East European Studies (REES), Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA), University of Oxford, 01/2023–06/2023
- Research Associate, Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS Regensburg), Regensburg, 04/2019–12/2022
- DAAD Visiting Scholar, Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS Regensburg), Regensburg, 10/2018—03/2019
- Research Trainee, European Union Experts NGO, Brussels (Belgium), 04/2018—07/2018
- Guest Researcher, Analytical Media "Eurasian Studies" - National Research University, Higher School of Economics, Moscow (Russia), 01/2018—04/2018
- Intern, Russian International Affairs Council, Moscow (Russia), 02/2017—04/2017
Education
- Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, CEVIPOL, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. Thesis title: Contested Sovereignties and Ontological in-Security in the post-Soviet Politics of International Law. Practices and Narratives of non-recognition in Georgia and Abkhazia, and Moldova and Transnistria, 10/2019–12/2024
- Double Master’s Degree in International Relations and World Politics, Dual degree program of University of Florence, Italy (UNIFI) and Moscow State Institute of International Relations – Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MGIMO – MID Rossii), Russia. Thesis title: The issue of security in the processes of integration and disintegration in the contemporary international system. The case study of the post-Soviet space, 09/2015—12/2017
- Bachelor's degree in International Sciences and European Institutions (Political Sciences) University of Milan (UNIMI) - Faculty of Political, Economic and Social Sciences, Milan (Italy). Curriculum in European Integration. Thesis title: Beyond the Empire: analysis of the Mediterranean policy of Italy during the twenty-years fascist rule (Language: Italian), 09/2012—07/2015
Presentations
2025
- "Taming the Beast: Smaller Powers’ Deterrence Posture in Asymmetric Power Interstate Relations. Cases from Greece and Pakistan.". Examenskolloquim der Professur Internationale Bezihungen Universität Passau, Online, 18.12.2025.
- Contests for Recognition: Ontological In-security and the Politics of International Law in Abkhazia and Transnistria. FORSCHUNGSKOLLOQUIUM Winter Semester 2025/26, History and Social Anthropology of East and Southeast Europe Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, 27.11.2025.
- “Crisis (s)pot: Deterrence in Eastern Europe” Junge Deutsche Gesellschaft für Osteuropakunde - Junge DGO, Regensburg, 18.11.2025.
More about the presentation - “Emerging Disrupting Technologies across the Aegean and the evolution of Greece’s deterrent posture”. Workshop on The Role of Emerging Technologies in Non-Nuclear Deterrence London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, 24.10.2025.
- “From the Politics of International Law to the Politics of Deterrence”. Fragmentation and Contestation in Global Politics: Navigating Authoritarianism, Memory, and Resistance. IOS, Regensburg, 19.08.2025.
- “A New In-security Architecture for Europe: Post-war Order and non-Nuclear Deterrence in Ukraine-Russia Relations". DIMAS Early Career Research Seminar Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, 07.05.2025.
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2021
- Governing Frozen Negotiations and Conflict Escalations: Political violence and the Destabilization of Unresolved Secessionist Conflicts in the Post-Soviet Space. ECPR General Conference 2021 – Online Virtual Event. 30/08/2021-03/09/2021 (Vortrag mit Cindy Wittke, IOS Regensburg). European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), 01.09.2021.
More about the presentation - Intervention. Graduate School for East and Southeast European Studies Chapter Workshop Graduiertenschule für Ost un Südosteuropaforischung der Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, 16.07.2021.
More about the presentation - Recognition of states and its denial in protracted conflicts of secession. Status, sovereignty, and their contestations. Fifth Annual Tartu Conference on Russian and East European Studies University of Tartu, Tartu (Online), 08.06.2021.
More about the presentation - Contested Sovereignties and Ontological in-Security in the post-Soviet Politics of International Law. Practices of (non-)recognition and secession in Georgia, Moldova, Abkhazia and Transnistria. First Emerging Scholars Workshop on De Facto States De Facto States Research Unit, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, University of Tartu, Tartu (Online), 14.05.2021.
- Contested Sovereignty and Diminished Citizenship: Russia’s ‘Passportization’ of the Donbas in Comparative Perspective. 2021 ASN World Convention (with Fabian Burkhardt (corresponding author), Cindy Wittke, Maryina Rabinovych). Association for the Studies of Natonalities, online, 07.05.2021.
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2020
- Nagorno-Karabakh, and other protracted conflicts and de facto states. Brownbag Public Discussion: Turmoil on the post-Soviet Rimlands: Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Nagorno-Karabakh and beyond IOS Regensburg, Online, 24.11.2020.
- Online relational interviews and preliminary fieldwork: reflections for a discussion on positionality and alternatives in times of travel restrictions. Online Workshop “Researching Conflict: Methodological Challenges and Opportunities" 03.07.2020.