Potjomkina, Diana

Position 
PhD Fellow
Phone 
32 50 47 11 09
Nationality 
Latvia
At UNU-CRIS 
01/12/2017 to 30/11/2021
Research Interests 

Civil Society in International Relations
Latvia’s and European Union’s Foreign Policy, Eastern Partnership in particular

Education 

MA, International Relations, Riga Stradins University
BA, International Relations – European Studies, Riga Stradins University

Biographical Statement 

Diana Potjomkina worked as a PhD Fellow on the project “The contribution of 'regional' multistakeholder mechanisms in improving global governance (GREMLIN: Global and REgional MuLtistakeholder INstitutions)” under the supervision of Professor Dr Jamal Shahin (University of Amsterdam; Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Institute for European Studies) and Professor. Dr.Jan Orbie (Ghent University). The GREMLIN project aims to analyse multistakeholderism in trade and internet governance, two areas where civil society engagement has become widespread both at regional and global level. Both cases were examined through the same theoretical framework, that were established jointly in the first phase.

Diana holds MA and BA degrees (both with distinction) in International Relations from Riga Stradins University in Riga, Latvia. Diana also spent 9 months in the Washington, DC metropolitan area as a Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher at the George Mason University.

Diana started her professional career at the European Movement – Latvia where she was a project manager and advisor from 2010-2013 before becoming an elected board member in 2015. In 2011-2013, she worked as an expert for three opinions of the European Economic and Social Committee dealing with the European Year of Citizens, Europe for Citizens Programme, as well as Sustainable Changes in Transition Societies.

In 2013, Diana joined the Latvian Institute of International Affairs as a researcher and project manager. In this capacity, she worked with and for such donors and partners as NATO, European Commission, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Nuclear Threat Initiative, European Leadership Network, Trans European Policy Studies Association, Latvian Foreign Ministry, Latvian Parliament and others. Diana received certificates of merit from both the Chair of the Parliament of Latvia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia for her work during the Latvian Presidency of the EU Council (1st half of 2015). In 2013-2017, Diana also worked as a part-time lecturer at the Riga Stradins University, as well as taught one course at the Ventspils University College and took part in organising a joint training project with the Riga Graduate School of Law.