Karel Svoboda

Senior Researcher


Karel Svoboda is a senior researcher at Peace Research Center Prague and is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University.

He received his Ph.D. in modern history from Charles University. He was also a Fubright Fellow at the University of Rochester.


Research focus

His research focuses on the political economy of the post-Soviet space, namely the use of economic instruments in Russian foreign policy and economic populism in Central Europe.


Selected Publications

Martin Laryš, Karel Svoboda (2024), Delegation of Economic Statecraft to Private Enterprises: Russia, China, and Turkey in Africa, International Studies Review

Svoboda, K. (2024) From belt-tightening to scorched earth? in Istvan Benczes (ed) Economic Policies of Populist Leaders: A Central and Eastern European Perspective, Routledge

Svoboda, K. (2022) Russia’s Loans as a Means of Geoeconomic Competition in Africa and Latin America, Problems of Post-Communism

Svoboda, K., Matlach, P., & Baddorf, Z. (2021). Russia's Activities in Africa's Information Environment (Case Studies: Mali, Central African Republic). Riga: NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence.