I am an Assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations and European Studies at the Faculty of Social Studies at Masaryk University in Brno, the Czech Republic. In 2018-2019, I also worked as a Research Scholar affiliated with the Arctic Futures Initiative at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), based in Laxenburg, Austria.
At the IIASA, together with my colleagues in the research team, I focused on a comparative study, analysis and synthesis of Arctic states’ national policies and strategies to the Arctic, as well as key documents of the Arctic Council. Previously, I led a research group at the Institute of International Relations in Prague and I was responsible for developing a comprehensive analysis of the Arctic region with a focus on the engagement of the Czech Republic in the Arctic. I regularly cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. I am also a Czech delegate to the Social & Human Working Group of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC).
I have been always fascinated by international relations and global politics. Before my interest in the Arctic region, I was looking at the US-Russia relations. It is there, where I first came across the Arctic-related questions and analyses. I have learned that the Arctic is a unique arena of cooperation between the world leading actors. I wanted to understand security dynamics between the Arctic states and analyze the main drivers of their domestic and foreign policies. I believe that this ambition in combination with my genuine passion for making a difference and changing the world, are the main reasons why I have become an Arctic researcher. My research interests focus on geopolitics and security in the Arctic region, securitization theory, US-Russia relations, and NATO-Russia relations.
My latest publications include:
Padrtová, Barbora. (2020). “Applying conventional theoretical approaches to the Arctic.” In Gunhild Hoogensen Gjørv, Marc Lanteigne, Horatio Sam-Aggrey. Routledge Handbook of Arctic Security. 1st ed. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis, pp. 29-42, ISBN 978-1-138-22799-6.
Heininen, Lassi, Karen Everett, Barbora Padrtová and Anni Reissell. (2019). Arctic Policies and Strategies – Analysis, Synthesis, and Trends. Laxenburg: IIASA, 2019. ISBN 978-3-7045-0156-1. doi:10.22022/AFI/11-2019.16175.
Padrtová, Barbora. (2019). Frozen narratives: How media present security in the Arctic.” Polar Science, 21 (September), pp. 37-46. doi:10.1016/j.polar.2019.05.006.
If you would like to contact me or learn more about me:
Email: padrtova@mail.muni.cz
Twitter: @PolarBarbora
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-barbora-padrtova-0a4091159/
Website: https://mve.fss.muni.cz/en/about-us/staff#
Women in the Arctic and Antarctic 