Alexandra Vasileva is a PhD candidate in the programme group Political Economy and Transnational Governance (PETGOV). Alexandra received her BA in social sciences and economics from the Humboldt University Berlin and did an MA in political science at the Freie Universität Berlin.

In her dissertation Alexandra researches the nexus between politics, economy and structural power relations in Russia in a comparative BRICs context. Her research interests include comparative political economy of the post-Soviet countries and China, as well as international relations. Alexandra has teaching experience at BA and MA levels in Germany (Freie Universität Berlin) and the Netherlands (UvA).

Alexandra worked for the European Parliament in Brussels, German political foundations in China and Georgia, German Chamber of Commerce in Moscow, and made a documentary film about trade barriers in Central Asia on behalf of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).

Alexandra spent the fall semester 2014 as a guest researcher at Boston University, USA. There she continued the work on her dissertation, gave several talks and audited classes on comparative political economy and the economic crisis.

This is my documentary film about regional trade in Central Asia. I did it in 2012 together with Tilman Reuter on behalf of the German Development Agency GIZ.

Film synopsis:

For centuries, trade had been flourishing in Central Asia along the Great Silk Road. Today local traders face numerous difficulties to export their goods.
The documentary explores the challenges and chances for regional trade in Central Asia, following the local export star - the apricot - along its journey from remote farms in Kyrgyzstan over local markets and processing factories in Tajikistan to supermarkets in more affluent Kazakhstan.
The film shows the challenges that arise on the way - complicated customs procedures, corruption but also some truly surprising issues. The complex topic of trade barriers becomes tangible through personal stories of local farmers, traders, factory directors, government officials and NGO activists.

A. Vasileva (2011): „Für eine Reform des westlichen Russlanddiskurses“, in Russlandanalysen No. 215,

A. Vasileva (2013): "Continuity and Change in Russian Capitalism", in Becker, Uwe (ed.): The BRICs and Emerging Economies in Comparative Perspective, London: Routledge, pp. 100-122

A. Vasileva (2013): "Patrimonialism as a decisive factor of Russia's politico-economic development", in Neprikosnovennij Zapas 4 (90) (in Russian)

A. Vasileva (2014): review article of the book by A.Ledeneva "Can Russia Modernise?" (2013), Politische Vierteljahresschrift (2) (in German)

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