Longtai Zhang
Before joining GIES, Longtai gained extensive international experience as a visiting researcher at leading academic institutions across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), including Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic), Comenius University Bratislava (Slovakia), the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary), the University of Tartu (Estonia), the University of Warsaw (Poland), and Vilnius University (Lithuania). These research stays helped him build a strong regional network and gain nuanced, first-hand insights into CEE politics and external affairs—from diverse foreign policy approaches to historical legacies and regional cooperation. The region’s rich history, vibrant cultures, and resilient people continue to inspire him, as he hopes to contribute to CEE throughout his academic and professional life.
By combining these interests, Longtai's PhD research investigates the evolving diplomatic agency of the CEE region, with a particular focus on the strategic positioning of the Visegrad Group within the broader context of EU-China relations. He develops the concept of “embedded hedging” to analyze how small EU member states navigate the tension between domestic politics, exposure to China, and their obligations within EU institutions. Alongside his PhD research, Longtai will track the EU’s ongoing eastern enlargement, spotlighting the hurdles facing CEE candidates in the Western Balkans, and the broader geopolitics shaping their EU accession.
Research interests
- Central and Eastern Europe, especially the Visegrad Group
- EU external relations, especially EU-China strategic dynamics
- Chinese foreign policy
- EU eastern enlargement
- Small state diplomacy
GIES research areas
Read more about Longtai's research