Profile
Iva Sojková is an AMO Research Fellow and focuses on how international influences affect the quality of democracy in Africa.
She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, an MA in Politics - African Studies from the University of Hradec Králové and an MA in African Studies from Dalarna University in Sweden. She completed her PhD in African Studies at the University of Hradec Králové in 2024. Her dissertation research focused on China's influence on the quality of democracy in hybrid regimes in Africa. Her research interests also included the issue of illegal mineral extraction, particularly in West Africa, its politicization and related human rights and environmental issues. As part of her studies, she has also undertaken several long-term research and study fellowships in Ghana (University of Ghana) and Zambia (University of Zambia). Iva was awarded a Fulbright scholarship for her dissertation research and conducted it in the United States at Johns Hopkins University in 2022-2023. She has a wide range of work experience. In the past, for example, she worked as an analyst at the non-profit organization KohoVolit.eu or as a lecturer at Dalarna University in Sweden. She also gained insight into the research sector while working at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. She also completed internships at the European Commission in DG INTPA or at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.