Ridvan Peshkopia holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Kentucky and has spent a year as a postdoctoral fellow with the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies, the Elliott School of International Affairs, the George Washington University. He has taught political science subjects and conducted field research in several countries. His academic publications cover study areas as different as migration studies, international relations, political theory, democratization, social movements, ethnic conflict, formal modeling, research methods and film studies. His most recent articles have appeared in New Political Science, International Journal of Human Rights, Theoria, Mediterranean Journal of Social Research and Studies in East European Cinema; while his book Conditioning Democratization: Institutional Reforms and EU Membership Conditionality in Albania and Macedonia is under the publication process from the Anthem Press, London. His poems and translated poetry have appeared in the Albanian and international literary periodicals. Dr. Peshkopia has served two terms in Kuvend (the Albanian legislative) and has been Albania’s National Commissioner for Refugees.

Born from Albanian parents in Paris on August 31. Graduated the Building Engineering Faculty of the Polytechnic Institute, Tirana.  Becomes a member of the Writes and artist Leagues as painter and architect. Designs Hotels, Schools, Swellings, Laboratories, Cinema and Parks in Tirana. Lecturer on perspective at the Higher Institute of arts in Tirana. Subject to criticism at the Plenum of Writers and Artist League and at the Tirana Party Conference of Art and Literature. Denied the right to carry out designing work, to hold lectures, to exhibit his works or to publish his articles. He is moved to a village in Tirana.  Subject to critics at the national Conference of Architecture where he was accused of modernistic trends in designing. Arrested, six months under interrogation, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and hard labor. Suffer his punishment at the prison of Spac. Upon decision of the court 246 works in oil, pastel and ink, were all burnt, confiscated books, handwriting, 11 icons, richest collection of items from folk sculpture. Called seven times by Albanian Security to collaboration against others, but always rejected that. Released from jail and sent as a “simple worker” with the lowest category at the Abrasive Factory in Tirana. Declared by the supreme Court innocent. At the invitation of the Ministry of foreign Affairs and Culture of France he works at the Efemere Artistic Centre in Paris. He return annually to France for show exhibits. Granted American Citizenship. has double citizenship.  participated in  several conferences and missions for human rights: Polonia, Slovenia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia and France. Opened 38 one-man shows in Albania, France, Poland, U.S.A, Spain. Participated in several common exhibitions in Greece, Italy, France, Egypt, Tunis, U.S.A and Armenia. Invited to exhibitions work and given lectures by Faculty of Arts, Minneapolis (U.S.A); Art Academy in Poznan, Zelona Gora, Torun (Poland); Cornell University, Ithaca (U.S.A) San Petersburg (Russia). La Sapienza (Italia), Wien (Austria). Published 17 books and albums.