Eva Piirimäe

Eva Piirimäe
Piirimäe at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies (2021)
Born (1974-06-19) 19 June 1974[1]
TitleProfessor of Political Theory[2]
SpousePärtel Piirimäe[3]
AwardsWinner (2023), István Hont Book Prize[4]
Baltic Assembly Prize in Science (2025)[5]
Academic background
ThesisThomas Abbt (1738–1766) and the Philosophical Genesis of German Nationalism (2006)
István Hont
Academic work
DisciplinePolitical theory
Intellectual history
InstitutionsUniversity of Tartu[6]
Notable works
Herder and Enlightenment Politics (2023)[7]

Eva Piirimäe (née Mikelsaar; born 19 June 1974) is an Estonian political theorist and intellectual historian. She is a professor of political theory at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies at the University of Tartu, and serves as programme director for political science.[6] Since September 2024, she has been professor of political theory and head of the doctoral specialisation in political science.[2]

Academic career

Piirimäe received her PhD from the University of Cambridge in 2006 with a dissertation titled Thomas Abbt (1738–1766) and the Philosophical Genesis of German Nationalism, supervised by István Hont.[8]

Visiting appointments and academic service

Piirimäe was a Visiting Scholar at the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies at Harvard University (September–November 2016).[9] She was also Juris Padegs Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University (academic year 2016–17).[8]

Research

Piirimäe’s research focuses on the history of political thought, including theories of nationalism, sovereignty, and self-determination.[6][2] Her monograph Herder and Enlightenment Politics (Cambridge University Press, 2023) examines Johann Gottfried Herder’s political thought in the context of eighteenth-century debates on commerce, peace, and reform.[7] The book has been reviewed in academic venues including History of European Ideas.[10]

Awards and honours

In the media

Piirimäe has been cited in Estonian public media in her capacity as a professor of political theory at the University of Tartu, including commentary related to academic publishing and open access.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Eva Piirimäe". Estonian Research Information System (ETIS). Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Professor of Political Theory Eva Piirimäe gives her inaugural lecture on the history of self-determination". University of Tartu. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Poliitikateooria vajab enam väikerahvaste perspektiivi". Universitas Tartuensis (in Estonian). University of Tartu. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  4. 1 2 "The István Hont Book Prize". Institute of Intellectual History. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Baltic Assembly Prizes and Medals Award Ceremony 2025". Baltic Assembly. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "Eva Piirimäe". University of Tartu. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  7. 1 2 Piirimäe, Eva (2023). Herder and Enlightenment Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781009315807.
  8. 1 2 "Eva Piirimäe". MacMillan Center, Yale University. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Visiting Scholars 2016–2017". Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Walker, A. (2024). "Eva Piirimäe on Herder's political thought". History of European Ideas. doi:10.1080/01916599.2024.2358627.
  11. ↑ "The Baltic Assembly Prize in Science went to political researcher Eva Piirimäe". Riigikogu. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Academic publishers' billion-dollar business paywalling Estonian research". ERR News. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
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