
Karabekir Akkoyunlu
Research Associate
Latin American Centre
University of Oxford
Visiting Scholar
Department of Political Science
Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG)
Welcome to my website!
I am a Research Associate at the Latin American Centre, University of Oxford, and a Visiting Scholar at the Department of Political Science, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Previously, I was a Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Studies, SOAS University of London (2021-2024), where I maintain a research affiliation. I also taught at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), University of São Paulo, University of Graz and the LSE.
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My research focuses on the actors and institutions that drive and resist democratisation, autocratisation and militarisation in the Global South. I explore this topic from an interregional perspective, through in-depth comparison of cases that are not typically compared, such as Turkey, Brazil, Iran and Indonesia. In my research, I employ a mixed-methods approach to comparative politics, using archival resources and interviews alongside quantitative data.
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At SOAS I convened the post-graduate courses ‘Methodology in the Social Sciences’ and ‘State and Transformation in the Middle East’, and the undergraduate courses ‘Introduction to Comparative Politics’ and ‘Government and Politics of the Middle East’.
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With roots in Istanbul, Turkey, I am a global nomad who has studied and worked in the US, France, Indonesia, the UK, Iran, Austria and Brazil.
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I have a PhD in Government from the LSE, MPhil in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, and a BA in History & IR from Brown University.
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On this website you will find information about my research, teaching, publications and public engagement. Feel free to contact me with any queries!



