The Department of Political Science and International Relations at Ibn Haldun University participated in the 83rd Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference in Chicago, held on April 23–26, 2026 in hybrid form, with a diverse delegation consisting of 2 faculty members, 1 research assistant, 2 MA students, and 3 undergraduate students. The participation highlighted particularly the strong and active involvement of students in international academic research.
A key distinction of this year’s participation was the attendance of three undergraduate students and two MA students, highlighting an important achievement for the department’s students at a major international academic conference.
In comparative politics, Associate Professor Idlir Lika presented “Explaining change in state policies toward religious minorities: Evidence from the Muslim minority in postcommunist Bulgaria” during a session held on April 25.
In international political economy, undergraduate student Ahmet Fatih Kaya and RA Mustafa Yıldırım presented “The Relations Between Trade Volume and International Relations: Example of Turkey and Ethiopia” on April 23.
Within the conflict studies track, undergraduate students Muhammed Zahid Gürkan and Yasin Çetin presented “Ethnic Polarization and Political Violence in Hybrid Regimes: Institutional and External Moderators in the Western Balkans” on April 24. In a separate session, Yasin Çetin also presented “The Increasing Influence of the Gulf and Iran upon Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Bosnian War” on April 26.
In the identity and governance panel, RA Ahmet Celal Şener and Dr. Sümeyye Uyar presented “Governance in Early Islamic Society: Models of Multireligious Coexistence and Political Unity” on April 25.
In addition, MA student Farzana Faiza and Associate Professor Idlir Lika presented “Why Do Some Protest Movements Lead to Regime Change in Competitive Authoritarian Regimes While Others Fail: Evidence from the Quota Reform Movements in Bangladesh (2013–2024)” during the Lightning Talk Panel on April 26.
MA student Emirhan Altun delivered a presentation titled “Volunteering, Civic Engagement, and Network Diversity: Behavioral Foundations of Social Capital Among University Students in Türkiye.”
Finally, RA Yunus Yeşil, RA Mustafa Yıldırım, and Dr. Sümeyye Uyar presented “From Consumption to Protest: The Politics of Boycotts in the Digital Age” in the Lightning Talk session on civic engagement and protest.
The conference participation stood out especially for its strong undergraduate involvement, with three students attending in person and actively presenting their research at a major international political science conference, underscoring the department’s emphasis on early-stage academic training and international exposure.
