Cilja Harders

Prof. Dr. Cilja Harders is a Professor and Director of the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies at the Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science, Freie Universität Berlin. She specializes in political transformations in the Middle East, focusing on authoritarianism, urban poverty, gender studies, and peace and conflict dynamics. Her academic career includes roles at Ruhr University Bochum and Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster. She holds a Magister Artium from the Universities of Freiburg and Hamburg and a PhD from Hamburg University (1999).

Her research emphasizes local governance dynamics, informal institutions, and the interplay of global and regional contexts in political change. Notable works include analyses of the 2011 Egyptian uprising, Midān Moments theory, and gendered perspectives on peacebuilding. She has contributed to interdisciplinary projects like the SFB 1171 Affective Societies and MERID&EMNES initiatives.

Harders has advised multiple PhD and MA students, with a focus on Middle Eastern and North African politics. She is affiliated with organizations such as the DVPW, APSA, and MESA. Her work bridges theory and practice, addressing issues like Euro-Mediterranean relations and grassroots mobilization.