Maria Josua

Maria Josua is a Research Fellow at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg and a Teaching Fellow at the University of Tübingen's Department of Social Sciences. She coordinates the IDCAR network and specializes in authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and North Africa, focusing on legitimacy, political repression, and comparative political systems. Her work bridges theoretical analysis with empirical case studies in Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Syria, and Bahrain.

Academic Background:

• PhD Candidate (2009-2014): University of Tübingen, researching 'The Arab Uprisings as Crises of Legitimacy'
• M.A. in Political Science, Middle East Studies, and Public International Law (2009): University of Tübingen
• Study Abroad (2006-2007): University of Copenhagen

Research Interests:

• Authoritarian regime survival strategies
• Political legitimacy frameworks
• Comparative analysis of dynastic succession in patrimonial systems
• Application of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)

Teaching Focus:

• Authoritarian systems in comparative perspective
• Post-Arab Spring political dynamics
• Theory of political legitimacy

Key Contributions:

• Co-authored analysis of repression strategies during Arab Spring
• Policy-relevant reports for German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

Team Affiliations: Schlumberger Team at University of Tübingen, GIGA Research Network, IDCAR network.