Paola Rivetti

Dr. Paola Rivetti is an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at Dublin City University's School of Law and Government. She specializes in political participation in Iran, social movements in authoritarian contexts, and gender dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa region.

• Author of Political Participation in Iran from Khatami to the Green Movement (2020)
• Editor/Co-editor of 10+ academic works including Islamists and the Politics of the Arab Uprisings (2018) and Continuity and Change Before and After the Arab Uprisings (2015)
• Principal Investigator for Horizon Europe's INTERFACED project (2025-2027)
• Vice-director of DCU's Institute for Research in Genders and Sexuality
• Director of Erasmus+ KA171 Mobility Scheme with Birzeit University

Her research examines:

• Authoritarian resilience and transnational diffusion
• Gender politics and feminist activism
• Student movements and knowledge production
• Political trust and civil society dynamics
• Methodological challenges in repressive contexts

Academic leadership roles include:

• Associate Editor, Iranian Studies and Partecipazione e Conflitto
• Co-director, Kuir Voices book series (Le Plurali Press)
• Council member, British Society for Middle Eastern Studies
• Committee member, Italian Society for Middle East Studies

Awarded:

• 2018 Early-Career Researcher of the Year (Irish Research Council)
• DCU President's Award for Early-Career Research

Public engagement includes:

• Regular media commentary (Sky News, RTE, RAI)
• Policy advising and TED Talk (2018: "What's wrong with solidarity")
• Founding member, Irish Network for MENA Studies