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Méadhbh McIvorView profile

Associate Professor

• Social Anthropology
• Legal Anthropology
• Human Rights Law
• +3 more

Méadhbh McIvor is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change. She previously taught Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester, UK, and held academic positions at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, and other institutions. Her research focuses on the intersections of law, religion, and human rights, particularly examining legal activism by religious groups and the sociopolitical dimensions of religious identity. Research Interests: Legal Anthropology: Examining how law shapes religious practices and vice versa. Freedom of Religion: Analyzing debates over religious rights in secular contexts. Cultural Anthropology: Exploring religious iconography, digital age spirituality, and suburban belief systems. Political Theology: Investigating the role of religion in political movements and border policies. Publications Overview: Her work spans ethnographic studies of Christian legal activism in England, the juridical treatment of religious freedom in Europe, and the evolving role of religion in digital communication (e.g., emoji iconography). Recent research includes analyses of 'We Believe' suburban signage in the U.S. and the ethical implications of water provision for migrants. Grants & Collaborations: While specific grants are not listed, her interdisciplinary approach indicates active engagement with legal and religious networks. Co-authored works suggest collaboration with scholars like Richard Amesbury and Michael Edwards. Labs/Teams: No specific lab affiliations mentioned, but her research often involves fieldwork collaborations with religious communities and legal institutions.

Matt GolderView profile

Professor

• Comparative Politics
• Political Methodology
• Electoral Systems
• +3 more

Matt Golder is a Professor of Political Science at Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the College of the Liberal Arts and the Department of Political Science. He holds leadership roles as Director of the Honors Program in Political Science and the Comparative Politics Program. His research focuses on political representation, electoral systems, and methodological rigor in political analysis. Golder has authored influential works, including textbooks like Principles of Comparative Politics and Interaction Models: Specification and Interpretation , and has contributed to projects such as the Making Electoral Democracy Work and the Electoral Integrity Project. His work examines topics like electoral rules, negative campaigning, and the interplay between religion, development, and political attitudes. Funded by institutions like Canada’s SSHRC, his research emphasizes empirical validation and methodological best practices. Golder’s academic contributions span teaching, editorial roles (e.g., Comparative Politics Newsletter), and international collaborations, reflecting a career dedicated to advancing comparative politics and political methodology. Education: Ph.D., New York University (2004); M.A. in French Studies (NYU), M.Phil. in European Politics (Oxford), B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (Oxford). His research group, the CP Group, includes postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students. He has taught at institutions like Florida State University and the University of Essex. Research interests include comparative politics, electoral systems, political methodology, and representation. His recent projects explore geopolitical rivalry’s impact on anti-immigrant sentiment and religious participation’s role in economic development. Golder’s work bridges theoretical insights and empirical rigor, shaping debates in political science.

Kathleen FoodyView profile

Assistant Professor

• Modern Islam
• Liberalism
• Secularism
• +3 more

Kathleen Foody is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at North Carolina State University (NC State). Previously, she served as an Associate Professor of International Studies at the College of Charleston. Her work focuses on modern Islam, liberalism, secularism, media representation of Muslims, and post-secular pedagogies. She holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies (Islamic Studies) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.A. in Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern Studies from Washington University in St. Louis, and a B.A. in Religion, Sociology, and Anthropology from Carleton College. Her research explores how ideas of liberalism and secularism influence debates on Islamic practice and politics, particularly in Iran and the U.S. Recent projects include examining international attempts to frame Islam for liberal publics and analyzing media portrayals of Muslims in American contexts. She has also published on teaching strategies for religious studies post-9/11 and the interplay between secularity and citizenship in contemporary Iran. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Her advising and grants narrative remains unspecified, as no students or grant details are listed. She is affiliated with the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program as part of her interdisciplinary work. No lab or team affiliations are noted in the text.

Emerson Zora HamsaView profile

Assistant Professor

• 19th & 20th Century American Literatures
• Black Studies-Philosophies and Theories of the Human
• Blackwomen’s Literature
• +3 more

Emerson Zora Hamsa is an Assistant Professor of English at Auburn University, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts. Their research focuses on black literary studies, interrogating the intersections of blackness and humanism through interdisciplinary close readings. Hamsa holds a PhD from Rice University, alongside degrees from Wesley Theological Seminary and Marymount University. Education: PhD (Rice University), MA (Rice University), MTS & MDiv (Wesley Theological Seminary), BA (Marymount University) Research emphasizes black sentience in U.S. literature, challenging the coherence of black humanity as praxis. Their manuscript-in-progress, All We Have Is Flesh: On Blackness and the Performance of the Human , engages theorists like Hortense Spillers and Sylvia Wynter. Recent publications include a review in Journal of Urban History analyzing African American secularism and cultural histories. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned. Courses taught include African American Literature post-1900, Blackness and the Problem of the Human, and critical theory surveys. No grants or lab affiliations are noted in the provided text.

Maya TudorView profile

Professor

• Comparative Politics
• Democracy and Democratization
• Authoritarianism
• +7 more

Dr Maya Tudor is Professor of Politics and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, and a Fellow at St Hilda's College. She specializes in comparative politics with a regional focus on South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan. BA in Economics, Stanford University MPA and PhD in Politics and Public Policy, Princeton University Fellowships at Harvard’s Belfer Center, Oxford’s Centre for the Study of Inequality and Democracy, and Stanford’s Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences Her research explores the origins of democratic and effective states, nationalism, authoritarianism, and political development. She argues that nationalism is not inherently negative but can be a resource for both democratic inclusion and exclusion, depending on whether national identity is based on inclusive civic ideals or exclusive ethnic, religious, or racial criteria. Her work highlights how narratives of nationhood shape state legitimacy and democratic stability. Her recent publications analyze democratic decline in India, the crisis of governance in Pakistan, and the role of nationalism in global politics. She has authored over twenty peer-reviewed articles and two influential books: The Promise of Power (2013) and Varieties of Nationalism (2023, with Harris Mylonas). Regular contributor to Foreign Affairs , Journal of Democracy , Washington Post , and The Guardian Frequent media commentator on BBC, Al Jazeera, and The New York Times Expert on elections and democratic trends in South Asia She previously worked at the World Bank, UNICEF, the U.S. Senate, and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee. A dual citizen of Germany and the United States, she has lived and worked across Asia, Africa, and Europe. She has advised research projects such as the REACH Alliance case study on women’s security in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Joseph KasuleView profile

Research Fellow

• Coloniality/Decoloniality
• Cultural Anthropology
• Islam in Africa
• +3 more

Dr. Joseph Kasule is a Research Fellow at the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR), Makerere University. He holds an interdisciplinary PhD in Social Studies from Makerere University and focuses on coloniality/decoloniality, cultural anthropology, and political power dynamics. His current project compares colonial mentalities in Norway and Uganda through case studies of the Sámi people and Buganda region, challenging West-centric decolonial discourse. Key research areas include Islam in Africa, secularism, and the intersection of violence with colonial structures. He co-leads the NORHED II project 'Decolonizing Epistemologies' with Bergen University. His publications include Islam in Uganda (2022), Historical Dictionary of Uganda (2022), and forthcoming works on Sámi-Buganda comparative studies. Dr. Kasule teaches cultural anthropology at MISR and actively contributes to decolonial knowledge production through public intellectualism. His work emphasizes reconciling university disciplines with external intellectual practices to foster non-violent epistemic orders.

Magdalena RaivioView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)
• Preschool Teacher Education
• Religion and Worldviews Literacy
• +3 more

Magdalena Raivio is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Work at Karlstad University, holding a PhD in Religious Studies. She is affiliated with the Studies of Children and Childhood research group within the Science of Education department. Her work focuses on intercultural, norm-critical, and intersectional perspectives in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Preschool Teacher Education, with a particular emphasis on religion and worldviews literacy. Raivio collaborates with institutions like Borås University and Helsinki University on projects funded by the Swedish Research Council and ULF. Her research employs critical discourse analysis, black feminist theory, and postcolonial frameworks to address systemic exclusions in teacher education. Notable projects include analyzing how religion and worldviews are (or are not) incorporated into Swedish preschool teacher curricula, revealing liberal secular biases in national policy. She also explores democratic education practices and strategies for fostering socially sustainable pedagogical professionalism. Raivio teaches courses on norms, gender, diversity, and power in ECEC programs and supervises student internships and thesis projects. Her publications span topics from ecofeminist theology to contemporary spirituality, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to educational reform and social justice. Her work is supported by grants including a three-year Swedish Research Council project (2024–2026) examining religion/worldviews in teacher education, and a ULF-funded collaboration with preschool practitioners on democratic education strategies. Raivio's contributions bridge academic research and practical pedagogy, aiming to create inclusive educational environments that affirm diverse worldviews.

Joshua LandisView profile

Professor

• Middle East Studies
• Syrian Politics
• International Relations
• +3 more

Joshua Landis is the Sandra Mackey Chair and Professor in Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma’s David L. Boren College of International Studies. He serves as Director of the Center for Middle East Studies and the Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies. Landis specializes in Syrian politics, Middle Eastern conflict dynamics, and regional security. His work includes analyzing the Assad regime’s resilience, US foreign policy in the Middle East, and the geopolitical implications of regional conflicts. Education: B.A. from Swarthmore College, M.A. from Harvard University, Ph.D. from Princeton University. He has lived extensively in the Middle East, including 15 years in the region and four in Syria. Research Interests: Syrian political history, authoritarian regimes, regional diplomacy, and the impact of sanctions. Landis writes the influential Syria Comment blog and frequently appears in media such as NPR, BBC, and Foreign Affairs . Awards: Three Fulbright grants and numerous teaching awards. Past roles include President of the Syrian Studies Association. Grants and Media: His analysis on Syria’s civil war, US policy failures, and regional alliances has shaped academic and policy debates. Recent media highlights include discussions on the fall of Assad’s regime and Middle East security dynamics on NPR and Politico Magazine .

• Medieval Art
• Norwegian Church Art
• Cultural Heritage
• +7 more

Margrethe C. Stang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Media Studies at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Faculty of Humanities. Her work focuses on medieval Norwegian art, particularly painting and sculpture from the High Middle Ages (c. 1200–1350), with a strong emphasis on religious imagery, patronage, and cultural heritage. Her research interests include: Medieval church art and iconography St. Olav and royal saint representations Function of religious imagery in liturgical practice Patronage in medieval Norway Antisemitism and representation of minorities in medieval art Altar frontals and stave church furnishings Interdisciplinary approaches combining art history, archaeology, and theology Her recent publications reveal a consistent scholarly engagement with medieval Scandinavian art, particularly through themes of cultural identity, religious symbolism, and visual polemics. She has edited and contributed to key anthologies such as The Medieval Scandinavian Art Reader and has published extensively on topics like the manticore in Urnes stave church and the representation of Jews and Muslims in Norwegian church art. She has supervised numerous master’s students whose theses focus on medieval art, church furnishings, and cultural heritage. Notable students include Alexander Asphaug Rauboti, Morten Spjøtvold, and Siv Brobakken. Her scientific contributions are complemented by active public dissemination, including participation in the grubleseminar series and regular commentary in journals such as Fortidsvern and Aftenposten . She also serves as Chairman of the Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum's foundation board, underscoring her leadership in cultural heritage preservation. She teaches courses on European art and architecture from antiquity to the modern era and continues to mentor students on topics related to Nidaros Cathedral, medieval sculpture, and 19th-century restorations.

Patrick J. DeneenView profile

Professor

• Political Theory
• American Political Thought
• Liberalism
• +7 more

Patrick J. Deneen is Professor of Political Science and holds the David A. Potenziani Memorial College Chair of Constitutional Studies at the University of Notre Dame . He joined the faculty in 2012 as Associate Professor and was promoted to full Professor in 2018. Prior academic appointments include Georgetown University (2005–2012), where he held the Markos and Eleni Tsakapoulos-Kounalakis Chair in Hellenic Studies and founded the Tocqueville Forum, and Princeton University (1997–2005) as Assistant Professor of Government. His educational background includes a B.A. in English Literature from Rutgers University, where he graduated summa cum laude , and a Ph.D. in Political Science, also from Rutgers, under Wilson Carey McWilliams. His dissertation, The Odyssey of Political Theory , received the American Political Science Association’s Leo Strauss Award for Best Dissertation in Political Theory in 1995. Research Interests: Political Theory Liberalism and Conservatism Critics of Modernity American Political Thought Tocqueville and Democratic Theory Constitutionalism and Religion in Public Life Deneen’s scholarship critically examines the philosophical foundations of liberalism, arguing that its internal logic undermines the very civic institutions—family, church, community—that sustain a free society. His influential book Why Liberalism Failed (2018) has been translated into over twenty languages and praised by figures across the ideological spectrum, including former President Barack Obama. His 2023 follow-up, Regime Change , calls for a new conservative elite rooted in local communities and pre-postmodern values. Scientific Awards and Honors: APSA Leo Strauss Award (1995) APSA Honorable Mention for Best First Book (2000) Research Fellowships: Princeton University, Earhart Foundation, Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Virginia Advising and Grants: While specific student advisees are not listed, Deneen has held leadership roles in academic programs, including serving as Interim Director of the Minor in Constitutional Studies (2014–2015) and Acting Director of the Center for Ethics and Culture (Spring 2018). He has received multiple research fellowships supporting his work on political theory and American constitutionalism. He is affiliated with the Tocqueville Program for Inquiry into Religion and American Public Life and serves on editorial boards including Perspectives on Political Science and American Political Thought . Labs and Teams: At Georgetown, Deneen founded the Tocqueville Forum on the Roots of American Democracy, which became a vibrant center for interdisciplinary reflection on American political culture. At Notre Dame, he contributes to the Tocqueville Program and the Minor in Constitutional Studies, fostering dialogue on religion, constitutionalism, and civic life.

Candi CannView profile

Professor

• Death and Dying Studies
• Digital Grief and Memorialization
• Cultural Practices of Mourning
• +1 more

Dr. Candi Cann is a leading scholar in Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (BIC) and the Religion Department at Baylor University . As a Professor of Religion , she specializes in death, dying, and grief , particularly digital memorialization and cross-cultural death practices . Ph.D. & A.M. in Comparative Religion, Harvard University M.A. in Asian Religions, University of Hawai'i at Manoa B.A. in Asian Studies & English, St. Andrews, NC Her research explores death technologies , virtual afterlives , and food's role in mourning rituals . She has authored three seminal books and numerous articles tracing the evolution of memorialization practices from medieval corpse cakes to contemporary social media profiles. Recent work includes pandemic-related studies on collective grief and virtual funeral adaptations . She serves as Director of Baylor in Korea and has received prestigious awards like the Fulbright Scholarship (2022-23) and Louisville Institute Grant (2020). Keynote Speaker on death studies Advisory roles for Option B and NHPCO Consultant for deathandreligionrcover.com

• Political Stability and Instability
• Failed States
• Political Violence and Terrorism
• +7 more

Dr. Grzegorz Gil serves as an Assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations within the Faculty of Political Science and Journalism at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) in Lublin, Poland. His academic profile is complemented by expert roles with Team Europe Direct (2023–present) and Team Europe (2017–present), where he provides insights on international affairs. PhD in Political Science (2010) - Dissertation: "State Failure in Post-Cold War International Environment" MA in International Relations (2005) - Thesis: "Failing States in Africa" Dr. Gil specializes in state failure and post-conflict reconstruction , with fieldwork focused on Somalia. His research spans political stability , asymmetric threats , and security regimes . Publications reveal consistent engagement with statebuilding challenges in Libya, Afghanistan, and the Asia-Pacific region. Recent article trends show increasing focus on regional integration (ASEAN-EU relations), Eastern European subversion (Russia-Ukraine dynamics), and political sanctity as a conceptual framework. His 2024 works examine statehood recognition , sports diplomacy , and legal foundations of international security . Dr. Gil teaches courses on international security systems , failed states , humanitarian operations , and Australia's foreign policy . He mentors the Oxford-Style Debating Circle at UMCS and serves as juror in national academic debate championships.

• Islamic Education
• Muslim Philosophy
• State Policy on Religion
• +3 more

Dr. Leila Almazova is a Research Fellow at the Leibniz Center Moderner Orient, specializing in Islamic education, Muslim philosophy, and state-religion dynamics in post-Soviet contexts. Her current project, The Search of a 'New Orthodoxy': Islamic Education in Post-Soviet Tatarstan , examines shifts in religious authority and state influence on Islamic pedagogy in Tatarstan from the 1990s to the 2020s. Her work intersects with broader themes of secularism, traditional values, and responses to global Islamic movements. At ZMO, she contributes to the 'Religion and Intellectual Culture' research unit, analyzing transregional connections and local adaptations of Islamic traditions. Focus on state centralization and conservative religious elites Investigates federal/republican policy tools in religious education Examines community responses to international Islamic influences Scientific Awards Fulbright Grant (2010) for collaborative research in the U.S. Previously, she served as Executive Director at the Resource Center for Islamic Education Development at Kazan Federal University (2012-2016) and translated Ziyaedtin Kamali's seminal work into Russian (forthcoming, 2024).

• Modern Jewish Thought
• Political Theology
• Modern Intellectual History
• +3 more

Itamar Ben Ami is an Affiliated Researcher at the Dubnow Institute and a member of the focal project »Turning Object into Subject. Communicating Jewish Everyday Culture in Germany.« His work bridges the intersections of modernity, religion, state, and secularism in the 20th century, with a focus on Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jewish political theology. Education : PhD from Hebrew University of Jerusalem; graduate of ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva world. Awards : Recipient of Posen Society of Fellows, Minerva Stiftung, and Rothschild Post-doctoral Fellowships. Teaching : Former research fellow and lecturer at Humboldt University of Berlin. Research interests center on Modern Jewish Thought , Political Theology , and Religion-State Dynamics . His recent work explores Jewish material culture, such as the kippah's symbolic role in public spaces. He contributes to projects analyzing Jewish burial practices and Habsburg-era trafficking investigations, though these are collaborative efforts rather than his sole authorship.

Dietrich ReetzView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Political Science
• South Asian Studies
• Islamic Studies
• +3 more

Dietrich Reetz is a Senior Research Fellow at the Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) and an external faculty member at the Department of Political Science, Free University Berlin. His research focuses on global Muslim identities, with a regional emphasis on South and Central Asia, Europe, and transnational networks. He has led major projects like the BMBF-funded Competence Network Crossroads Asia (2011–2016) and the DFG-funded Bridging the gap: Blending Islamic and secular education (2006–07). Reetz also serves as a Principal Investigator at the Berlin Graduate School of Muslim Cultures and Societies since 2008. Research Interests : Reetz’s work intersects political science, Islamic studies, and ethnic identity formation in colonial and post-colonial contexts. He examines transnational Muslim networks, religious reform movements, and conflicts in South Asia. His projects include studies on the Tablīghī Jamā`at and Da`wat-i Islāmī in Europe, and historical analyses of ethno-religious movements in pre-1947 India. Publications & Projects : Reetz has authored articles on South Asian political Islam, Sikh identity, and Hindu-Muslim conflicts. His edited volumes include South-South Linkages in Islam (2007) and Sendungsbewußtsein oder Eigennutz (2001). His research has been funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). Teaching & Academic Roles : He taught seminars on ethno-religious movements at Humboldt University Berlin (2007) and Free University Berlin, covering topics like alternate globalities in Muslim networks. Reetz holds a Habilitation from Free University Berlin (2003), published as Islam in the Public Sphere: Religious Groups in India, 1900–1947 (Oxford University Press, 2006).