معرفی
Ani Sarkissian is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University (MSU), specializing in religion and politics, democratization, authoritarianism, and civil society. She joined MSU in 2007 after earning her Ph.D. in Political Science from UCLA in 2006. She is a core faculty member of the Muslim Studies Program at MSU.
Her research focuses on religious regulation, authoritarian governance, and civil society dynamics in post-communist and Muslim-majority contexts. Notable works include The Varieties of Religious Repression: Why Governments Restrict Religion (Oxford University Press, 2015), analyzing state restrictions on religious freedom. Her research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, IREX, and the John Templeton Foundation.
Recent articles examine religious affairs ministries as tools of political control in post-communist Eastern Europe, the role of religious nationalism in governance, and civic engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her work bridges comparative politics and religion studies, emphasizing institutional mechanisms and cultural dynamics.
Sarkissian has contributed to journals such as Democratization, Politics and Religion, and the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Her academic contributions highlight intersections between religious practices, state policies, and democratization challenges.
