Bayram Balci

Bayram Balci is a Research Engineer (HDR) with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and is affiliated with Sciences Po Paris. He obtained his PhD in Political Science from the Instituts d'Études Politiques d'Aix-en-Provence and Grenoble in 2001, followed by accreditation to supervise research (HDR) at Sciences Po Paris in 2016. His career spans roles as a director at the French Institute for Central Asian Studies (IFEAC) in Tashkent (2006-2010), a visiting fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC (2012-2014), and researcher/director at the French Institute of Anatolian Studies in Istanbul (2017-2022).

His research focuses on the dynamics of Islamization movements, religious transformations, and geopolitical interactions in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Key themes include Turkey's regional influence, post-Soviet political dynamics, and the intersection of religion and statecraft. His work bridges comparative politics and international relations, emphasizing the interplay between internal sociopolitical factors and external interventions.

Between 2006 and 2010, Balci directed the French Institute for Central Asian Studies (IFEAC) in Tashkent, contributing to in-depth research on Central Asian geopolitics. He later served as a visiting fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2012-2014), focusing on Middle Eastern affairs, and as director at the French Institute of Anatolian Studies in Istanbul (2017-2022), where he expanded his expertise on Turkey's regional role.

His publications highlight his engagement with multidisciplinary analyses of contemporary political and religious trends. Balci has supervised several doctoral theses on topics such as Alawite internationalization, Syrian refugee integration in Turkey, and the global spread of Islamic movements. His supervisory roles reflect collaborations with institutions like Sciences Po Paris, INALCO, and École Normale Supérieure.

Scientific awards include a Jean Monnet Fellowship at the European University Institute in Florence, underscoring his contributions to European and Middle Eastern studies. His visiting fellowship at the Carnegie Endowment further demonstrates international recognition of his research expertise.