Joost Jongerden

Joost Jongerden is an Associate Professor in Rural Sociology at Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS), part of Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on Middle Eastern socio-political dynamics, particularly in Turkey, Syria, and Kurdistan. He holds academic appointments including an Endowed Professorship at Kyoto University's Asian Platform for Global Sustainability. His work bridges rural development, conflict studies, and decolonial theory.

Education: Holds a doctorate (dr.) and ir. (engineer) titles, though specific academic credentials are not detailed. His academic career includes roles such as Promotor (supervisor) for multiple PhD projects, focusing on themes like composting, hydro-politics, and gender in Bolivia.

Research interests emphasize Kurdish autonomy, agricultural reconstruction in Rojava, and the socio-political impacts of migration. He has published widely on topics like seasonal migrant workers in Spain’s strawberry industry and Turkey’s rural state-building. His media engagements address contemporary issues like Syria’s conflict dynamics and food crises.

Grants and advising: Supervises projects such as 'Activism in Performative Sociology' and 'Soil Reproduction through Composting.' Collaborates internationally, including with Kyoto University and institutions in Lebanon and Iraq. His work often intersects with transnational networks and policy-oriented research.

Labs/teams: Active in Rural Sociology teams at WASS, organizing conferences and interdisciplinary initiatives. Engages in public discourse through media commentary on topics like hydro-hegemony in the Euphrates-Tigris Basin.