Kevin Koehler

Kevin Koehler is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Italy, specializing in Middle East and North Africa security dynamics. He leads the Security, Politics, and International Relations (SPIRE) research area, serves on the board of the MSc in International Security Studies (MISS), and acts as associate editor for Mediterranean Politics.

His academic credentials include:

• PhD and MRes from the European University Institute, Florence
• MA from the University of Tübingen

Koehler's research centers on political elites, regime change, and civil-military relations in Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey. He examines how elite dynamics drive democratic transitions, authoritarian resilience, and military coups through mixed-methods approaches combining historical analysis, fieldwork, and experimental surveys. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical studies of regime crises.

Recent publications reveal strong trends in Tunisian democratic breakdown, military intervention dynamics, and pandemic governance in the MENA region. Koehler pioneers innovative methodologies including the Coup Agency and Mechanisms dataset, emphasizing micro-level elite behavior during political upheavals.

His scientific recognition includes:

• ERC Consolidator Grant for the MENA-PERC project

As Principal Investigator of the €2 million ERC-funded MENA-PERC project, Koehler directs a multinational team investigating elite change across Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey since the early 20th century. The project has secured significant external funding and produces policy-relevant insights for security institutions. He also contributes through editorial leadership at Mediterranean Politics and advanced teaching in political methodology.

The MENA-PERC research team comprises postdoctoral researchers Camille Abescat and Théo Blanc, project manager Dafne Carletti, and PhD candidates Lorenzo Fruganti and Julius Strunk. Based at Sant'Anna, this collaborative unit integrates historical parliamentary data with contemporary fieldwork to analyze regime stabilization mechanisms across the MENA region.