Melis Laebens

Melis Laebens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and the Doctoral School of Political Science, Public Policy, and International Relations at the Central European University (CEU). She is currently on maternity leave until fall 2025. Her research focuses on democratic backsliding, political parties, and electoral behavior, with regional expertise in Turkey, Poland, Ecuador, Colombia, and beyond. Her book manuscript, *Incumbents Against Democracy*, examines how elected incumbents gradually take control of democratic institutions. She employs mixed-methods approaches, including survey research in Turkey and mixed-method studies in Poland under United Right governments.

Laebens holds a PhD in Political Science from Yale University (2020), an MPhil from Yale (2017), and dual BAs in Political Science/International Relations and Economics from Boğaziçi University (2013). Her work has been published in prominent journals and datasets, including the *Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project*. She collaborates with scholars like Ora John Reuter and Saskia Ruth-Lovell, focusing on party identity and organizational analysis.

Her research trends emphasize institutional transformation under authoritarian pressures, electoral dynamics, and the role of accountability mechanisms in halting democratic erosion. She has contributed to datasets on party identity and organizational structures, reflecting her methodological rigor. While no formal awards are listed, her work is widely cited in comparative politics and democratization studies.

Laebens’ advising and grants are not detailed in the provided text, but her doctoral school roles suggest mentorship in political science research. Her work intersects with CEU’s focus on global democratization challenges, though specific lab or team affiliations are unspecified.