Ibrahim Genc
Thesis: Turkey’s Curtailing Democracy
Ibrahim Genc is a PhD student in the school of Government and International Relations. Ibrahim holds a master’s degree from Victoria University, Melbourne. His research concerns the rise of ‘phantom democracies’ around the world. More specifically, he focuses on regimes like Turkey, and the ways their policies have eroded the values of democracy. Last year he joined Democratic Decay and Renewal as a research editor. Some of his works have appeared for a think tank organisation called Beyond the Horizon’s website. Ibrahim's Book Review of The New Despotism, John Keane (2020) in the publication Horizons Insights, Vol 3, Issue 4.
His main research interests are:
- Turkey
- Democratisation
- Democratic backsliding
- Authoritarianisms
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Bogdan Mamaev
Thesis: Contentious Action in Democratic and Authoritarian States
Bogdan studied International Relations at Ural State Pedagogical University and undertook a work placement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was a Turkish Government Scholarship holder and obtained an MA in Political Science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His Master’s project explored cycles of protests in Russia using political opportunity theory. He also attempted to use social networks and Google Trends as the tool to determine protest eventfulness and to identify the degree of public interest and awareness towards protest.
Research interests include:
- Social movements
- Contention
- Repression
- Democratisation and
- Authoritarianisation.
Lukas K. B. Nagel
Thesis: ‘“You messed with the wrong generation!” Resilience and protest motivations among young Myanmar pro-democracy activists in exile
Lukas’ research focuses on the vital role of young activists in challenging authoritarianism, particularly in the context of the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar. His project investigates political motivations and explains why they risk their lives in political struggle. It also explores their future aspirations and protest repertoires.
Before pursuing his studies in Australia, Lukas gained valuable experience working on anti-corruption initiatives in Kenya and engaging in peacebuilding and research efforts across Myanmar, the Philippines, and India. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sinology (Free University, Germany) and a master’s in Asian studies (Lund University, Sweden). As a certified Peace and Conflict consultant and a committed human rights advocate, he actively contributes to an NGO that supports the democratic aspirations of the Milk Tea Alliance.
Outside of academia, Lukas is a passionate motorcyclist, craft beer enthusiast, teacher, and cinephile. He teaches political science and modules on International Relations at Griffith and in not-for-profit schools.
His research interests include:
- Political Psychology and Nationalism
- Youth Activism and Identity Formation
- Peace and Conflict Studies
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Madeleine Pugin
Madeleine is a Kombumerri woman and PhD candidate in the School of Government and International Relations.
Prior to commencing her PhD, Madeleine was a high school English Teacher.
Madeleine's research is focusing on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically cultural rights, and the struggle of identity and recognition of her people as the Traditional Custodians of their Country. Madeleine is interested in Indigenous history, politics, and education.
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Nay Kim
Thesis: Social Accountability in Fighting Corruption in Southeast Asia: The case of Cambodia, The Philippines and Indonesia
Nay Kim is a PhD candidate at the School of Government and International Relations. Her PhD project aims to explore the current and potential roles of the formal citizen oversight mechanism, institutionalizing citizen engagement, in state-backed social accountability efforts to control corruption. Nay holds a master’s degree in Development Practice from the University of Queensland. Nay is a former researcher for the International Budget Partnership (IBP) on Open Budget Survey in Cambodia. Nay's professional experiences lie in programme management, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and social research. Her main research interests are public policy, public integrity, anti-corruption, and social policy.
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Erika Isabel Bulan Yague
Thesis: Young People Shaping Southeast Asia’s Regional Peace and Security Agenda
Erika is a young woman leader from the Philippines who is passionate about peace and human rights and a strong activist for the cause. She is a PhD Candidate at the School of Government and International Relations. Erika's expertise is in young people's participation and civic engagement in emergencies and peacebuilding. She works with the United Nations mainly on advancing the Youth Peace and Security Agenda and youth participation in emergencies. Before working at the UN, Erika worked as an emergency responder in the Philippines, a government-elected local youth councilor, and has been active in youth activist networks in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. She holds a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Queensland through the Rotary Peace Fellowship Programme, a Youth Peace and Leadership Certificate from Columbia University in the City of New York, and a Bachelor of Science in Community Development with honours (Cum Laude) from the University of the Philippines.
Her research interests include youth engagement and participation, peace and conflict studies, feminist research, social movements and decolonisation
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Samantha Perussich
Thesis: How do regulatory frameworks within Australian jurisdictions best account for, regulate and prevent soft corruption?' A case study comparison
Sam Perussich is a PhD candidate at the School of Government and International Relations. Her PhD project aims to explore the current laws and regulatory frameworks within Australia, and whether they sufficiently account for and regulate soft corruption. Soft corruption/ grey corruption is typically defined as unethical conduct that benefits public officials or their associates at the expense of the public interest but typically sits outside traditional criminal laws. The focus will be on whether the current structures and regulatory frameworks are addressing the problem of soft corruption from a deterrence theory model and if so, how this is being achieved.
Sam is a senior government and litigation lawyer with over 12 years of legal practice experience, particularly within prosecutions, law enforcement and litigation (criminal, civil and commercial). Her specialities lie within the intersection between civil and criminal law from a public law perspective.
Sam holds a masters degree from the University of Edinburgh in Criminal law and Criminal Justice, and an LLB/Bachelor Science (Psychology) (hons.) from the Australian National University.
Francesco Vittonetto
Thesis: The Transnationalisation of Populist Publics
Francesco is a PhD Candidate at the School of Government and International Relations. His research is part of the Future Fellowship project on the internationalisation of nationalist populism, led by Professor Duncan McDonnell. Francesco’s thesis investigates the role of digital publics of populist radical right (PRR) parties in the processes of transnationalisation. It explores how their engagement on social media platforms fosters connections between PRR actors, ultimately contributing to build a shared communicative space for the far-right. Combining quantitative text analysis and social network analysis of social media data, and interviews with party communication officials from France, Italy, and the United States, the thesis project advances our understanding of the dynamics of transnationalisation among radical right populists.
Before joining Griffith University, Francesco worked as a journalist and political communication consultant in Italy, and as a digital communication trainee at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany. He holds degrees in Communication Studies (B.A.) and Public and Political Communication (M.A.), both from the University of Turin.
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