Thank you very much for meeting me, Mehmet, I realise how busy PhD students are. So, by way of introduction, please tell me about yourself, your background, and your research interests.
Thank you for having me. I’m Mehmet, I’m a third-year PhD student. I did my BA in Political Science and IR in Istanbul and then in 2018 I came to CEU (in Budapest) to do my MA, and now I’m still here!
Did you take any gaps in between or did you do them in succession?
I did each in succession, so no gaps.
My research interest is broadly in authoritarian regimes; specifically, how authoritarian regimes use ideology to stabilise their regimes.
How was your Master’s here?
It was intense, but it was great. For one thing, it was very transformative. I learnt a lot about life and research. Again, it was very intense, but it was worth it and helped me grow and get me to where I am now. I wouldn’t be where I am without that Master’s.
Would you give yourself any advice if you could go back to then?
I think there are some things that I could have learned sooner (and better), especially in terms of methodology, so that I wouldn’t have had to spend the first year of my PhD learning methods.
And how is the PhD going?
It’s great, there is a very collaborative environment. I learn a lot from colleagues and professors; again, it’s very intense but it’s amazing.
You’re doing the Comparative Politics track for your PhD?
Yes, exactly. Each track varies, of course, in its areas of focus. We in comparative politics focus a lot on political regimes and political behaviour. This is something that I think old-school political science has always been interested in, so we’re maintaining that tradition. And I have amazing colleagues here.
Please tell me about MENAS, how you got involved and if there were any highlights.
The Middle East and North Africa Space Research group was created under the initiative of PhD student Ameni Mehrez in 2018, and I have been involved with it from the very beginning because she knew that I was interested in the region. We first started our events with on-site seminars where we invited scholars from within our faculty and from outside; we also had movie nights—but of course, then Covid arrived, so since then events have been online. We also carry out methods workshops, which will be announced for this semester, on methods such as experiments, social network analysis, for example. Previous workshops are available to watch on our YouTube channel. I think the highlight would be two years ago when we launched and published the MENAS journal which is available online.
What are your plans for after your PhD?
I hope to do a postdoc somewhere in Europe; hopefully, Germany, as there is a lot of interest in the areas that I am researching.
Did you find it difficult moving from Istanbul to Budapest, then Budapest to Vienna, and to now potentially move elsewhere again?
I have always been in international communities. Some of my best friends in my BA were also international students, so in a way, I didn’t find it difficult to adapt to a foreign environment but it was intense at times, moving from place to place and undergoing visa processes. Being an immigrant in that sense is hard, yes.
Why do you think people should still study political science, and why at CEU?
The socio-political environment we’re in is constantly changing; the problems we faced 10 years ago are very different from the problems we face right now. So I guess to understand this everchanging environment, one should study political science to gain the right research skills. And why CEU? Well, I think CEU Political Science Department not only makes you a good politologist, but it also makes you a great researcher in the broader sense. I have colleagues who went into research or are working in think tanks, some are in academia, so what’s unique about CEU poli sci is that we learn how to do proper research methodology excellently here.
Do you have any advice for current and prospective students?
For current students: don’t stress out too much. It all turns out fine, look at me.
If you say so!
Also, enjoy the city and friendship; because of the international environment, make sure to get to know your peers and not just study. That’s part of the CEU experience. I would really regret it if I hadn’t also made time for going out with my friends.
I usually end these interviews with some trivial questions, just as an extra insight. So, what is your coffee order?
Double espresso. I have this illusion that if I have double espresso every morning, I will be really productive during the day. I’m not sure if that’s true though…
What is your favourite place in Vienna?
I really like the Stadtpark, especially on Sundays. There is a really relaxed environment as people are just hanging out on the grass.
What is your favourite place you’ve ever been to or lived in?
As part of my BA, I did a one-year exchange in Seoul, South Korea, which was really interesting. It was like a different universe for me, and I have great memories from there.
Author: Ellen Byrne. MA'22