Recognition in political science often comes from groundbreaking research or influential books. But sometimes, the most profound contributions are born not in quiet libraries, but in the rubble of a catastrophe. This year, the prestigious APSA-PSA International Partnerships Award honors a model of academic solidarity forged in the aftermath of unthinkable loss.
The award is presented to Lisel Hintz, Feyda Sayan-Cengiz, Madonna Kalousian, and Devrim Yavuz for their Post-Disaster Online Writing Solidarity Group. The initiative began as a direct response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in February 2023. What started as a lifeline for a handful of scholars has grown into a transnational community. It now spans more than twenty countries and has supported over 160 participants. To date, the group celebrates 17 successful doctoral defenses.
The award committee noted the project’s originality, human impact, and scholarly generosity. It called the effort a full embodiment of civic engagement and inclusivity. The group provides structured support and mentorship. It specifically aids scholars from historically underrepresented communities in the Middle East and beyond. Perhaps most powerfully, the team published a replicable blueprint in PS: Political Science & Politics. This ensures their model of support can be adopted by academic communities worldwide facing their own crises.
The collaboration is a study in global connection. Dr. Lisel Hintz, a Lecturer at SOAS University of London, brings expertise on how identity shapes politics in Turkey and its region. From her base in the UK, she had already been running a writing group for scholars focused on the Middle East for over 167 weeks. The disaster added a new layer of urgency and purpose. “Since its founding following the February 2023 earthquakes,” her work notes, “183 scholars have participated; 26 participants have received their PhDs.”
In Turkey, Dr. Feyda Sayan-Cengiz, an Associate Professor at Manisa Celal Bayar University, provides vital on-the-ground perspective. Her research examines identity in Turkey’s gender politics and populist right-wing movements. Her involvement as a co-host grounds the group in the local context of the disaster’s aftermath. It bridges the gap between international support and local academic need.
The team’s interdisciplinary strength is underscored by Dr. Madonna Kalousian, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at King’s College London. Her work at the intersection of literature, war studies, and Middle East politics, particularly regarding Lebanon, adds deep thematic resonance. She studies how cultures process injury and conflict. This informs the group’s understanding of trauma and academic perseverance.
Completing the transatlantic link is Dr. Devrim Yavuz, an Associate Professor of Sociology at Lehman College, CUNY. His research on state power and economic elites provides a macro-political framework. It helps contextualize the broader structural challenges facing academics in the region. His role connects the project to a major hub of American academia.
This award is more than an accolade for four individuals. It is a validation of a new kind of political science. The work moves beyond traditional paper publishing. It builds human infrastructure. In a discipline that analyzes power structures, this group actively constructs a supportive one. They created a space where intellectual pursuit can continue amid personal and national tragedy.
The committee, chaired by Jan Teorell of Stockholm University, recognized this. They saw a project where scholarly output is measured not just in citations, but in completed dissertations. It is measured in sustained careers and a resilient community. The Post-Disaster Online Writing Solidarity Group proves that the most important political science sometimes happens not in observing systems, but in upholding colleagues. In doing so, it offers a powerful blueprint for academic compassion in an uncertain world.
- Groundbreaking research
- Influential books
- Civic engagement
- Structured support and mentorship
- Interdisciplinary strength
- Global connection
| Dr. | Name | Affiliation | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lisel Hintz | SOAS University of London | Identity politics in Turkey |
| 2 | Feyda Sayan-Cengiz | Manisa Celal Bayar University | Gender politics and populism |
| 3 | Madonna Kalousian | King’s College London | Literature and war studies |
| 4 | Devrim Yavuz | Lehman College, CUNY | State power and economic elites |
