Scholars in Context: Begüm Burak

New Article Submission

Thank you for your interest in Jadaliyya. We welcome all submissions. The most significant requirement is for Jadaliyya submissions to be analytically compelling and offer a perspective or argument that has not been covered at length either on Jadaliyya or elsewhere. Because of the volume of submissions, well-written pieces are prioritized. Length is flexible, 1000 to 2500 words is the average range. However, we will accept longer pieces. Once submitted, several members of the editorial committee will review your piece and one of them will inform you of the decision.
Author Details
Article Details
Select Countries
Select Keywords
Select Topics
Only RTF, Word, and Pages documents accepted.

Recommended image size: 762x800 px

Location of each image should be indicated in the text of the article via a square bracket caption that includes: (1) a description of the image; (2) the photographer/designer and source of the image. Please note we only use images you as the author have the right to use, which usually means those of your own creation or those published under Creative Commons. Alternatively, you need specific permission from the copyright holder.
Please read the Release Form and provide an electronic signature [your full name] below to confirm that you accept its terms
Required
Hyperlink words in your article if they refer to links on the internet. We encourage more, rather than less, links (try to avoid footnotes—embed them as hyperlinks if possible)

Article added successfully.

Pages Menu BETA
Dec 2, 2024 Turkey
Scholars in Context: Begüm Burak

Scholars in Context: Begüm Burak

By : Begüm Burak

Scholars in Context: Begüm Burak

Jadaliyya's Scholars in Context series consists of Q&As in which scholars of the Middle East describe their research and the paths they took to arrive at it. The series provides a platform for these scholars to highlight the significance of their work, identify the audiences they seek to reach, and outline their future research trajectories, giving readers an in-depth look at the latest research in a given field.

Jadaliyya (J): What is the main focus of your current research and how does it connect to or depart from your previous work?

Begüm Burak (BB): The main focus of my current research revolves around the intersection of authoritarianism, human rights, and freedom of expression, particularly in Turkey. Specifically, I am investigating how legal frameworks, such as Turkey’s infamous Article 299—which criminalizes insulting the president—are used to silence dissent. This research connects to my broader body of work on human rights, democracy, and political repression, but it represents a departure in that it now digs deeper into legal mechanisms used to curtail fundamental rights.

In my previous work, I focused more broadly on Turkey’s democracy, the interplay between religion and state, and civil-military relations. My two articles, one in Turkish and the other in English, which offer a critical analysis of the history of military interventions in Turkey, have been cited over one hundred and fifty times on Google Scholar.

J: What particular topics, issues, and literatures does it address?

BB: My current research addresses several key topics: authoritarianism, legal repression, human rights, freedom of speech, and dissent in Turkey. It delves into how governments use ostensibly legal tools to suppress opposition, criminalize political critique, and control public discourse. Beyond Article 299, my research engages with a variety of similar legal strategies, such as anti-terrorism laws, that regimes often employ to justify crackdowns on dissent.

The literature my work engages with includes studies on authoritarianism, legal repression, and human rights violations. I draw from classic works such as Carl Schmitt’s The Concept of the Political and Giorgio Agamben’s State of Exception. Additionally, I explore contemporary scholarship on legal frameworks used to suppress dissent.

J: What brought you to this work? What was the source of inspiration?

BB: My personal and academic journey through the study of democracy, authoritarianism, and civil liberties in Turkey provided the inspiration for this work. Witnessing the erosion of democratic norms in Turkey, particularly following the 2016 coup attempt and the subsequent authoritarian turn, has had a profound impact on me as a researcher.

The rise of crackdowns on dissenting voices including academics and observing how legal instruments have been weaponized against individuals critical of the government fueled my desire to study these phenomena in a systematic way. I also want to uncover patterns and methods of authoritarian governance that resonate beyond Turkey’s borders.

J: What audiences would you like to reach, and what kind of impact would you like your research and writing to have?

BB: The audiences I hope to reach with my research include scholars in political science, law, sociology, human rights, and Middle Eastern studies, as well as policymakers and civil society organizations concerned with the defense of human rights and democracy. I also aim to reach a broader public audience, especially those interested in the ongoing struggles for democracy and freedom of expression in authoritarian regimes.

By publishing in both academic journals and more accessible platforms like opinion outlets and blogs, I hope to contribute not only to academic debates but also to public discussions about the challenges to democracy in Turkey and beyond. 

I would like my work to have an impact both in academic circles and in real-world applications. I hope that by shedding light on the legal mechanisms used to silence dissent, my research will contribute to the growing body of work advocating for stronger protections for freedom of expression and political dissent in both national and international contexts. 

J: What other projects are you working on now?

BB: In addition to my research on freedom of expression and legal repression in authoritarian regimes, I am also working on several other projects. One of these is an argumentative essay based on my upcoming MESA Global Academy-led virtual presentation on “Internet censorship in Turkey.” This work explores how the government monitors, restricts, and censors digital spaces to maintain control over the public narrative. This work ties into my broader interest in how technology and digital platforms intersect with authoritarianism and human rights. I have also finalized a book chapter on AI and higher education, which examines the potential and risks of AI’s integration into academic settings in Turkish higher education sector. In sum, my work is deeply tied to my passion for human rights, technology, and democracy.

J: What do you find most challenging about being a political scientist in Turkey?

BB: I think the most challenging part of being a political scientist in Turkey is navigating an increasingly repressive environment where academic freedom and free expression are under constant threat. The government’s crackdown on dissent, particularly after the 2016 coup attempt, has created an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship, making it difficult to critically engage with sensitive political topics. Scholars like me who research authoritarianism face the risk of legal repercussions and unemployment.

Additionally, the decrease in academic freedoms in Turkey has made conducting unbiased research a real challenge. Publishing freely is not easy in such an environment. I find this environment very stressful for my academic endeavors. However, I also find it fueling my desire to study these phenomena in a systematic way and I do my best to meaningfully contribute to the political science field.
Nov 26, 2024 Lebanon
Leyla Tajer By :
Leyla Tajer

Scholars in Context: Leyla Tajer

Scholars in Context: Leyla Tajer

Jadaliyya's Scholars in Context series consists of Q&As in which scholars of the Middle East describe their research and the paths they took to arrive at it. The series provides a platform for these scholars to highlight the significance of their work, identify the audiences they seek to reach, and outline their future research trajectories, giving readers an in-depth look at the latest research in a given field.

Jadaliyya (J): What is the main focus of your current research and how does it connect to or depart from your previous work?

Leyla Tajer (LT): My current research focuses on women’s same-sex relationships, particularly exploring how gender, love, and spirituality intersect within religious frameworks. This builds upon my earlier work, which examined women’s roles in Sufi and Hindu traditions. My dissertation, “The Ingredients, Stages, and Experience of Love: A Parallel Exposition of Jalaluddin Rumi and Ananda Coomaraswamy,” explored representations of love in Sufi and Hindu mysticism. Over time, my research has expanded to include broader issues, such as self-love, women’s empowerment, and the complexities of LGBT inclusivity within religious societies, especially in Shia contexts. This line marks a natural progression from studying love and self-empowerment to examining women’s same-sex relationships and LGBT rights within Islamic societies.
I explore how religious doctrines shape women’s roles and same-sex relationships, particularly within patriarchal systems.

J: What particular topics, issues, and literatures does your research address?

LT: My research addresses key issues surrounding gender dynamics, women’s empowerment, and LGBT inclusivity in Shia societies. I explore how religious doctrines shape women’s roles and same-sex relationships, particularly within patriarchal systems. My work also examines the spiritual and societal aspects of self-love and self-knowledge within religious mysticism, especially in Sufism. The literature I engage with includes Shia studies, LGBT studies, and gender in religious contexts. Recently, I have focused on the lived experiences of women in same-sex relationships within Shia communities.

J: What brought you to this work? What was the source of inspiration?

LT: My journey into this research began with a deep fascination with the concept of love. My PhD dissertation, which focused on love in Sufism and Hindu traditions, explored the works of Rumi through the lens of Ananda Coomaraswamy's interpretations of Hindu mysticism. This comparative approach allowed me to connect these two traditions and served as the starting point for my broader inquiry into love, gender, and spirituality.

This led me to explore how self-knowledge, self-love, and self-empowerment intersect with women’s roles in society. Living in Southeast Asia also inspired me to study Hamzah Fansuri, the father of Malay literature and a sixteenth-century mystic, whose work on self-knowledge and love deeply resonated with my broader research.

From this foundation, my work naturally expanded to address women’s same-sex relationships and LGBT inclusivity in Islamic societies. My personal experiences, particularly my activism for gender equality and women’s rights in the MENA region, have also been a major source of inspiration, fueling my commitment to exploring these complex issues.

J: What audiences would you like to reach, and what kind of impact would you like your research and writing to have?

LT: I aim to reach academic audiences in the fields of religious studies, gender studies, and LGBT studies, but I also hope to engage activists, policymakers, and individuals working on human rights issues. My goal is for my research to foster a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding gender and sexuality within religious contexts, particularly in Islamic societies. I hope my work can contribute to more inclusive policies and practices that respect the rights of women and LGBT individuals, while also challenging patriarchal structures within religious frameworks. Ultimately, I want my research to empower marginalized groups by providing them with academic and practical tools for self-empowerment and advocacy.

J: What other projects are you working on now?

LT: I am currently involved in a book project titled “Emergence of Intellectual Sufism in Southeast Asia: Ḥamzah Fanṣūrī in Context,” co-authored with Amir Zekrgoo, which will be published by Lexington. This project builds on my previous research on Hamzah Fansuri and his contributions to the fields of self-knowledge and spiritual love. Additionally, I am continuing to explore LGBT inclusivity within Shia societies, focusing on the intersection of religious doctrine and contemporary gender issues. I am also working on several articles that address women’s empowerment within religious contexts, and I continue to be active in advocacy for gender equality and human rights in the MENA region through various organizations.

J: What drives your activism for women's rights and LGBT inclusivity?

LT: My activism is deeply intertwined with my personal experiences of displacement from the MENA region due to my advocacy for gender equality. I have protested discriminatory laws in Iran and witnessed firsthand the struggles of women and LGBT individuals in patriarchal societies. These experiences have fueled my commitment to using academic research as a tool for advocacy, challenging religious and cultural norms that marginalize women and LGBT communities. My work with the Roya Institute for Global Justice and other organizations has given me practical insight into the challenges these individuals face and how we can empower them through both scholarship and activism.