Tamer Badawi

About

I am a PhD Candidate in International Conflict Analysis at the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent. I am also a Graduate Teaching Assistant and in this capacity I convene seminars for undergraduate students about politics, IR theory, and peace and conflict.

My academic research at Kent is situated at the intersection of Peace and Conflict Studies, Sociology, and Political Anthropology. My research project attempts to theorise how tribal networks engaged in civil wars and networks located in conflict-affected areas are transformed. The research project partially attempts to understand civil wars’ impact on the micro- and meso-social dynamics of close-knit communities. I use qualitative research methods, mainly semi-structured, unstructured interviews, and walking tours, for data-collection and analysis. I use Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) as case studies for my research. I am also a passionate learner about the cultures of Iraq's Arabs, Kurds, and minorities.

Prior to joining the University of Kent, I worked in journalism and think-tanks for ten years. I covered and analysed a variety of topics ranging from geopolitical trends and armed violence to energy and economy. I conducted on-site interviews with state and non-state actors in multiple countries in the Middle East/West Asia region. From 2013 to mid-2019, I focused largely on Iranian domestic politics and foreign policy in the Middle East/West Asia region. From mid-2019 onwards, my focus has shifted to analysing Iraq’s political and security dynamics. My research and analyses have appeared with the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Centre, Atlantic Council, IISS, and Aljazeera Centre for Studies, among several others. My media comments appeared with the Associated Press, Deutsche Welle, and Aljazeera English, among others.

I received a Master’s degree in International Relations and European Studies from the Central European University (CEU) and a Licentiate degree in Oriental Languages from Alexandria University.

My native language is Arabic. Apart from English, I speak intermediate Turkish and possess advanced Farsi/Persian reading skills.