Ezgi Uzun Teker
Asst. Prof. of International Relations & Iranian Studies
Moghaddameh
Conducting scientific research on a geography shaped by countless shades of complexity is no easy task. To this, one must add the weight of pervasive polarization, disinformation, challenges of gathering empirical data within authoritarian structures, and the quiet burden of personal sensitivities.
The data we rely upon represents the best within our reach under existing circumstances—until more refined evidence comes to light. I view them not as absolute truths, but rather as a “compass” aimed at exploring the intricate depths of Iran, across its evolving political architecture, multifaceted societal fabric, and fascinating world of meaning.
No country can be contained within a single narrative and beyond the rigid binary visions of Iran lies a gray expanse of reality. Far from static, this landscape is fluid, layered, and perpetually in motion—and we merely strive to dust it off and capture a fleeting glimpse of it.
Biography
I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Yeditepe University, Istanbul, with an academic focus on Iranian studies and international politics of the Middle East. My primary research areas include the intersection of religion and international politics, security and strategic culture studies, non-Western IR theory, the Axis of Resistance, and Shia geopolitics, with a regional focus on Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
I received my BA in Translation and Interpreting Studies from Boğaziçi University in 2009, and earned my MA and PhD degrees in Political Science from Sabancı University in 2011 and 2018, respectively. I conducted part of my doctoral research as a visiting scholar at the Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University in 2017, generously funded by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey).
I teach courses on contemporary world politics, introduction to international relations, Turkish foreign policy, and diplomatic history. Prior to joining Yeditepe University, I held positions at Sabancı University and MEF University, where I taught courses on international relations, Middle Eastern politics, and contemporary global politics.
As a scholar with 15 years of research experience on Iran, I contribute to policy-making and policy research circles through regular media appearances, analyses, and commentaries on current affairs in Iran and the broader Middle East. I am a member of the Global Relations Forum (GIF/GRF) and sit on the international academic council for Global Affairs magazine, published by the Argentine Council on International Relations (CARI). My analyses have been featured across international research institutes such as Carnegie Europe, Istituto Affari Internazionali, and CARI, as well as media outlets including Handelsblatt, RAI, BBC, Deutsche Welle, and Turkish media platforms. Beyond English, I have working knowledge of Persian, German, and French.