I am Associate Professor in the Department of Social Science at York University, Canada. I completed my PhD in Political Science at McGill University in May 2013. Most of my writing has focused on social movements, authoritarianism and democratization in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as well as the diffusion of social norms. My latest book titled "New Authoritarian Practices in the Middle East and North Africa" was published with Edinburgh University Press in 2022. I am also currently working on a SSHRC-funded co-edited book on the challenges that native scholars face while conducting research in repressive or illiberal countries (forthcoming with Oxford University Press in 2024) as well as a special issue on the impact of the Covid pandemic on the countries of the Maghreb.

I have received numerous awards and grants including the Abner Kingman Fellowship, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Grant, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Connection Grant, SSHRC Small Fund, York University Faculty Association Teaching Grant and the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Seed Grant among others. I also present a bi-weekly TV segment at Radio-Canada (ICI-Ontario) where I discuss current issues relevant to the MENA region and Sub-Saharan Africa.

My research is located at the intersection of Middle East Studies, Political Economy, and Norm Diffusion. I am particularly interested in the micro-changes in the economic and cultural fabric of MENA societies as well as the responses of local regimes to these changes. I am accepting graduate students working on norm diffusion, state-society relations, social movements, as well as the political economy of the MENA region.

Research Interests

• SSHRC Connexion Grant - 2022-24
• SSHRC Connexion Grant *ranked first. - 2020-22
• German Academic Exchange Service - 2018

Current Courses

Upcoming Courses

I am Associate Professor in the Department of Social Science at York University, Canada. I completed my PhD in Political Science at McGill University in May 2013. Most of my writing has focused on social movements, authoritarianism and democratization in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as well as the diffusion of social norms. My latest book titled "New Authoritarian Practices in the Middle East and North Africa" was published with Edinburgh University Press in 2022. I am also currently working on a SSHRC-funded co-edited book on the challenges that native scholars face while conducting research in repressive or illiberal countries (forthcoming with Oxford University Press in 2024) as well as a special issue on the impact of the Covid pandemic on the countries of the Maghreb.

I have received numerous awards and grants including the Abner Kingman Fellowship, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Grant, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Connection Grant, SSHRC Small Fund, York University Faculty Association Teaching Grant and the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Seed Grant among others. I also present a bi-weekly TV segment at Radio-Canada (ICI-Ontario) where I discuss current issues relevant to the MENA region and Sub-Saharan Africa.

My research is located at the intersection of Middle East Studies, Political Economy, and Norm Diffusion. I am particularly interested in the micro-changes in the economic and cultural fabric of MENA societies as well as the responses of local regimes to these changes. I am accepting graduate students working on norm diffusion, state-society relations, social movements, as well as the political economy of the MENA region.

Degrees

Appointments

Professional Leadership

Op-eds and media interviews for: Jadaliyya (2022), TRT World (2022), Libération (2020), Radio-Canada (2018, 19, 24), The Economist (2016, 18), De Volkskrant (2019), Deustche Welle (2018), The Washington Post (2014, 15, 16, 17), Project of Middle East Political Science Podcasts (2016), CTV (2013), CP-24 (2013), V-Télé (2011), Foreign Policy (2010), El-Watan (2017), Lakome (2018, 2020), Yabiladi (2020).

Community Contributions

YUFA Recording-Secretary (2024-)
YUFA Steward Department of Social Science (2023-2026)
Secretary-General for the Rabat Social Science Institute (2019-2021)
Board Member, Green Campus Co-op (2014-2017)

Research Interests

Awards

• SSHRC Connexion Grant - 2022-24
• SSHRC Connexion Grant *ranked first. - 2020-22
• German Academic Exchange Service - 2018

Current Courses

Upcoming Courses