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Profile
Research Interests
- Critical theory
- The intersection of societal insecurity, identity, and collective action
- Populism
- Nationalism
- Greek and Turkish politics and society
- European Muslim identities and politics
- Southeast European and Middle Eastern Studies
Education
- PhD, Politics/Regional and Cross Cultural Studies, University of Copenhagen
- BSc (Honours), Political Science and International Studies, Panteion University of Social and Political Science
- CERT, Transforming Civil Conflicts. European Network University & Centre for Conflict Resolution, University of Bradford
Biography
Spyros has held teaching and research positions in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Italy鈥攎ost recently at Lund University and the London School of Economics and Political Science. His research explores the intersection of societal insecurity, identity, and collective action and, to date, it has focused on Turkish politics and society, nationalism and populism in Europe and the Middle East, European Muslim identities and politics, and the theory of populism.
His latest book, "Turkish Politics and 鈥楾he People鈥�: Mass Mobilisation and Populism" (Edinburgh University Press 2022), explores the emergence of populism in contemporary Turkey from a genealogical perspective. His other publications include "Islam in Europe: Public Spaces and Civic Networks" (Palgrave 2013, co-authored with Roza Tsagarousianou), "Tormented by History: Nationalism in Greece and Turkey" (Hurst and Oxford University Press 2008, co-authored with Umut 脰zkirimli), and "Nation and Identity in Contemporary Europe" (Routledge 1996, co-edited with Brian Jenkins).
Spyros initiated #RethinkingPopulism, originally in partnership with openDemocracy, and is its lead editor.
Actively accepting MA students interested in:
Collective action; nationalism, Islamism and populism - cultural and political dimensions; Islam and the "West" - history, and Muslim communities in Europe and North America; conflict (with a particular interest in the Middle East and SE Europe); Turkish and Greek politics and culture; Critical theory
Publications
Monographs
- Turkey, Geopolitics and the Age of Populism, Routledge 2026 (forthcoming)
- Turkish Politics and 鈥淭he People鈥�: Mass Mobilisation and Populism, Edinburgh University Press, 2022.
- Islam in Europe: Public Spaces and Civic Networks, Palgrave, 2013 (co-authored with R. Tsagarousianou).
- Tarihin Cenderesinde (Turkish translation of Tormented by History), Istanbul Bilgi University Press, 2013.
- 韦慰 螔维蟽伪谓慰 蟿畏蟼 螜蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼 (Greek translation of Tormented by History), Kastaniotis, 2008.
- Tormented by History: Nationalism in Greece and Turkey, Oxford University Press, 2008 (co-authored with U. 脰zk谋r谋ml谋).
Edited Volumes
- Nation & Identity in Contemporary Europe, Routledge, 1996 (co-edited with B. Jenkins).
Journal Articles and Book Chapters
- 2025: 鈥�, Frontiers in Political Science - Security Peace and Democracy, Volume 7
- 2024: 鈥溾��, PeaceRep Global Transitions Series, PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, University of Edinburgh.
- 2024: 鈥溾�� (Arabic translation of Ecologies of Belonging and Exclusion in Urban Kuwait).
- 2023: 鈥溾��, Kuwait Programme Paper Series 21 (with N. Shahrokni).
- 2023: 鈥溾��, Global Transitions Report, PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, University of Edinburgh.
- 2023: 鈥溾��, PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, University of Edinburgh.
Older
- 2022: 鈥�, Globalizations 19(2), co-authored with N. Shahrokni.
- 2021: 鈥溾��, Cogent Social Sciences 7(1).
- 2022: 鈥溾��, LSE Middle East Centre and PeaceRep (Turkish translation of Peacebuilding in Turbulent Times).
- 2022: 鈥溾��, LSE Middle East Centre and PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform.
- 2019: 鈥溾��, Political Trends & Dynamics in Southeast Europe 2.
- 2019: 鈥淧hysical and Virtual Spaces among the Palestinian Diaspora in Malm枚鈥�, in J. Retis and R. Tsagarousianou (eds), The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Diasporas and the Media, NJ: Blackwell-Wiley (co-authored with F. Christou).
- 2018: 鈥溾��, Journal of Historical Sociology 31(1).
- 2017: 鈥淎lone in the City: Gezi as a Moment of Transgression鈥�, in O. Hemer, H-脜. Persson & T. Tufte (eds), In the Aftermath of Gezi: From Social Movement to Social Change, Palgrave.
- 2016: 鈥淧rotest Politics in Turkey鈥�, in Simin Fadaee (ed), Understanding Social Movements in the Global South, Routledge (co-authored with U. 脰zk谋r谋ml谋).
- 2014: 鈥淩allying for Gezi, or Metaphors of Aporia and Empowerment鈥�, in U. 脰zk谋r谋ml谋 (ed), The Making of a Protest Movement in Turkey: #occupygezi, Palgrave.
- 2014: 鈥淏eyond the Intractability of the Greek-Macedonian Dispute鈥�, in J. Lozanoska (ed), The Name Issue Revisited, Skopje: MIC.
- 2010: 鈥淣ationalism in Greece and Turkey: Modernity, Enlightenment, Westernization鈥�, in A. Aktar et al. (eds), The Troubled Triangle: Nationalism in Cyprus, Greece and Turkey, Palgrave (co-authored with U. 脰zk谋r谋ml谋).
- 2009: 鈥淭ormented by History: Greece, Turkey and the Territorial Imagination鈥�, in O. Anastasakis, K. Oktem, K. Nikolaidis (eds), Under the Long Shadows of Europe: Greeks and Turks in the Era of Post-Nationalism, Leiden: Brill (co-authored with U. 脰zk谋r谋ml谋).
- 2009: 鈥淐olonizing the Past: History and Memory in Greece and Turkey鈥�, in F. A. Gemenne and S. G. Carvalho (eds), Nations and Their Histories, Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave (co-authored with U. 脰zk谋r谋ml谋).
- 2001: 鈥淓uropean Integration and the Transformation of Turkish Politics鈥�, in K. Featherstone and G. Kazamias (eds), Europeanization and the Southern Periphery, London: Frank Cass.
- 2001: 鈥淐ulture, Media and the Politics of Disintegration in Former Yugoslavia鈥�, in T. Allen & J. Seaton (eds), The Media of Conflict: War Reporting and Representations of Ethnic Violence, London: Zed Press.
- 2001: 鈥溾��, Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans 3(2).
- 2001: 鈥� 6(3).
- 2000: 鈥溾��, South European Society and Politics 5(2).
- 1998: 鈥溾�� (The Greek Civil War and its Legacy: Politics and Identity in Post-War Greece), Historical Critical Review/Yuksabipyoung 42(1).
- 1997: 鈥淭owards the New Millennium: The Politics of Identity in Contemporary Europe鈥�, Journal of Area Studies 10, co-authored with R. Tsagarousianou.
- 1996: 鈥溾��, Social Identities 2(1).
- 1996: 鈥溾��, Contemporary Politics 2(1).
- 1996: 鈥淣ation and Identity in Contemporary Europe: A Theoretical Perspective鈥�, in B. Jenkins and S. A. Sofos (eds), Nation and Identity in Contemporary Europe, London: Routledge (co-authored with B. Jenkins).
- 1996: 鈥淐onclusion鈥�, in B. Jenkins and S. A. Sofos (eds), Nation and Identity in Contemporary Europe, London: Routledge (co-authored with B. Jenkins).
- 1996: 鈥淧olitics, Culture and National Identity in Former Yugoslavia鈥�, in B. Jenkins and S. A. Sofos (eds), Nation and Identity in Contemporary Europe, London: Routledge.
- 1996: 鈥淔rom 'Yugoslav' to National Cultures: Ethnic Conflict and the Nationalization of the Public Spheres of Former Yugoslavia鈥�, Res Publica 2.
- 1994: 鈥淧opular Identity and Political Culture in Post-dictatorial Greece: Towards a Cultural Approach to Populism鈥�, in N. Demertzis (ed), Greek Political Culture, Athens: Odysseas (in Greek).
- 1993: 鈥淭he Politics of Identity: Nationalism in Contemporary Greece鈥�, in J. Amodia (ed), The Resurgence of Nationalist Movements in Europe, Bradford (co-authored with R. Tsagarousianou).
Conference Presentations and Public Talks
- 2025: 鈥淭he Temporal Dimensions of Populist Discourse and Action in Contemporary Turkey鈥� at the 5th International Forum of Sociology (International Sociological Association), Rabat, Morocco (July 8, 2025)
- 2025: Discussant, 鈥淏etween Absolutism and Pluralism: Reimagining Secularism for Contemporary Societies鈥� Event, School for International Studies, 大象传媒, May 2, 2025.
- 2025: Discussant, 鈥淥ttoman Modernities in the Long Nineteenth Century,鈥� 15th Annual Middle East & Islamic Consortium Student Conference at 大象传媒 (March 14, 2025)
- 2025: 鈥淢aterial Histories of Disenfranchisement: Political Economy, Ecology, and Racialization in Turkish Populism鈥� at Materialities of Populism Conference, Leuphana Institute for Advanced Studies and Leuphana University, L眉neburg, Germany.
- 2024: Discussant, Panel on 鈥淩ealignments of Left and Right鈥� at the Institute for the Humanities Conference on Fascist Neoliberalism and the Fate of Radical Democracy(October 18, 2024).
- 2024: 鈥淕reece鈥檚 Other Populism: Culture, Memory and the Political Ascendance of PASOK in the 1980s鈥� presented at the 大象传媒 SNF Centre for HellenicStudies (January 26, 2024).
- 2024: 鈥淚n Search of the 'Infant People': Continuity and Rupture in Turkey's Political Landscape鈥� at the European Center for Populism Studies, Mapping Global Populism 鈥� Panel XVII: The Rise and Reign of Autocratic Populism and Islamist Nationalism in Turkey.
Older
- 2023: 鈥淭he Construction of 鈥榓uctoritas鈥� and the 鈥榩eople鈥� in Turkish Populism鈥� at the XX International Sociological Association World Congress of Sociology, Melbourne, Australia, June 30
- 2023: 鈥淭urkish Politics and 鈥楾he People鈥� Mass Mobilisation and Populism鈥� at Political Studies Association, UK, May 3
- 2023: 鈥淭urkish Politics and 'The People': Mass Mobilisation and Populism鈥� Book Launch, the London School of Economics and Political Science, March 6
- 2022: 鈥淢eanings of the People in Turkish Politics: A Genealogy of Populism鈥� at the Middle Eastern Studies Association Congress, Denver, Co, USA, December 2
- 2020: Conversation with Chantal Mouffe, and Paolo Gerbaudo, Open Democracy, October 27, 2020.
- 2020: Conversation with Jeremy Gilbert, and Seyla Benhabib, Open Democracy, November 17, 2020
Community and Professional Outreach
- 2025: Syria as a Battleground: How Israel and Turkey Are Shaping a Fragmented Middle East. London School of Economics Blog. (Aug 26, 2025)
- 2025: Israel鈥檚 attack on Syria: Protecting the Druze minority or a regional power play? The Conversation (Jul 30, 2025)
- 2025: How Israel鈥檚 domestic crises and Netanyahu鈥檚 aim to project power are reshaping the Middle East The Conversation (Jun 25, 2025)
- 2025: What鈥檚 behind Erdo臒an鈥檚 calculated shift on Kurds and its potential consequences? The Conversation (Mar 5, 2025)
- 2024: The Turkish-Somali Connection: Why does the Horn of Africa Matter for Turkey? London School of Economics Blog. (May 6, 2024)
- 2024: 韦喂 渭苇位位蔚喂 纬蔚谓苇蟽胃伪喂 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 韦慰蠀蟻魏委伪 渭蔚蟿维 蟿畏谓 萎蟿蟿伪 螆蟻谓蟿慰纬伪谓 蟽蟿喂蟼 未畏渭慰蟿喂魏苇蟼 蔚魏位慰纬苇蟼; Inside Story. (April 20, 2024)
- 2024: What鈥檚 next for Turkey after local elections put Erdo臒an on notice? The Conversation (April 16, 2024)
Older
- 2023: Nagorno-Karabakh: What鈥檚 next for the South Caucasus region following Azerbaijan鈥檚 aggression against Armenians? The Conversation (Oct 9, 2023)
- 2023: Erdo臒an鈥檚 Electoral Victory Imperils Democratic Forces in Turkey. Truthout (May 30, 2023)
- 2023: 韦慰蠀蟻魏委伪: 螕喂伪蟿委 蟺蟻慰畏纬蔚委蟿伪喂 慰 螘蟻谓蟿慰纬维谓, 蟿伪 位维胃畏 螝喂位喂蟿蟽谓蟿维蟻慰纬位慰蠀. iefimerida (May 15, 2023)
- 2020: What is in a Place? Hagia Sophia in the Affective Topography of Populism in Turkey鈥�. Jadaliyya, (Aug 2020)
- 2020: Narrating the pandemic: COVID-19 as a feature of Turkey鈥檚 political landscape. Institute for Social Responsibility (July 07 2020)
- 2019: Mobilizing Pity: Iranian Women on the Long Road to Azadi Stadium. Jadaliyya, (Oct 2019) with N. Shahrokni
- 2019: Bringing gender into the populism debate: a guided walk. editorial essay Open Democracy (Dec 16, 2019)
- 2018: The reconfiguration of Swedish nationalism after the Syrian refugee 鈥渃risis鈥�. Goethe Institut Schweden, Nya former av nationalism (April 2018)
- 2018: The Turkish election as a warning against the irresistible charms of populism. OpenDemocracy (July 13, 2018)
- 2018: 鈥楥ypriot hopes for unification are on life support, but not doomed鈥�. The Conversation (Jan 22, 2018)
- 2017: 鈥樎縌u茅 significa el reconocimiento de Trump a Jerusal茅n como la capital de Israel para el Medio Oriente? Dialoguemos -with V. Felci (Dec 12, 2017)
- 2017: The Jerusalem Question in a Regional Context. The Globe Post (Dec 12, 2017)
- 2017: What Trump鈥檚 recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel means for the Middle East. The Conversation -with V. Felci (December 7, 2017)
- 2017: J茅rusalem, le n艙ud gordien des Isra茅liens et des Palestiniens鈥�. The Conversation French Edition--with V. Felci (December 7, 2017)
- 2016: Turkey: of coups and popular resistance. Open Democracy (July 21, 2016)
- Several more pieces in OpenDemocracy, The Conversation (French, Spanish editions), Dialoguemos, Transconflict, and others.