ICP Faculty and Staff

Görkem Atsungur, Ph.D.

Ph.D., Chair, Associate Professor

International and Comparative Politics Department

Division of Social Sciences

Email: [javascript protected email address]

Phone: +996 (312) 915000 ext. 453

Room: 210

Dr. Görkem Atsungur is the Chair and an Associate Professor in the International and Comparative Politics department at the American University of Central Asia. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science, majoring in International Relations and minoring in Nationalism Studies from Central European University (2020, Hungary), a Magister in Political Science: European Politics from Masaryk University (2007, Czech Republic), a Master of Arts in European Studies from Istanbul Bilgi University (2006, Turkey), and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Cyprus International University (2004, Northern Cyprus).

Dr. Atsungur joined AUCA in 2012. With over ten years of teaching experience, he has offered over twenty courses, including the Network and OSUN Online Courses, to deliver up-to-date content and work on students’ critical and professional skills. He has extensive administrative experience as a member of the Uchenyi Sovet and Faculty Senate (particularly in the Student Intellectual Life Committee and Research Committee). Dr. Atsungur serves as the Head of the Social Sciences division.

Dr. Atsungur is a participant of more than 55 professional development workshops and international conferences all around the world, including the most recent program of The Open Society University Network (OSUN) Global Debate Network and OSUN Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences Pedagogy (CLASP), Summer Workshop on Debate in the Classroom: Writing, Speaking, Teaching at Bard College (2022, USA), OSUN Developing Teaching Professionals (DTP) and Central European University Center for Teaching and Learning, Innovative Teaching Course for Faculty, ‘’Democratic Classrooms: Theory and Practice,’’ CTAL 6021 (2022), OSUN Civic Engagement Leadership Team and Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences Pedagogy (CLASP), Experiential Learning Institute (ELI) (2022), Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM), Migration Academy, Online Summer School (2021), Istanbul Ticaret University & TESAM Academy, “Cyber Espionage and Technological Threats” Training Program (2021), Central European University, “Designing a Collaborative Connected Liberal Arts Classroom” (2021), The Center for Russian Studies, International Summer School 2021, “Russia and the Region through the lens of Post-Soviet and Post-Colonial Studies” (2021), University of Tuscia in Viterbo, “Legal and Political Challenges of Migrants’ Integration in Europe Summer Training Program” (2021), “The Quality of University Education: Harmonizing Purposes, Processes and Outcomes” from CEU (2021), University of Padua, International Politics and Security (IPSE), “Crisis Management and Crisis’ Impact over National and International Systems Spring School” (2021), and many others.

Faculty Senate awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award for excellence in teaching and dedication to the growth and enrichment of AUCA students, American University of Central Asia, 2022, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Certificate of Achievement, The Best ICP Senior Thesis Supervisor 2022 Award funded by Elnura Sulaimanova, American University of Central Asia, June 06, 2022, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Central European University, Doctoral School of Political Science, Public Policy, and International Relations, Ph.D. in Political Science, Outstanding Dissertation Award, 2021
Amy Sturrock Advising Award for Best Student Advisor certificate by American University of Central Asia for outstanding contribution to developing the University’s academic advising system, September 2014, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Certificate of Appreciation by American University of Central Asia for outstanding contribution to developing the University’s academic advising system, September 2013, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Diplomacy
European Politics
International Law and International Relations
Migration, Transnationalism, and Diaspora Studies
War and Peace Studies

Study on Security Cooperation in the Heart of Asia Region – Country Profiles on Turkey and Kyrgyzstan, The Asia Foundation - ATR Consulting, 2015.
https://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Study-on-Security-Cooperation-in-the-Heart-of-Asia-Region.pdf
International Journal of Social Inquiry (IJSI), “The Role of Political Youth Movements in the Democratization Process of Contemporary Russia” published by Uludağ University Social Sciences Institute in collaboration with RMIT University, James Cook University, and Washington State University, Peer Review Journal, IISN 1307 – 8364, Volume 6 – Number 2, June 2013, 55 - 71.

Academic Paper Presentations in International Conferences:

American University of Central Asia, International Conference, The Afghan Crisis: The New Taliban Regime and Its Impact on Central Asia, ‘’Turkish Foreign Policy towards Afghanistan during the Justice and Development Party Era’’ presented, March 31, 2022, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Central European University, 14th Annual Doctoral Conference, “Housing as a Tool of Integration or Ethnic Segregation? An Analysis of Turkish Migrants in Germany” presented, March 29, 2019, Budapest, Hungary.
Bard College, Higher Education Support Program Network Meeting, Rethinking the Human Rights Cannon Workshop, “Human Rights Critiques from Post-Colonial Perspective” presented, February 4 – 6, 2016, Annandale-On-Hudson, New York, United States.
Bard College and St. Petersburg State University, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences (FLAS), How to Be Authoritarian Joint Conference, “Political Youth Movements in the Contemporary Russia” presented, February 1 – 3, 2016, New York City, United States.
Bard College Berlin, Higher Education Support Program Network Meeting, Teaching Global Citizenship Workshop, “Global Citizenship in Theory and Practice” presented, November 19 – 21, 2015, Berlin, Germany.
The University of Helsinki, Aleksanteri Institute, 15th International Aleksanteri Conference on Culture and Russian Society, “Rethinking Russian Nationalism since the 1990s: Sobornost as an Element of Social Mobilization” presented, October 21 – 23, 2015, Helsinki, Finland.
American University of Central Asia, VI Annual International Anthropology Conference, Great Game(s) in Central Asia Beyond: Exploring International Regional Rivalry Using Cultural and Historical Lenses, “The EU and Central Asia from Technical Assistance to a New Partnership: Challenges and Opportunities” presented, May 15 – 16, 2015, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Bard College, Higher Education Support Program Network Meeting, Digital and Visual Culture in the Liberal Arts Workshop, “Urban Space as Visual Text in Serbia” presented, March 15 – 19, 2015, Istanbul, Turkey.
American University of Central Asia, Gender and Research Conference, “Human Security: A Gender Approach” presented, November 11 – 13, 2014, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Goethe University, World International Studies Committee (WISC), German Association of Political Science: International Relations Section (DVPW-IB), Fourth Global International Studies Conference, Justice, Peace and Stability: Risks and Opportunities for Governance and Development, “Russia’s Rebirth: As a Weak Parliamentary or Strong Authoritarian Presidential System in the Post-Soviet Affairs?” presented, August 06 – 09, 2014, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
University of Surrey, An International Multidisciplinary Symposium on the Receiving End of Intervention: Methods in Human Security, “A Gender Perspective of Human Security in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Freedom from Want vs. Freedom from Fear” presented, June 16 – 17, 2014, Guildford, The United Kingdom.
The University of Nottingham, Politics without Borders: A cross-disciplinary exploration of the challenges facing a globalized world, “The Philosophical Debate on Russian Choice of Democracy: Zapadnichestvo (Westernizers) vs. Slavophiles” presented, June 12, 2014, Nottingham, The United Kingdom.
Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), The Varieties of Russian Modernity II: Religion, State, and Approaches to Pluralism in Russian Contexts, “The Politics of Religion in Russia since 1991: The Compatibility of Russian Orthodox Church and a Pluralist Society” presented, May 14 – 16, 2014, Moscow, Russian Federation.
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institute for European Studies, Greek Politics Specialist Group, The Economic Adjustment Programs, and their Alternatives: Exploring the Impact of Austerity on Southern Europe Workshop, “The Social Impacts of the Economic Adjustment Program in Cyprus” presented, May 02, 2014, Brussels, Belgium.
Actual Historical Research Assistance Foundation Historical Memory, International Scientific Conference, Concepts of the Continuity and the Succession of State in Modern Times: Historical, Legal and Comparative Aspects, “Change and Continuity of Political Regime in Russia during the Yeltsin Period (1991-1999)” presented, February 06 – 07, 2014, Moscow, Russian Federation.
The Regional Research Promotion Programme Western Balkans (RRPP) of the Interfaculty Institute for Central and Eastern Europe of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and The Academic Swiss Caucasus Net (ASCN), Informal Practices and Structures in Eastern Europe and Central Asia International Conference, “Siloviki in Russian Politics,” presented, November 21 – 24, 2013, Fribourg, Switzerland.
Saint Petersburg State University, Russia’s Statehood: The Authorities and Societies across the Twentieth Century International Conference, “Transformation of Political Regime during the Yeltsin period” presented, May 30 – 31, 2013, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.
Uludağ University, I. International Interdisciplinary Social Inquiry Conference, “The Role of Political Youth Movements in the Democratization Process of Contemporary Russia” presented, June 17 – 21, 2012, Bursa, Turkey.
Nordic and Baltic Studies of the Romanian Association (Asociatia Romana pentru Studii Baltice si Nordice), III. International Conference on European Networks: The Balkans, Scandinavia, and the Baltic World in a time of Economic and Ideological Crisis, “The Politics of Painting: Political Graffiti in the Balkan and Baltic Regions” presented, May 25 – 27, 2012, Targoviste – Dambovita, Romania.
Ege University, European Student Conference on International Relations: The Balkans: From Past to Present on the 100th Anniversary of the Balkan Wars, “Kosovo Issue in the light of Ethnic Conflict Theories and the Role of the European Union” presented, May 03 – 04, 2012, Izmir, Turkey.
Bilkent University, I. International Politics and Diplomacy Congress: The Arab Spring: Reasons and Effects, “Monday to Friday; From Unity to Diversity” presented, March 08 – 11, 2012, Ankara, Turkey.
Okan University, The Turkish Political Science Association, 9th Graduate Conference, “European Union Mission in Kosovo (EULEX)” presented, December 03, 2011, Istanbul, Turkey.
Okan University, The Turkish Political Science Association, 8th Graduate Conference, “European Union and International Terrorism” presented, December 04, 2010, Istanbul, Turkey.

Introduction to International Relations (ICP-110.1)
Introduction to Political Economy (ICP-270)
Senior Thesis I (ICP-404)
Senior Thesis II (ICP-406)
International Law and International Relations in a Turbulent World (ICP/HR-403)
Democracy in Dark Times (ICP/LAW/HR-396)
Diplomatic History (ICP-201)
Central Asia in Global Politics