Profile of Esma Baycan Herzog

About

I am a Lecturer in Political Theory in the Dept. of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Geneva, and an associated researcher in the Swiss consortium of research on migration and mobility studies NCCR—On the Move. I am working at the University of Geneva since 2014, with a few brief interruptions, as a holder of Ph.D and postdoctoral scholarships in the framework of the NCCR-On the Move funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). In 2019, I earned my joint Ph.D in philosophy (KU Leuven) and political science (University of Geneva). I also hold degrees in international relations (BA Hons., Université Galatasaray and MA Université Libre de Bruxelles); and philosophy (MA, KU Leuven). I completed my MA in international relations as a Jean-Monnet Fellow (EU,2009), and in philosophy as a Research Council Fellow (KU Leuven, 2011). As a trained political theorist, analytical philosopher, migration and international relations scholar, my research interests lie in contemporary normative political philosophy of migration, theories of justice and citizenship in digital societies, as well as international political theory. Having an eclectic background in philosophy and political science encouraged me to develop an interest in political theory methodology both as a theme apart, as well as a means to enhance reflexivity of my other research interests. Lately, I orient my research on political theory of migration around state system legitimacy, methodological nationalism, differentiated rights and their articulation in digital societies. Much of my research has a practice-based focus, where normative analysis is tightly connected to the empirical realities, policies, practices and experiences. My current and future editorial experience includes special issues in journals such as Ethnicities (with François Boucher and Sophie Guérard de Latour), and Ethics and Global Politics (with Annamari Vitikainen and Kasper Lippert-Rasmussen). My extant and future publications found their home at venues in journals such as Ethnicities, Danish Yearbook of Philosophy, Ethical Perspectives, as well as contributions to edited volumes published by Brill, Nomos and ECPR Press. Being among the founding members of the ECPR Standing Group Methods of Normative Political Theory, I convened “The Future of Methods in Political Theory” as a first joint section endorsed by this standing group (with Jonathan Leader Maynard, 2023) and am convening “Methods of Normative Political Theory Section” at the ECPR General Conference (with Simon Stevens, 2024). My scholarship is inspired by short academic visits abroad. So far, I have been a visiting scholar at the Universities of Aarhus and Arctic University of Norway. In spring of 2024, I will be visiting Chaire Hoover (Université Catholique de Louvain) as a holder of a Hoover Honorary Fellowship to work on digital nomad migration policies. I am active in academic self-governance and seek to contribute creating a culture of equal relationships and seek to enhance the position of young scholars in academe. Currently, I am a representative of the young scholars in the Dept. of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Geneva. Selected Publications: Baycan-Herzog, Esma, Guérard de Latour, Sophie and Boucher, François (Eds.). (2023). Special Issue “ Rethinking Liberal Multiculturalism: Foundations, Practices and Methodologies ”, Ethnicities. Vol. 23(4). Baycan-Herzog, Esma. (2022). “Inclusive Membership as Fairness? A Rawlsian Case for Provisional Immigrants”, Danish Yearbook of Philosophy, pp. 134 – 153. https://doi.org/10.1163/24689300-20221058. Baycan-Herzog, Esma. (2021). “Immigration, and Common Identities: A Social Cohesion-Based Argument for Open Borders.” In Migration, Stability and Solidarity, Corinna Mieth and Wolfram Cremer (Eds.). Nomos, pp. 155-186. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748924890-155. Baycan-Herzog, Esma, and Matteo Gianni. (2019). “What Is Wrong with the Swiss Minaret Ban?” In Religion and Political Theory: Secularism, Accommodation and The New Challenges of Religious Diversity, Jonathan Seglow and Andrew Shorten (Eds.). ECPR Press, pp. 175-194. Baycan, Esma. (2016). “Flemish Pro-Independence Parties and Immigrants: Friends or Foes?” In Pro-Independence Movements and Immigration, Johanna Mitterhofer, Patricia Popelier, and Roberta Medda-Windischer (Eds.). Brill, pp. 86–117. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004294394_005.

Research Interests

Citizenship, European Union, Integration, Migration, National Identity, Nationalism, Political Methodology, Political Theory, Social Justice, Critical Theory, Immigration, Ethics, Normative Theory, LGBTQI