About

My research expertise is on authoritarianism in the Middle East and North Africa, but goes beyond the regional focus to study comparative authoritarianism with regard to the themes of legitimation and repression. I have been the speaker of the "Authoritarian Politics" research group at GIGA since 2015. Currently I am directing a project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) on justifications of repression in North Africa. This research builds on the literatures on framing and legitimation, protest and repression and conceptualizes a novel aspect of authoritarian durability. From 2014-2019 I was the coordinator of a scientific network on "International Diffusion and Cooperation of Authoritarian Regimes", bringing together 14 institutions in Europe and North America. This network funded by the Leibniz association linked IR and Comparative Politics research in studying the international aspects of authoritarian rule. From 2009-2014 I was a research associate and junior lecturer at the University of Tübingen's Department of Political Science, researching and teaching with a focus on Comparative and Middle East Politics.

Research Interests

Comparative Politics, Contentious Politics, Cyber Politics, Human Rights, International Relations, Political Violence, Terrorism, Developing World Politics, Qualitative Comparative Analysis, Qualitative, Communication, Comparative Perspective, Narratives, Political Regime, Protests

Current/Upcoming Events

Maria has not yet registered for any ECPR events.

Standing Groups and Research Networks

• Mediterranean Politics and Society