I am a Lecturer of Political Theory at the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH) (Department of Social Sciences) and a post-doctoral researcher at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). I am also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I earned my MSc in Social and Political Theory from Birkbeck, University of London, in 2013, and completed my PhD in Politics and International Relations (with emphasis on Political Theory and History of Political Thought) at Goldsmiths, University of London, in 2021. My research and teaching interests lie (A) in the comparative examination of ancient Greek concepts of democracy (with emphasis on political participation) and American democratic political traditions; (B) in the intellectual histories of ancient Greece, the Middle East, Byzantium, and the Italian Renaissance. Another cluster of his research looks at the Greek diaspora in tandem with Cultural Diplomacy.
♦ Publications
I am the author of Ancient Greek Democracy and American Republicanism: Prometheus in Political Theory, published by Edinburgh University Press (EUP) in February 2025. Recognized as one of the UK’s leading academic publishers, EUP selected the book for inclusion in Edinburgh Scholarship Online, part of the Oxford Academic platform, reflecting its scholarly excellence. Meanwhile, a new book in Greek is in preparation: the book elaborates on the concept of Prometheus, and discusses Homer’s epic poems, ancient Greek democracy, and social movements that emerged during the age of middle modernity. It is set to be released by Zitros Publications (Thessaloniki, Greece).
I have also published articles in various Greek and international peer-reviewed academic journals. This includes Theologia (published by the Communication and Education Services of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece), Religions, Mare Nostrum (Море нарративов)(published by the Russian Academy of Science, the Russian Society of Intellectual History, and the Institute of Global History). Both my monograph and articles are regularly integrated into undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, contributing to curriculum development in political philosophy and classical studies. My writings, in general, contribute to public and academic discourse around democratic resilience, offering insights rooted in classical thought and addressing modern political and ethical dilemmas. Finally, research has been shared through invited talks and seminars, promoting philosophical inquiry and debate.
In 2023, I was appointed Senior Member of Dia-Noesis, a Scopus-indexed journal (Q3), dedicated to philosophy and political theory.
♦ Research agenda
As a post-doctoral researcher, I am focusing on ancient Greek and Arabic poetry and philosophy, particularly on Homer, Democritus, and al-Fārābi, exploring topics revolving around ethics, rationalism, and political participation. Additionally, I have 2 forthcoming peer-reviewed articles; one is scheduled for publication in the Brill Companion to Democritus by the beginning of 2026, and another for the Conatus Journal, which delves into Homer (from the perspective of political philosophy). I am also developing new research proposals focused on ethical leadership to seek funding from international grants. My aim is to contribute to global debates on political philosophy through publications in leading presses (such as Routledge) and presentations at conferences to disseminate my results.
♦ Conferences/Presentations
I have presented at several prestigious academic and high-profile conferences, including: (1) The Promethean Philosopher King and the Pursuit of Ethical Leadership, oral presentation in Koç University, Istanbul (2024); (2) Reconciling Wisdom and Power: Possibilities, Challenges, and Strategies for Virtuous Leadership”, oral presentation after invitation in Strategic Leadership and Innovation Forum (2024), American University of Iraq in Slemani, Slemani, Iraq; and (3) Orthodox Christianity and Religious Tolerance in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, after invitation to the Fourth International Conference On Religious Diplomacy (2024), organized by The Foreign Policy Journal, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Department of Theology), Orthodoxtimes.gr, and the Institute of Foreign Affairs (Greece), under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, greeted by the Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
♦ Evidence of Teaching Impact
With over five years of university teaching experience, I have delivered courses in Comparative Political Theory, Political Geography, Theories of International Relations, and Byzantine Political Thought, earning teaching evaluation scores above 4.5 (scale 1 to 5). I have co-designed the summer course Democracy: Ancient Perspectives − Modern Challenges, which integrates political theory and cultural studies to engage diverse and international learners.
My teaching philosophy focuses on helping students to read primary texts, actively engaging with complex topics. I incorporate historical case studies and comparative observations – particularly across ancient and modern political traditions – to advance critical and analytical thinking. Moreover, I have implemented practices such as flipped classrooms and student-led symposiums, allowing learners to take ownership of their educational experience. I prepare my students for both advanced scholarship and civic engagement. As an MA supervisor, I mentor students toward research excellence and conference presentations. Since 2023, I have supervised eight MA students and five BA students (fields: Theories of International Relations, Political Philosophy, and International Politics).
♦ International Development Projects/ Public and Educational Diplomacy
Since February 2021, I have been serving as an Ex-Officio Coordinator for the organisation Study in Greece (SiG). From this position, I helped organise initiatives, like the international summer school Democracy: Ancient Perspectives, Modern Challenges. The programme brought historical insights with contemporary global challenges, empowering a new generation of thinkers and peacemakers and helping build academic and cultural bridges between Greece and the Middle East.
I have also contributed to cultural diplomacy and international development by participating in round-table discussions with diplomats, minority leaders, and religious figures, addressing critical issues in conflict resolution and cultural understanding. Through such efforts, I ignited academic interest and cross-cultural dialogue, particularly between KRI students and European scholars, reinforcing Greece’s educational influence through impactful lectures and discussions at venues like the Goethe Institute and under the Greek Consulate’s auspices. From October 2021 until October 2022, I served as a Public Relations and Communications Manager for the Medici Archive Project (Early Modern Greek Culture Program), fostering academic connections and collaborations, and organizing prominent conferences in Greece. Among these was “The Greek diaspora and presence in Renaissance and modern Italy” (2022), run under the auspices of the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy.
♦ Media Engagement
I am periodically featured in Greek (ERT, OPENTV, DION TV) and Iraqi (Babylon FM, Rudaw), offering commentary on democracy, leadership, war, and international politics. Drawing from my academic work, these contributions bring academic research into conversation with journalists and media producers. As a columnist for Huffington Post Greece and Ethnos Magazine, I engage with a broader audience through interviews with scholars and essays that create cross-cultural academic dialogue and foster academic ties between Greece and India.
