Name: Gizem Kaftan
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
What is your hometown? Ankara, Turkey
Program at BU? Ph.D. in Political Science
Please briefly introduce yourself, what’s your background, and where are you from?
My name is Gizem Kaftan and I am a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate at Boston University’s Department of Political Science. I hold bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Sociology from Koc University and a master’s degree in International Affairs from Northeastern University. My research broadly focuses on illiberalism, democratic backsliding, and de-democratization in the European Union. I am specifically interested in democratic backsliding in Poland and Hungary and the European Union’s response to illiberal challenges coming from these countries.
Why did you choose to come to BU GRS for your graduate degree?
I chose BU for my graduate degree because of several factors. Firstly, BU is part of the Boston Area Consortia which allows students at any level to cross-register at other Consortia member universities. The Consortia includes five colleges around Boston and students can take some classes at these schools if the course they want to take does not exist at BU. For instance, I was able to learn Polish at Boston College due to this Consortia. Secondly, BU’s political science department is well-ranked and has several professors that I wanted to work with. In the US, it is quite hard to find political science programs that have many people working in the European Union, but coming to BU, there were a few professors who focused on the European Union and Europe more broadly which helped me to get the support I need for my dissertation. Thirdly, BU has the Center for the Study of Europe which organizes research talks which was an important pull factor for me because it allowed me to interact with other scholars from different schools. Fourthly, compared to other schools, BU offers more flexibility with course selection which I value a lot as my research touches upon many different departments such as sociology, law, and mathematics.
What are your favorite spots on the BU Campus?
I love the BU Beach and BU Pub. BU Beach is great because you can relax there after a long day, just feeling the breeze and watching the Charles River. I like BU Pub because I meet my department friends there and we get to relax at the end of a long day. They also have weekly trivia during the regular semester which is very popular.
What is your favorite part about attending BU and studying in the US?
My favorite part of attending BU is being in Boston. Boston is close to many cities and has a lot of activities. Boston also feels more European than most US cities as it has a smaller geographical area and great public infrastructure such as public transportation. Studying in the US has also been beneficial to me as it’s a leading country in scientific research. The US is also very diverse and multicultural which helped me to interact with people belonging to different cultures.
How is life in Boston?
Life in Boston is great and busy! There are many activities to do in Boston such as going to a Red Sox game, watching the Celtics in TD Park, or going to Foxboro to see the Patriots. Boston is the peak athletic city as it has many teams competing in different sports. Moreover, due to Boston’s increasing population, many singers come here for their tours. For instance, this year, both Beyonce and Taylor Swift visited Foxboro. There are also Fenway Park Concerts in the Fall and many more events around Boston such as festivals.
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
After I graduate, I am planning to stay in the New England area as I really love this region. I will be looking for jobs in the universities and private sector. I am passionate about modeling, coding, teaching, and research, so I will be applying for a wide variety of jobs after graduation.