Mako Nominated for Two University-Wide Teaching Awards
Professor Shamiran Mako has been nominated for two prestigious teaching honors: the 2025 Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2025 Provost’s Scholar-Teacher of the Year Award. These nominations recognize her exceptional contributions to both scholarship and teaching in international relations and Middle Eastern politics.
Mako Speaks at Symposium Exploring Legacies of the Iraq War
Professor Mako broke down the changes in Iraq 20 years since the country’s regime change, as well as the pre-war legacies of post-invasion governance outcomes.
Pardee School Faculty Explore Trends in Global Democracy and Democratic Decline
In recent years, global patterns have emerged that threaten to undermine democracy – election denialism, the emergence of nationalist regimes, and the removal of democratically elected governments to name a few. A panel of Pardee School professors commented on these trends in their regions of study as well as the implications for global democracy.
Mako Joins Panel Exploring Future of New Iraqi Government
Professor Mako details the significance of foreign intervention for Iraqi sovereignty, particularly the Turkish and Iranian military intervention and the 2003 U.S. invasion and subsequent military interventions, which she argued led to fragmentation on multiple levels.
Mako Participates in Conference on Iraq, Its Challenges, and Future Opportunities
Professor Mako emphasized the new Iraqi governments need to find ways to revive confidence by providing necessary institutional reforms and engaging in more conciliatory politics, even when there are many strategic alliances.
Mako Comments on Instability in Iraq and Path Forward
Professor Mako warns that if Iraq’s political tensions continue or there is not a negotiated settlement, the country could inch closer to civil war.
Mako Discusses Political Crisis in Iraq in “Al Jazeera” Interview
Professor Mako notes that while Muqtada Al Sadr’s departure is part of a playbook we’ve seen before, this current departure appears to be part of a zero-sum game that has effectively held the government hostage.
Mako Joins Atlantic Council Panel on Iraq’s Expanding Regional Role
Iraq has the potential to serve as a partner to both regional and international states; however, Professor Mako argues that ongoing crises are stifling the country’s potential impact as a leader in the region.
Joshua Wright (BA IR ’22) Shares Story of Field Research in Kenya
“One of the first lessons I learned while reading post-colonial literature was the importance of rejecting Western exceptionalism and understanding that our perspective might not reflect that of the communities involved. The Keylor Grant is the perfect opportunity to embrace a new culture, approach the topic from an entirely different angle, and challenge your preconceived notions about a community or state.”
Need a Summer Read? Check Out the Latest Books from Pardee School Faculty
If you are looking for an enlightening and insightful book on international affairs, immigration, global economics, social movements in Arab societies, or China, consider picking up a piece published in the past year by our illustrious faculty.
Mako Publishes Article on Disputed Territories in Iraq
By focusing on Iraq’s disputed territories, Professor Mako demonstrates how hybrid governance in areas of limited statehood can foster competition over territorial control by state and non-state actors at the local level, and between national and subnational governments.
Mako Awarded Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
Through this scholarship, Professor Mako will have the opportunity to engage with colleagues in Canada as she works to finalize her book on ethnic conflict and institutions in Iraq.
Mako Interviewed on “After the Arab Uprisings“
“We hope the comparative scope of the book and the integrated framework we have developed will enrich ongoing scholarship on revolutions and democratic transitions.”
Mako Discusses State-Building in Post-2003 Iraq
In her “Iraqi Voices” appearance, Professor Mako discusses state-building in post-2003 Iraq and how legacies of exclusion continue to shape politics today.
Mako Discusses Iraqi Civil Society and Democratization at Brookings Roundtable
Professor Mako argues that civil society organizations – environmental groups, women’s groups, labor and student unions, etc. – played a major part in other democratization efforts in the region and they stand to play a similar role in Iraq.
Mako Discusses “After the Arab Uprisings” on POMEPS Podcast
Professor Mako and coauthor Valentine Moghadam discuss the key findings of their book and how they go about examining the key elements in explaining the divergent outcomes of the Arab Spring uprising.
Mako Publishes Article on Foreign Intervention During Arab Uprisings
Professor Mako argues that domestic instability caused by mass uprisings altered the relative distribution of power, producing system-wide changes to the MENA state system.
Mako Discusses State-Building in Post-Conflict Iraq on LSE Panel
Professor Mako discusses post-conflict development in Iraq, international actors’ for their lack of understanding of the heterogeneous nature of the country both before and after the 2003 invasion, as well as ongoing issues of transitional justice.
Mako Discusses Research on De-Ba’athification in Iraq
Professor Mako discusses how her work explores De-Ba’athification as a means of lustration, the policy’s origins and legacies, as well as how it and foreign influence affected the Iraq coalition government.
Mako Discusses Her Research and New Book on SEPADPod
Appearing on an episode of the SEPADPod, Mako discusses her work on Iraq, a special issue of the Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding – titled “Building Sustainable Peace in Iraq” – that she guest-edited, as well as her new book.