- Degrees
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Ph.D. in Political Science, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2012-2019. Dissertation: "Beyond Outbidding: Social Cleavages, Electoral Rules, and Intra-ethnic Party Competition." Advisor: Professor Stephen Bloom. M.A. in Sociology, Tula State University, Russian Federation, 2008-2010. Thesis: "Hegemon One Party System and Democratization." Advisor: Professor Elena Bradovskaya. B.Sc. in Political Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Iraq, 2000-2004.
- Areas of Expertise and Research Interests
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Comparative Politics, Ethnic Politics, Middle Eastern Politics, Russia and East European Politics
- Publications
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1. Aziz/Tarkhani, S. (2005). Social Roots of the Kurdish Political Parties. Twejinawa, Issue 1. This article delves into the foundational aspects of Kurdish political organizations, tracing their historical, social, and political roots to understand their contemporary significance within Kurdish society.
2. Aziz/Tarkhani, S. (2010). Dominant Party System and Democratic Stability. 21st Century Journal, Tula State University. A comprehensive analysis of how dominant party systems influence democratic processes and stability, with a particular focus on the Russian political landscape.
3. Tarkhani, S. (2022). The Effect of Iraq’s Ethnic Security Dilemma on the ISIS–Kurdish Conflict. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social and Community Studies, 17(2). This study examines the complex interplay between ethnic security dilemmas and the conflict dynamics between ISIS and Kurdish forces, contributing to a nuanced understanding of Middle Eastern security issues.
4. Tarkhani, S. (2024). Exploring Anti-Western Sentiment Among Arabs and Its Influence on Support for Russia in the Ukraine Conflict. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Open Science Index 207, International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 18(3), 193-199.
5. Tarkhani, S. (2024). Examining the Objectives of Ethnic Parties: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Dynamics of Ethnic Party Competition Beyond the Constraints of the Outbidding Model. Nations and Nationalism, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/nana.13040
Works in Progress:
1.Tarkhani, S. (Under review). Beyond Consolidating Power: The Logic and Adaptability of Political Purges in Stalin’s Soviet Union, Saddam’s Iraq, and Assad’s Syria. Middle East Politics Journal. This work provides a comparative historical analysis between Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath Regime and Stalin’s Bolshevik Regime, exploring the mechanisms of power consolidation and political purges.
2. Tarkhani, S. (Under review). Societal Cleavages and Intraethnic Party Systems: The Case of Kurdish Political Parties in Iraq. Kurdish Studies Journal. A historical analysis that explores the socioeconomic factors influencing the formation and evolution of ethnic party systems, with a focus on Kurdish political organizations in Iraq.
3.Tarkhani, S. (Under review). Beyond Ethnic Politics: Impact of the Electoral Constraints on the Intraethnic Party Competition. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics Journal. This study analyzes how changes in electoral rules affect the goals and strategies of ethnic parties, offering insights into the dynamics of intraethnic party competition.
4. Tarkhani, S. (Ongoing). Uber and Politics: A Participant Observational Research Study of Uber Passengers' Political Behavior in Kentucky. Scheduled for completion in August 2024. This ongoing research project seeks to be published as a comprehensive field study, using data from over 3000 trips. The primary objective of the project is to examine the sociopolitical interactions of Uber passengers during their rides through participant observation.
5. Tarkhani, S. (Under Review). Strategic Interests vs. Ethical Imperatives: U.S. Foreign Policy During the Anfal Genocide. Book Chapter for the Handbook on Anfal Genocide Campaign. This chapter analyzes the strategic and ethical considerations of U.S. foreign policy during the Anfal Genocide against Kurds in Iraq. The handbook will be published by Palgrave Macmillan.
Presentations:
1.Tarkhani, S (2025, March 1st). Wheels of Change: Intersectionality and Civic Discourse in Ride-Sharing Spaces. 63rd Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Political Science Association. Muray, KY.
2. Tarkhani, S (2025, April 5). Navigating Political Discourse in the Digital Age: Uber as an Urban 'Third Space' for Civic Engagement., 82nd Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, IL.
3. Tarkhani, S. (2024, April 13). Challenges and Strategies for Supporting ESL Instructors in Academia. Presented at the 2024 Adjunct Faculty Scholars Conference, Institute of Learning and Teaching Excellence, New Albany, IN.
4. Tarkhani, S. (2023, September). Anti-Western Sentiment Amongst Arabs and How It Drives Support for Russia against Ukraine. Presented at the Political Science and International Relations Conference, New York. This presentation analyzed the roots and implications of Arab support for Russia, using data from Arab news sources to explore how anti-Western sentiments influence geopolitical orientations.
5. Tarkhani, S. (2023, April 15). Development in Methodological Approaches to Political Parties. Presented at the American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. This presentation showcased innovative methodological advancements in the study of political parties, emphasizing the integration of new analytical techniques to better understand political dynamics.
6. Tarkhani, S. (2019, October). Social Roots of Kurdish Intra-Ethnic Party System. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Religious Research Association. This work provided a comprehensive analysis of the factors contributing to the formation and evolution of intra-ethnic party systems within Kurdish political organizations.
7. Tarkhani, S. (2019, October). The Effect of Iraq’s Ethnic Security Dilemma on the ISIS-Kurdish Conflict. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Religious Research Association. This presentation offered an in-depth examination of how ethnic security concerns in Iraq have influenced the conflict dynamics between ISIS and Kurdish forces, contributing to an understanding of the broader security implications for the region.
8. Tarkhani, S. (2019). Social Cleavages and Kurdish Party System. Presented at the Southern Illinois Student Activities and Research Conference. This presentation explored the impact of social cleavages on the Kurdish party system, analyzing how ethnic, linguistic, and religious divisions have shaped political party development and competition.
9. Tarkhani, S. (2015). The Effect of the Ethnic Security Dilemma on the ISIS-Kurdish Conflict. Presented at the Political Science Department Work in Progress Seminar, Southern Illinois University. This seminar presentation discussed preliminary findings on the ethnic security dilemma's role in exacerbating the conflict between ISIS and Kurdish forces, highlighting the implications for regional stability and security.
10. Tarkhani, S. (2010). Evaluating Pasuda Party System: Comparison Between Russian and Kurdish Political Party Systems. Presented at the Leo Tolstoy International Conference, Tula State University. This comparative study examined the political party systems of Russia and Kurdistan, focusing on the structural and functional dynamics that characterize each system.
- Employee Roles
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Departments Positions Titles Philosophy, Political Science, & Economics Faculty Assistant Professor