AUC Represented Successfully at ISA 2026

Assistant Professor Dr. Elif Yazıcı Başar, Head of the Department of International Relations and faculty member at the Faculty of Political Sciences at the American University of Cyprus (AUC), attended the 2026 Annual Convention of the International Studies Association (ISA)—one of the most prestigious events in the international academic community—and presented a significant paper.

According to a statement from the AUC Communication and Press Coordination Office, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Başar presented his paper titled “Responsibility Without Power: Rethinking Justice and Agency in Global Refugee Governance” to the international academic community at a conference held in Columbus, Ohio, in the United States.

Assistant Professor Elif Yazıcı Başar’s study focuses on the structural inequalities emerging in global refugee governance. The study addresses the issue that frontline countries, which bear the heaviest burden of refugee protection, are not equally represented in international decision-making mechanisms. This situation is re-examined as a matter of justice within the framework of political theorist Nancy Fraser’s “participatory equality” approach.

Following the presentation, the topic was examined from multiple angles during the discussions, which included academics from various countries, and a range of academic perspectives were presented. Dr. Başar’s work drew particular attention for its contribution to current debates in the fields of global governance, justice, and refugee policies.

Assistant Professor Elif Yazıcı Başar noted that her study highlights the imbalance between responsibility and decision-making power in refugee governance, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to governance.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pelin Agocuk, Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences at KAÜ, commented on the matter, stating, “We are deeply pleased that our university is represented at such prestigious international platforms. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elif Yazıcı Başar’s high-quality presentation at ISA 2026, one of the most significant academic events in her field, has sparked important discussions within the international academic community and made valuable contributions to our university’s scientific visibility.”