iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Very happy to share that I’ll be joining the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies (@islamicstudies.stanford.edu) at Stanford University (@stanford.edu) as a Visiting Scholar for 2026–2027! I'll be continuing my research on electoral institutions, candidate attributes, & democratic backsliding.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Excited to share that my co-author @ozlemtuncel.bsky.social and I received a research grant from the Institute for Humane Studies (@theihs.org)! This funding supports our collaborative project on Trustee (Kayyum) appointments in Turkey. Grateful for the support! #IHSFunded #PolSci #Autocratization

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Ozlem Tuncel @ozlemtuncel.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

@apsa.bsky.social 🚨 At APSA we are presenting two papers: 4pm am FRI: Higher education expansion under authoritarianism w/ @felixwiebrecht.bsky.social and 10 am SUN: Removal of elected opposition mayors w/ @elifsarigenc.bsky.social -- Yes, Sunday sessions are the worst but we have a great panel!

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Attending @wpsa.bsky.social this year? Don’t miss my brilliant co-author @ozlemtuncel.bsky.social presenting our collaborative research on Saturday. Check out the panel details below! 📑👇

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

How do parties use gender and religious signals to win elections in polarized districts? My latest work, now out in the new issue of Politics & Gender, analyzes how the strategic nomination of veiled and nonveiled women for mayoral seats serves as an appeal to rival party voters.👇

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Politics & Gender @politicsgenderj.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

📣 Out on #FirstView 📣 In "Symbolic Leverage" @elifsarigenc.bsky.social‬ examines how (non)veiled women are strategically nominated by political parties to run for mayoral seats as an appeal to rival party voters. 🌟Available #OpenAccess🌟 polisky gendersky buff.ly/AFH8fe3

Research article entitled "Symbolic Leverage: Nominating (Non)veiled Women as an Electoral Competition Strategy in Polarized Turkey" by Elif Sari-Genc.
Abstract begins: Do party elites strategically nominate (non)veiled women? While research exists on Muslim-minority countries, little is known about the dynamics of such strategies in Muslim-majority contexts, where the interplay of Islam, secularism, gender, and veiling is complex. To address this gap, I examine electoral competition in Turkey, investigating whether parties strategically nominate (non)veiled women for mayoral seats in opposing party strongholds to capitalize on the political symbols associated with women’s identities — a strategy I term “symbolic leverage.” Using an original dataset, elite interviews, and electoral discourse analysis, I find that parties leverage the symbolic value of veiled and nonveiled women candidates to appeal to rival party voters.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

for their valuable feedback on earlier drafts of this article. Your insights made this work much stronger. 🙏

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

I am deeply grateful to the anonymous reviewers, the editorial team of @politicsgenderj.bsky.social, Lindsay J. Benstead, Jill Greenlee, @meralugurcinar.bsky.social, Esra Issever-Ekinci, Lucie Drechselova, @orcunselcuk.bsky.social, and @ozlemtuncel.bsky.social ...

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

It demonstrates how elites' decisions regarding female candidate nominations are profoundly shaped by deeply entrenched cultural cleavages & how women candidates are strategically selected to compete in challenging districts where their identities offer distinct electoral advantages.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

This research foregrounds affective polarization and political symbols as the primary drivers shaping both the strategic inclusion of women in politics and their instrumentalization within broader electoral campaigns. #AffectivePolarization

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

A key contribution of this study is the introduction of a novel theory of 'symbolic leverage,' explaining how party elites strategically deploy women's (non)veiling status for electoral gain in the highly polarized, Muslim-majority context of Turkey.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Interviews with Islamist party elites show that nominating nonveiled women serves to signal tolerance for secular lifestyles, assuage Islamization concerns, attract swing voters, and project a democratic image and commitment to gender equality.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

In this research, I find that political parties in Turkey strategically leverage the symbolic value of veiled and nonveiled women candidates to appeal to rival party voters, particularly in highly polarized electoral contexts.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Thrilled to announce my new article, "Symbolic Leverage: Nominating (Non)Veiled Women as an Electoral Competition Strategy in Polarized Turkey," is now published in @politicsgenderj.bsky.social and available as First View (Open Access)! 🇹🇷♀️🗳️ (Thread 👇) #SymbolicLeverage #TurkishPolitics

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Daha az seyahat edip daha çok buluşmalıyız Hocam, katılıyorum kahve kritik önem taşıyor 😍

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Navigating fieldwork during such tremendous political turmoil taught important lessons, which I'll share in a separate piece soon. Stay tuned! #PoliticalScience #ComparativePolitics #WomenInPolitics #Academicsky #TurkeyPolitics #Fieldwork #EliteInterview

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Feeling very grateful for the support of Deniz Sert & @cimencim.bsky.social for hosting me this semester at @ozyeginuni.bsky.social Immense gratitude also to all interviewees sharing perspectives wholeheartedly amidst a tumultuous political crisis. #Fieldwork #EliteInterview

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Simultaneously, I had the profound pleasure of teaching comparative women's leadership & representation at @ozyeginuni.bsky.social Engaging w/ brilliant students in my home country, discussing insights from literature & my long-term fieldwork, was a true highlight! ✨ #Teaching

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

This news is special timing-wise, as I just wrapped up follow-up fieldwork here in Turkey! This work provides crucial input for my book project, building upon & extending the article's findings & laying crucial groundwork. 🇹🇷📚 #Fieldwork #BookProject #EliteInterview

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Another special thank you to Lindsay Benstead, who has always been a very supportive & tremendous guide. More detailed findings & acknowledgments to come...

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Huge thanks to the @politicsgenderj.bsky.social editorial team & anonymous reviewers for their invaluable feedback. (A special and heartfelt thank you to the reviewer who noted, "I appreciated the qualitative analysis of the party's motivations" – your comment was truly appreciated!) #EliteInterview

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

By examining how these candidate selections function as 'symbolic leverage' and conceptualizing the mechanisms and elite motivations behind this strategy, I find that parties leverage the symbolic value of veiled and nonveiled women candidates to appeal to rival party voters. #Electionsky #Gendersky

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

In this paper, I analyze the strategic nomination of (Non)veiled women as a tool for electoral competition within Turkey's highly polarized political environment. #GenderPolitics #Turkey #SymbolicPolitics #Gendersky #Electionsky

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Some exciting professional news! My article, "Symbolic Leverage: Nominating (Non)veiled Women as an Electoral Competition Strategy in Polarized Turkey," has been officially accepted & is forthcoming in @politicsgenderj.bsky.social! I couldn't be more delighted! 🎉 #Gendersky

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Another special thank you to Lindsay Benstead, who has always been a very supportive & tremendous guide. More detailed findings & acknowledgments to come...

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Huge thanks to the @politicsgenderj.bsky.social editorial team & anonymous reviewers for their invaluable feedback! 🙏 (Especially appreciated the reviewer who noted the qualitative analysis of motivations - thank you!)

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

It examines how these candidate selections function as 'symbolic leverage' & conceptualizes the mechanisms and elite motivations driving such a strategy. #SymbolicPolitics #Elections

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

In this paper, I analyze the strategic nomination of (Non)veiled women as a tool for electoral competition within Turkey's highly polarized political environment. #GenderPolitics #Turkey #Gendersky

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Kim Weeden @weedenkim.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

For every one man whose career is derailed because of a false accusation of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape there are 100s (1000s?) of women whose careers are derailed because they were harassed, assaulted, or raped. If only the punditry cared as much about the latter as the former.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

This is a growing list of scholars who study gender and women’s representation in authoritarian regimes. If I missed you, please reply to be added. Also, feel free to share this list and mention any names you think should be included. Thanks! #gendersky #polisky #Gendersky go.bsky.app/BDjUh6V

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23 DERECE @yirmiucderece.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Bluesky’a yeni katılan dostlar; Özgür maviliklere bağımsız gazetecilikle yelken açıyoruz… Sizlerde Bluesky’da bu listedeki hesapları takip ederek ve bu postu paylaşarak destek olabilir, sesimize ses vermiş olursunuz… Sevgi ile umut ile… 🌺✌️🌞 (Bu postu paylaşalım 🙈) go.bsky.app/Hjncmxk

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Devrim Yavuz @devrimyavuz.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Students/scholar at any level working on/in/from MENA. Consider joining a virtual zoom working/writing space created by my colleague and friend @liselhintz.bsky.social. I help facilitate 1 session/week and there are several others. Feel free to contact me. More info can be found in this article. 👇👇

tinyurl.com

Academic Solidarity in the Wake of Disaster: Blueprint for an Online Writing Support Group | PS: Political Science & Politics | Cambridge Core

Academic Solidarity in the Wake of Disaster: Blueprint for an Online Writing Support Group - Volume 57 Issue 3

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Authoritarian Political Systems Group @apsgworkshop.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

We noticed there wasn't a starter pack on authoritarian politics yet – Now there is! go.bsky.app/UFHn7sS Spread and ask to join!

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

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