Dr. Ayse Polat

Biography

Ayse Polat is a Departmental Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Oxford's St Edmund Hall. She specializes in international politics, law, race, migration, and the modern Middle East. Her research includes a book titled 'Pale Humanity: Law, Carcerality, Humanitarianism in the Late Ottoman Empire', which links critical debates on Ottoman modernity, international law, political economy, and migration studies. The book explores how global humanitarianism was influenced by the Ottoman Empire's territorial borders and diplomatic relations in the late 19th century, highlighting the role of humanitarian campaigns and legislation in regulating human mobility based on race, religion, gender, and class. Polat is currently working on a project tentatively titled 'Deluge Plains: Politics of Disarmament in the Modern Middle East', which investigates the international legal history of war and violence in the Middle East from 1890 to 1948. She aims to trace the region's militarization and the economic factors that contributed to arms proliferation. Her prior work includes presentations and publications focusing on international politics, pan-Islamism, racial politics, and humanitarianism. Polat completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2023 and has held postdoctoral fellowships at Columbia University and Cornell University, prior to joining Oxford.

Research Interests

Experience