Dr Deniz Cifci (2025)

  • Research Affiliate
Dr Deniz Cifci (2025)

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About

Dr Deniz Cifci is an expert in ethnic and religious conflict and contentious politics in the Middle East. He completed his MPhil in Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion, and his PhD in Sociology, both at the University of Cambridge. Dr Cifci’s MPhil dissertation, titled 'The Influence of Salafism and Wahhabism in Determination of ISIS's Ideology', investigated the impact of Salafism and Wahhabism's interpretation of Islamic doctrines on shaping the ideology and violent practices of the Salafi-Jihadi movements, with the Islamic State as a case study. His PhD, titled 'Context, Opportunities and Threats: A Comparative Analysis of the KDP and the PUK in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq', comparatively analysed the effect of shifts in the national, regional, and international political contexts of the Middle East since 1958 on the Kurdish contention in the Kurdistan region in Iraq.

Prior to joining the University of Cambridge, Dr Cifci was a visiting research fellow at the University of St Andrews examining the relationships between various Syrian oppositional groups, including Kurdish groups, Salafi-Jihadi movements, and others, as well as their relationships with the Syrian regime.

Dr Cifci has presented at various international academic conferences and has been invited as an expert by research centres, universities, and political organisations to speak on topics related to the Kurdish issue in the Middle East, Salafi-Jihadi movements, and Middle Eastern politics in general. He has regularly appeared in mainstream media organisations, including the BBC, France 24, The Voice of America, the Islamic Channel, TRT, i24, and Rudaw, to provide expert opinions on current ethnic and religious conflicts and political affairs. Dr Cifci has extensive fieldwork experience across the Middle East and Europe, interviewing representatives of armed political movements as well as a wide range of political, religious, and military leaders from various ethnic, national, and religious backgrounds.

Dr Cifci is fluent in Kurdish (including Kurmanji and Sorani dialects), Turkish, English and Persian, and is currently improving his Arabic.

 

Affiliation Dates

13/05/2025 - 13/05/2026

Research

Theory: Social movement theory, ethnicity and nationalism, realism in International Relations, Islamic theology

Subjects: Ethnic and religious conflict, Salafi mobilisation, Henry Corbin and Mundus Imaginalis

Method: Historical Sociology and Ethnography (in-person and remote interviews)

Region: Middle East and Europe

 

Publications

Books

  • The Kurds and the Politics of Turkey: Agency, Territory and Religion, I.B. Tauris Publishing, August 2019.
  • Currently also in the process of submitting a book proposal for publication: Context, Opportunities and Threats: A Comparative Analysis of the KDP and the PUK in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq.

Book Chapters

  • Kurdish Salafism: Ideological and Organisational Roots in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Kürd Arastirmalari, No 1. (pp 145-173). Kürd Araştırmaları Sayı 1-2-3-4. (Pirtuka Kurdi 2019)
  • Political Incongruity between the Kurds and the “Opposition" in the Syrian Uprising. In R. Hinnebusch & O. Imady (eds.) The Syrian Uprising: Domestic Origins and Early Trajectory (pp. 309-328). Routledge-St. (Andrews Syrian Studies Series 2018).
  • Van’da Kürt Milliyetçiliği ve Kürt Siyasal Hareketi (‘Kurdish Nationalism and Kurdish Political Movement in the City of Van). In E. Çaglayan (ed.), Dünyada Van: Toplum, Etnisite, Tarih ve Toplum (The City of Van in the World: Population, Ethnicity, History and Society) (pp. 317-334). (Iletişim 2018).
  • The Political and Military Role Played by Turkey’s Kurds in the Rojava Struggle’ (in Kurdish). In Rûdaw Research Centre (ed.), Kurdistan after the Mosul and Raqqa Operation (pp. 375-388). (Kurdistan Printing 2017).

Invited Talks

Dr Cifci has been invited (as a panellist and/or keynote speaker) by the following research centres, universities, and political organisations (from the EU, US, Turkey, and Iraq) to discuss topics related to the Kurdish issue, Salafi Jihadi movements, and Middle Eastern politics in general.

  • March 27, 2015
    Invited speaker, ‘Terrorism’, University of Hertfordshire.
  • November 28, 2024
    ‘Unveiling the Kurdish Struggle: History, Identity, and Political Movements’. Jesus College, Cambridge University Kurdish Society, Cambridge, UK.
  • December 1, 2019
    ‘The Kurds, Iran and Turkey: New Political and Military Lines and
    Strategies in the Middle East’. Political Developments in Kurdistan, Turkey, and the Middle East. Gik-Der (Migrant Workers Cultural Centre), London.
  • May 30, 2019
    ‘Political Islam, Hezbollah and Salafism within the Kurds’. The New
    Political Actors and Dynamics in Turkey and the Middle East. British
    Alevi Federation, London.
  • July 28, 2017
    ‘Kurdistan Referendum in Iraq’. The Regional Impact of the Kurdistan Referendum. Mesopotamia Kurdish Research Centre. Day-Mer, London.
  • October 29, 2016
    ‘Following ISIS, the Kurdish Struggle in Iran’. East Kurdistan Days.
    Mesopotamia Kurdish Research Centre, Kocgiri Association, London.
  • November 24, 2016
    ‘Militarist Policy of Islamism: The Gulen Movement and Coup D’état’. Military Coup D’état in Turkey. University of Bath, Middle
    Eastern Awareness Society, via Skype, UK.
  • November 3, 2016
    ‘Turkey’s Policy of Jihadist Groups in Syria’. Centre for Syrian
    Studies, International Relations, University of St Andrews, UK.
  • August 31, 2016
    ‘The Political and Religious Impact of ISIS on the Middle East’.
    RedR, London.
  • April 12, 2016
    ‘The Kurds, ISIS and the Syrian Uprising’. Middle East After ISIS.
    Hastings Solidarity Association, Hastings, UK.
  • December 2, 2015
    ‘Refugee Crisis: What is Happening? Salafism and Extremism in the
    EU’. Islamic State, Refugees. Fabian Society, Houses of Parliament, London.
  • August 5, 2015
    ‘Syrian Kurdish Political Movements and the Syrian Uprising’. The
    Kurds and the Syrian Uprising, Kurdistan Union Democrat Party of
    Syria (PYDKS). Kurdish Advice Centre-Kom-Kar, London.
  • March 3, 2014
    ‘Islamic Movements in Turkey and the Middle East’. Kurdish Advice
    Centre-Kom-Kar, London.
  • May 15, 2013
    ‘Analysing the Kurdish Groups and their Political Demands in the
    Light of Ethnic and Nationalist Theories. The Kurds and their Political Demands. Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • December 12, 2012
    ‘Hezbollah’s Civilisation Process’. New Dynamics in Turkish Politics.
    Fatih University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • November 15, 2012
    'Hezbollah and the Kurdish Issue’. Hezbollah and Kurdish Politics.
    Süreç Analiz, Istanbul, Turkey.

Short Policy Briefs and Analyses

  • ‘Kürt Alevilerin Çözüm Sürecine Yaklaşımı’ (Kurdish Alevis’ Approach to the Peace Process), Süreç Analiz, No 6, August-September 2013.
  • ‘Kürt Sorununun Geçirdiği Aşamalar ve İmralı Görüşmelerinin Önemi Üzerine’ (pp.43-50) (Transition in the Kurdish Issue and Importance of the Imrali Meetings), Süreç Analiz, No 4, February-March 2013.
  • ‘Arap Baharından Kürt Baharına Doğru: Suriye Kürtlerinin Politik Kazanımları’ (From Arab Spring to the Kurdish Spring: Political Achievements of the Kurds in Syria), Süreç Analiz, No 3, November-December 2012.

Analyses for newspapers and research institutions

Press Interviews

Academic Conferences and Presentations

  • June 15-18, 2019
    'The Factors Keeping the Islamic State Alive in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region: Ideology, Sectarianism and the Vacuum of Authority. The Consequences of Kurdistan’s Independence Referendum: Relations between the KRG and Iran/the GCC. Gulf Research Centre, University of Cambridge, UK.
    https://gulfresearchmeeting.net/documents/1584361783Desc&AbstractWS11.pdf
  • April 15-16, 2019
    ‘Construction of Militant Jihadi and Non-Militant Forms of Salafism: Ansar al-Islam and Abdullatif Salafi Groups in Kurdistan Region in Iraq as Case Studies’. BRAIS (British Association for Islamic Studies, Annual Conference of the British Association for Islamic Studies, University of Nottingham, UK. https://www.brais.ac.uk/conferences/brais-2019
  • June 8, 2019
    ‘Doctrinal Influence of Wahhabism on Islamic State and Its Implications for Kurdish Salafis’. Regional Politics Post-IS. RUSI (Royal United Services Institute), UK. https://www.durham.ac.uk/media/durham-university/research-/research-cent...
  • November 3-4, 2016
    ‘Democratic but Ambiguous: The Political and Theoretical Critique of the Democratic Autonomy Model’. Emancipatory Transformations: Engaging Radical Democracy in Kurdistan, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK. https://steps-centre.org/event/emancipatory-transformations-engaging-rad...
  • September 22-24, 2016
    ‘Contribution of Salafism and Wahhabism in the Construction of a “Supra” and “Superior” Identity and a Particular Form of “Authority” in ISIS Ideology’. Islam and Salafism, Dabran Platform, University of Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq.
  • August 22-23, 2016
    ‘Syrian Crisis, Nationalism and Pragmatism: Kurdish Policy of Iran in Syria and Iraq’. The Gulf and the Wider Middle East: Transnational Dynamics in Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, UK. https://www.academia.edu/27224790/2016_Exeter_Gulf_Conference_Programme
  • May, 2016
    ‘Raising of National Consciousness among the Kurdish Islamists: The Case of Turkey’. International Conference on the Identity and Independence of Nations between Historical Factors and Contemporary Conditions, University of Sulaymaniyah, in collaboration with the Chawder Enlightenment Centre, Iraq.
  • December 7-8, 2015
    ‘Militant Salafism, Wahhabism and Jihad: The Ideological Roots of ISIS and Its Appearance in the EU’. International Conference on the Crisis in the Middle East and its Impact on Europe, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
    http://www.iksiopan.pl/index.php/en/gallery/category/6-crisis-in-the-mid...
  • September 11-13, 2014
    ‘Political Violence, Gezi Protests and the Kurds’ Approach’. The 8th Global Conference on Fear, Horror and Terror; Inter-Disciplinary Net, Mansfield College, Oxford University, UK.
  • September 22, 2013
    ‘National Identity, Feminism and Nationalism: As a Case Study of the Kurdish Women’s Movement in Turkey’. The 3rd Conference on Kurdish Women in East Kurdistan: ‘Rojhalet’, The Role of Kurdish Women in Bringing about Social Change and Democratisation in Iran. The Study Society Kurdish Women’s Project, London.
  • September 1-3, 2013
    ‘Ethno-Cultural and Political Conflict Between the Turks and Kurds in the UK’. The 7th Global Conference on Multiculturalism, Conflict and Belonging, Inter-Disciplinary Net, Mansfield College, Oxford University, UK
  • June 2013
    Panel: ‘Syrian Kurds’ Political Stance Towards the Syrian National Council
    (SNC) and the Emergence of Kurdish Regional Autonomy. The 2nd CSS Postgraduate Conference on Syria: The Syrian Uprising: Drivers and Dynamics, Centre for Syrian Studies, University of St Andrews, UK

Teaching and supervision

2025- Supervision, Sociology, University of Cambridge, UK

  • SOC 3: Modern Societies II: Global Social Problems and Dynamics of Resistance

2024-2025 Supervision, Sociology, University of Cambridge, UK

  • SOC I: Introduction to Sociology: Modern Societies I
  • SOC 3: Modern Societies II: Global Social Problems and Dynamics of Resistance
  • SOC 11: ‘Racism, ‘Race’ and Ethnicity’; for Lecture 9: ‘Orientalism, Islamophobia . . and the “War on Terror”’.