Nominees for the BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom (2025-2028)

Hassan Ali al-Asadey

I am currently a second-year PhD student at Durham University, based in the School of Government and International Affairs. My doctoral research explores the construction of party identity by Shia Islamist parties in Iraq after 2003 democratic transition. This work reflects my broader academic interests in democratization, ethnicity, and political identity in the Middle East. 

Prior to my PhD, I joined the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Kufa in 2013. Over the years, I have taken on various academic and administrative responsibilities, including participation in faculty committees. These roles have deepened my understanding of institutional governance and the challenges facing academic institutions in the MENA region. 

I am deeply committed to the principle of academic freedom, which I view as a fundamental right and a cornerstone of scholarly inquiry. In regions facing political and social upheaval, such as the Middle East, the ability of researchers to freely explore, critique, and propose solutions is not only essential for academic progress but also for societal development. I believe that BRISMES plays a vital role in defending and promoting these freedoms, both within the region and in academic institutions globally.