German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

DEEN

Dr. Maria Josua

Research Fellow | Research Team Spokesperson

Dr. Maria Josua

  • Short CV

    • Since 07/2023: MECAM Publication Manager
    • 2015 - 2018 and 2019 - 2023: Spokesperson of the Research Team "Authoritarian Politics", Research Programme 1
    • 2014 - 2019: Coordinator of IDCAR Network 

    • Since 07/2014: Research Fellow at GIGA Institute of Middle East Studies

    • 2009 - 2014: Research Associate and Lecturer at the Institute of Political Science, University of Tübingen, Research Unit on Middle East and Comparative Politics

    • Education: M.A. in Political Science, Islamic Studies and Public International Law at the University of Tübingen and the University of Copenhagen, 2002-2009; PhD dissertation "The Arab Uprisings as Crises of Legitimacy: Success and Failure of Strategies of Political Rule in Jordan and Algeria" at the University of Tübingen, 2009-2014

    Current Research

    • Authoritarian Rule in the Middle East and North Africa

    • Authoritarian learning

    • Legitimation of authoritarian regimes

    • Repression of protest movements

    Countries and Regions

    • Algeria

    • Jordan

    • Tunisia

    Memberships

    • Middle East Studies Association, Membership in region-specific association or network, since 2020
    • German Political Science Association, Membership in discipline-specific association or network, since 2015
    • German Middle East Studies Association for Contemporary Research and Documentation, Membership in region-specific association or network, since 2003

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    T. +49 40 42825-714[email protected]

    Highlights

    The Arab Uprisings and the Return of Repression

    Mediterranean Politics | 2021

    The Arab Uprisings and the Return of Repression

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Dr. Mirjam Edel

    University of Tübingen

    Justifications of Repression in Autocracies: An Empirical Analysis of Morocco and Tunisia, 2000–2010

    Contemporary Politics | 02/2024

    Justifications of Repression in Autocracies: An Empirical Analysis of Morocco and Tunisia, 2000–2010

    This article investigates the communication of everyday repression in autocracies. It analyzes data from the novel "Justifications of Repressive Incidents in Morocco and Tunisia Dataset (JuRI)" covering human rights violations and judicial repression in the years 2000-2010.

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    The Legitimation of Repression in Autocracies

    Chapter in Edited Volume | 08/2021

    The Legitimation of Repression in Autocracies

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Publications

    Contemporary Politics | 02/2024

    Justifications of Repression in Autocracies: An Empirical Analysis of Morocco and Tunisia, 2000–2010

    This article investigates the communication of everyday repression in autocracies. It analyzes data from the novel "Justifications of Repressive Incidents in Morocco and Tunisia Dataset (JuRI)" covering human rights violations and judicial repression in the years 2000-2010.

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    GIGA Focus Middle East | 4/2023

    Tunisia’s Autocratisation under President Kais Saied

    After the Arab uprisings, Tunisia would emerge as the only Arab democracy. President Kais Saied’s July 2021 coup has, however, led to the autocratisation of the state. This GIGA Focus traces Saied’s base of support, his strategies, and rhetoric, as well as their implications for Tunisia’s future.

    Dr. Kressen Thyen

    Associate

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    GIGA Working Papers | 08/2022

    Justifications of Repression in Autocracies: An Empirical Analysis of the Maghreb, 2000–2010

    How do autocrats communicate everyday acts of repression? This paper introduces and analyses a novel dataset on justifications for incidents of repression in Morocco and Tunisia during the years 2000–2010, showing that the chosen forms thereof influence how officials subsequently talk about them.

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Dataset | 2022

    Justifications of Repressive Incidents in Morocco and Tunisia Dataset (JuRI)

    This novel event dataset contains information on 439 repressive incidents in Morocco and Tunisia from 2000-2010. It disaggregates various dimensions of repression and its justification. The JuRI dataset is based on a compilation of publicly available human rights reports.

    https://doi.org/10.7802/2438

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Journal of Global Security Studies | 09/2021

    What Drives Diffusion? Anti-Terrorism Legislation in the Arab Middle East and North Africa

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Research Projects

    Research Project | 01/04/2023 - 31/03/2029

    Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM): Imagining Futures - Dealing with Disparity, Phase II

    The Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) based in Tunis is the first and only Institute for Advanced Studies in North Africa. MECAM’s ambition is to become an intellectual hub that contributes to the emergence of cutting-edge, internationally relevant and visible research in the humanities and social sciences on, from and in the Maghreb and in particular with scholars from the Maghreb. The GIGA coordinates MECAM's publications as well as outreach and transfer activities.
    BMBF, 2023-2029

    Research Project | 01/07/2019 - 31/10/2024

    Justifying Repression in Authoritarian Regimes of the Arab World: Official Framing and Target Audiences

    This project offers a new perspective on how repression can sustain authoritarianism. It focuses on Tunesia and Morocco – two countries with divergent trajectories during the Arab uprisings. Bridging framing and autocracy research, the project develops a new concept of justifications of repression. It shows how their application in different branches of government differs, why certain types of justifications are chosen, and what effect they have.
    DFG, 2019-2024

    Research Project | 01/07/2014 - 30/06/2019

    International Diffusion and Cooperation of Authoritarian Regimes - IDCAR-Network

    In politics and political science alike, the increasing international influence of authoritarian regimes has become a central concern around the globe. From 2014-2019, the IDCAR network brought together some of the most renowned scholars in the field to produce high-level research and, based on this, policy advice and public outreach.
    Leibniz Association, 2014-2019

    Media Contributions

    Deutsche Welle | Quote | 05/09/2024

    Algeria election brings little hope for political change

    Dr. Maria Josua analyses the political situation in Algeria ahead of the presidential elections, where the incumbent President Tebboune is likely to win given the autocratic context. 

    Deutsche Welle | Quote | 14/07/2024

    Fear reigns in Tunisia as preelection repression intensifies

    Ahead of the presidential elections in Tunisia, Maria Josua commented on the implications of repression against different candidates for the country's political pathway. 

    Deutsche Welle | Quote | 10/07/2024

    Wahlen in Tunesien: Demokratie in Gefahr

    Maria Josua commented on the increased repression of candidates ahead of the presidential elections in Tunisia in the context of autocratization. 

    Lectures

    GIGA Forum | 21/08/2024

    Letting Both Sides Speak? Reporting on Authoritarian Regimes in Democratic Media

    Letting Both Sides Speak? Reporting on Authoritarian Regimes in Democratic Media, Online Event Organisers: German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) Dr. Maria Josua (Consultant)

    Maria Josua organized and moderated a virtual GIGA Forum on how to report on autocratic regimes in Western media.

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Workshop | 17/06/2023

    Workshops on Middle East Politics: Media, Information and Digitization

    Workshops on Middle East Politics: Media, Information and Digitization, University of Tübingen, Tübingen Organisers: University of Tübingen Dr. Maria Josua (Panelist)

    Maria Josua participated in the Workshops on Middle East Politics in Tübingen with an input on "Media responsibility vis-à-vis autocratic discourse and disinformation in the digital age" on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the CMEPS Master Program of The American University in Cairo and the University of Tübingen.

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Conference | 14/06/2023 - 16/06/2023

    Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion Internationale Beziehungen der DVPW

    Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion Internationale Beziehungen der DVPW, Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen Organisers: Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen", DVPW Dr. Maria Josua (Organiser)

    Maria Josua and Julia Gurol jointly organised and chaired a panel on "How Authoritarian Narratives Travel: Exploring Senders and Audiences at Home and Abroad" at the IR Section Conference of the German Political Science Foundation in Friedrichshafen.

    Dr. Maria Josua

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Teaching

    Teaching | University of Tübingen | 2014

    Concepts and Theories of Political Rule: Current Trends in Research on Authoritarianism

    University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany

    Teaching | University of Tübingen | 2013

    Comparative Politics: Authoritarian Systems

    University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany

    Teaching | University of Tübingen | 2013

    Politics after the Arab Spring

    University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany

    Notification

    Sign up to receive email notifications about GIGA activities

    Social Media

    Follow us

    German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien
    Logo Total E Quality
    Logo Hamburger Allianz Fuer Familien
    Logo Leibniz
    Alt Text Footer Logo Hamburg Ministry of Science, Research, Equalities and Districts
    Logo Auswertiges Amt