Professional Affiliation

Professor of Political Science at the University of Connecticut

Expert Bio

Zehra F. Kabasakal Arat is Professor of Political Science at the University of Connecticut, where she also contributes to the human rights and gender studies programs. She studies human rights, with an emphasis on women’s rights, as well as processes of democratization, globalization and development. She is engaged in various human rights advocacy groups and professional organizations, including founding member of Women’s Platform for Equality, Turkey (ESIK), and Founding President of the Human Rights Section of the American Political Science Association (APSA).

Currently, she serves on the editorial boards of Human Rights Quarterly, International Feminist Journal of Politics, Journal of Human Rights, and Zeitschrift für Menschenrechte.  She is also the editor of the book series, “Power and Human Rights,” by Lynne Rienner Publishers. Her publications include numerous journal articles and book chapters, as well as authored, edited and co-edited books, including: Democracy and Human Rights in Developing Countries; Deconstructing Images of “The Turkish Woman”; Human Rights Worldwide; Non-state Actors in the Human Rights Universe; Human Rights in Turkey; and The Uses and Misuses of Human Rights. She has been recognized by several awards, including the APSA Award of Distinguished Scholar in Human Rights (2010), SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities (2006), and the title of Juanita and Joseph Leff Distinguished Professor (Purchase College, 2006).