Short CV

Since 2019: Associate at the GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies
Since 03/2018: Research Fellow at the Institute for Intercultural and International Studies, University of Bremen
07/2017 - 12/2018: Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute of Middle East Studies, IDCAR-Network

Current Research

Political attitudes and behaviour in autocracies
Contentious politics in the Middle East and North Africa
Authoritarian regimes and international cooperation
Empirical research methods

Countries and Regions

Maghreb
Morocco
Egypt

Research Programmes

Accountability and Participation

Dr. Kressen Thyen

Associate

[email protected]

GIGA Focus Nahost | 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 Focus Nahost | 2/2019

Tunisia's Nascent Democracy: Between Social Protests and Structural Adjustments

Dr. Kressen Thyen

Associate

GIGA Working Papers | 03/2018

Why It Matters What We Do: Arab Citizens' Perceptions of the European Union after the 2011 Uprisings

Dr. Kressen Thyen

Associate

Democratization | 01/2018

Legitimacy and protest under authoritarianism: explaining student mobilization in Egypt and Morocco during the Arab uprisings

Dr. Kressen Thyen

Associate

Dr. Johannes Gerschewski

Berlin Social Science Center

Middle East Law and Governance | 2018

Managing Contention: Divergent Government Responses to Youth Protests in the Arab World

Dr. Kressen Thyen

Associate

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

Conference | 08/09/2025 - 12/09/2025

The Soft-Handed Kingdom? Revisiting Repression in the Moroccan “Arab Spring”

Deutscher Orientalistentag 2025, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen Organisers: Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft Dr. Maria Josua (Speaker), Dr. Kressen Thyen (Speaker)

This paper disentangles the specific patterns of repression that was employed in Morocco during the 2011-12 protests, challenging the narrative of a benign and reform-based response to the Arab uprisings.

Dr. Maria Josua

Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Dr. Kressen Thyen

Associate

Teaching | University of Tübingen | 2016

Techniques of Scientific Work in Political Science

University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany

Teaching | University of Tübingen | 2013

Civil society in democracy, autocracy and transformation processes

University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany

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Dr. Kressen Thyen

Dr. Kressen Thyen

Associate

Short CV

Since 2019: Associate at the GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies
Since 03/2018: Research Fellow at the Institute for Intercultural and International Studies, University of Bremen
07/2017 - 12/2018: Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute of Middle East Studies, IDCAR-Network