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. Kressen Thyen

Associate

Dr. Kressen Thyen

  • 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

    Dr. Kressen Thyen

    Associate

    [email protected]

    Publications

    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 Focus Middle East | 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 Projects

    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

    Lectures

    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

    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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