About Us

Project Title: “Rearranging the Puzzle of Security in the Eastern Mediterranean: Mapping New Actors and Dynamics from a “Low Geopolitical Perspective” (LowGeo).

LowGeo is funded by the Internal Research Programme awards granted by the University of Cyprus for a two-years period (1/6/2021 to 30/4/2023) for advancing research in the field of Social and Political Sciences. The project seeks to enhance knowledge on the academic areas of geopolitical research and conflict studies with reference to the broader MENA Region (Middle East and North Africa). More particularly, the project focuses on the transnational political and security dynamics developing within the ethno-geographic subspace of the Eastern Mediterranean (EastMed). The project aims to produce, publish, and disseminate fresh knowledge accessible to both academics and policymakers.

Joseph Kovras

Head Coordinator

Associate Professor at the Department of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Cyprus. He previously taught Political Science at the City University of London (2016-2020). He completed his PhD at Queen’s University in Belfast (2011) and holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Aberystwyth University (2006). His research focuses mainly on transitional justice policies, Human Rights and Conflict Analysis and Resolution in deeply divided societies. At the same time, it deals with the accountability policies adopted by countries after economic crises. Findings from his research have been published in the following journals: Comparative Political Studies, West European Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Psychology, Nations and Nationalism and Cooperation and Conflict. He has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the British Academy to conduct research projects. His most recent book was published in 2017 entitled Activism and the Evolution of Transitional Justice by Cambridge University Press.

Dr. Pavlos I. Koktsidis

Principal Researcher

Researcher and Lecturer Adj. at the Department of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Cyprus. Pavlos obtained his BA in Politics and International Relations from the University of Lancaster, graduated with an MA in Comparative Ethnic Conflict from Queen’s University of Belfast, where he was also awarded with his PhD in Security and Conflict Analysis. Since 2013, he lectures Foreign Policy, International Relations and Conflict Studies at the Department of Social and Political Sciences (UCY) and he has worked as lead researcher and project administrator for the Erasmus+ EastMed programme (2016-2019). His research interests focus on ethnic conflict analysis and conflict regulation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans. He has published his work in numerous academic outlets, including in several international peer-reviewed journals (Journal of Ethnopolitics, Eastern European Quarterly, Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict, Civil Wars, Mediterranean Quarterly, Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, Perspectives on Federalism), book chapters (Routledge, Springer), monographs (Peter Lang, Bloomsbury/I.B. Tauris), and policy reports.

Demetris Comodromos

Research Associate

Demetris received a BSc degree in Political Science and History from Panteion University of Athens and graduated with an MSc in International Relations & European Studies from the University of Piraeus. Since 2016, he has been working at the Department of Social and Political Sciences as a Research Associate. He has worked in a series of funded research programmes focusing on subnational extremism, political party activism and group organization. As member of the LowGeo project, his research role focuses on the development and application of research methods, software application (GeoDa), data collection, codification, and analysis.

Nefeli Hadjitheodoulou

Media and Social Dissemination Administrator

Nefeli is a graduate student of Politics and International Relations from the Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Cyprus. She works as an intern research assistant and administrator of LowGeo’s social dissemination and media outreach.

Harry-Phillip Telemachou

Research Assistant

 

Harry-Phillip is an undergraduate student of the Department of Political Science, University of Cyprus.