Mehmet Efe Caman
Visiting Assistant Professor
SN 2037
Department of Political Science, Science Building
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, NL A1B 3X9 Canada
Telephone: (709) 864-8188
Email: mecaman[at]mun[dot]ca
Academics
BA, MA, PhD (University of Augsburg)
Areas for Student Research Supervision
- Democracy, democratization, human rights
- Turkish politics
- Middle East politics
- Post-Soviet regions, Caucasus and Central Asia
Examples of Recent Courses Taught
2019 2300 Comparative Politics (spring)
2019 4370 Democracy and Democratization (winter)
2019 2300 Comparative Politics (winter)
2019 1001 Critical Reading and Writing in Political Science (winter)
2019 6300 Comparative Politics (fall)
2019 3300 European Politics (fall)
2019 2300 Comparative Politics (fall)
2018 2300 Comparative Politics (fall)
2018 3300 European Politics (fall)
2018 6300 Comparative Politics (fall)
2018 2200 Introduction to International Politics (spring)
2018 1000 Introduction to Politics and Government (spring)
2018 4250 European Union (MUN, fall 2016-2017, fall)
2017 4370 Democracy and Democratization (fall)
2017 3230 International Organizations (fall)
2017 3033 Introduction to Politics and Government (winter)
2017 2098 Creative Reading and Writing in Political Science (winter)
2016 3010 Empirical Methods in Political Science (fall)
2016 6010 Political Science Methods (winter)
2016 4370 Democracy and Democratization (fall 2016)
Bio
Dr. Caman completed his B.A./M.A. and Ph.D. at Augsburg University in Germany. His research primarily explores democratization, human rights, and Turkish politics within the realms of comparative and international politics. He is particularly interested in the phenomenon of democratic erosion, contemporary human rights challenges, and the strategies used by authoritarian regimes to justify their rule. Dr. Caman has authored four books on Turkish politics and written numerous book chapters and scholarly articles in English, German, and Turkish on subjects related to his research interests. After teaching in Germany (2005-2006), he spent several years in Turkey as a professor and held roles as department head and dean. He has been a member of the Political Science Department at MUN since August 2015. He was a persecuted academic (Scholar Rescue Fund Award, 2017-2018, Host University: MUN) and is a human rights advocate.
Selected Publications
Caman, M. E., “Authoritarianization and Human Rights in Turkey: How the AKP Legitimizes Human Rights Violations” (Chapter 9), Hasan Aydin and Winston Langley (Eds): Human Rights in Turkey, Springer, ISBN: 978-3-030-57475-8 (2021).
Caman, M. E., “How an Islamist party managed to legitimate its authoritarianization in the eyes of the secularist opposition: the case of Turkey”, in: Democratization, 27/2020 (2020)
Caman, M. E. (with Dağcı, K.) “Iran’s Nuclear Program and Turkey: Changing Perceptions, Interests and Need for Revision”, in: Alternatives, 2/12, p. 1-14, (2013)
Caman, M. E., “Kitlesel Şiddete – Savaşa Bir Eleştiri Denemesi: Savaşın Teorik Konsepti ve Devlet Tekelinden Çıkan Çatışma Davranışı” (A Critique Attempt at Mass Violence and War. The Theoretical Concept of War and Conflict-Behavior out of the State Control)”, in: Barış Araştırmaları ve Çatışma Çözümleri Dergisi, 1/1, p. 3-20 (2013)
Caman, M. E., (with Akyurt, M.) “Caucasus and Central Asia in Turkish Foreign Policy: The Time Has Come for a New Regional Policy”, in: Alternatives, 10/2-3, p. 67-86, (2011)
Caman, M. E., (with Aras, B. & Dağcı, K.) “Turkey's New Activism in Asia”, in: Alternatives, 8/2, s. 24-39, (2009)
Caman, M. E., “Perzeptionen, Interessen und Erwartungen in den Türkei-EU-Beziehungen. Inkompatibilität oder Harmonie?” (Perceptions, Interests and Expectations in the Turkish-EU Relations. Incompatibility or Harmony?), Rethinking Turkey EU Relations, ed. Dağcı, Kenan & Dağcı, Tuba, p. 135–173, Münster, (2007)
Caman, M. E., “Türkei Quo Vadis? Determinanten türkischer Außenpolitik in Europa und Asien” (Turkey Quo Vadis? Determinants of the Turkish Foreign Policy in Europe and Asia), in: Zeitschrift für Politik, 4/53, p. 411–437, (2006)
Caman, M. E., “Türkische Außenpolitik zwischen EU-Integration und regionaler Politik” (Turkish Foreign Policy between EU-Integration and Regional Policy), in: Südosteuropa Mitteilungen, 3/46, p. 16-31 (2006)
Caman, M. E., Türkische Außenpolitik nach dem Ende des Ost-West-Konflikts (Turkish Foreign Policy after the Cold War), Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Berlin (WVB), 434 pages, Berlin, (2005)
Conference papers and public presentations:
2018 Caman, M. E., “Ideational-identitarian Discourses in ‘Missions’ as a Source of Legitimation Strategy in the Reverse Democratization Process of Turkey”, Atlantic Provinces Political Science Association, St. John’s, October 2018.
2016 Caman, M. E. “Turkey in the Refugee Crisis”, New Dimensions of the Refugee Crisis, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 11 March (2016).
2015 Caman, M. E. “About Homeland and Nation in Turkey before and after the Battle of Gallipoli”, Before Beaumont Hamel, there was Gallipoli: A Symposium on the Gallipoli campaign from Newfoundland and Turkish Perspectives”, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 14 November (2015).
2013 Caman, M. E. “The Role and Function of the Political Advisors of Foreign Ministers and Turkish Foreign Policy”, Istanbul Technical University, 10 April (2013).
2012 Caman, M. E. (with Dagci, K.) “Image of Turkey in the European Union – Turkey Relations: European Identity and the Problem of Turkey’s Belongings to Europe”, 10. International Conference on Knowledge, Economy and Management, 8-10 November (2012).
2012 Caman, M. E. (with Dagci, K.) “Conflict Resolution Approaches: Negotiation and Mediation”, 10. International Conference on Knowledge, Economy and Management, 8-10 November (2012).
2012 Caman, M. E., (with Dagci, K.) “Russian Federation’s Perception of Post-Soviet Regions: Eurasian Strategy and the Russian Foreign Policy”, Blue Black Sea International Congress, 15 – 17 October, (2012).
2010 Caman, M. E., “Kyrgyzstan Dilemma: Post-Soviet Black Hole of Central Asia”, International Workshop on Peace and Stability in Kyrgyzstan, 15th December, (2010).
2010 Caman, M. E., “Turkish Foreign Policy towards Middle Asia and Caucasus”, International Scientific Conference – Actual Problems of Studying Contemporary Turkey, Nizhniy Novgorod State University – National Research University [NNSU], Russia), 20–22 April (2010).
2009 Caman, M. E. “European Union’s Middle East Policy”, Conference on the Middle East, Kadir Has University, 20 March (2009).
2008 Caman, M. E., “Caucasus and Central Asia in Turkish Foreign Policy”, Isik University International Relations and Turkish Foreign Policy Symposium, 14 May (2008).
2006 Caman, M. E., “The Relations of Reality and Aims with Perceptions in the Process of Foreign Policy Making: A Contribution to the Analyzes of Turkey’s Caucasus and Central Asia Regional Politics”, Social, Political and Economic Transition in the Turkic Republics of the Caucasus and Central Asia Following the Disintegration of the Soviet Union. International Congress, s. 814–823 18–21 September (2006).
2006 Caman, M. E., “The Problem of Perception and Knowledge in International Relations: The Approach of the Munich School”, Proc. 5. Knowledge, Economy and Management Congress, s. 136–141, 3–5 November (2006).