Dr Samer Bakkour

Dr Samer Bakkour is a Lecturer in Humanities and Social Sciences in the field of  Politics at the University of Exeter.

His research lies at the intersection of International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Middle Eastern Studies, with particular expertise in conflict, forced displacement, governance, political violence, and post-conflict reconstruction in Syria and the wider Middle East. His work has made significant contributions to understanding the strategic role of internal displacement in civil war, sectarianisation, authoritarian governance, and the political dynamics of conflict and state-building.

His research has been published in leading international journals and by internationally recognised publishers, including Routledge, Edinburgh University Press, Springer Nature, Wiley, and Taylor & Francis. He is the author of The End of the Middle East Peace Process: The Failure of US Diplomacy (Routledge, 2022), two Arabic-language monographs on the Syrian civil war published by the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies (2024), and is currently completing a new monograph with Edinburgh University Press on strategic displacement in the Syrian civil war. His research has attracted competitive external funding, including a British Academy research grant, and has informed policy debates through collaborations with leading research centres and policy organisations.

Alongside his research, Dr Bakkour teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules on Middle Eastern politics, international relations, migration and displacement, political violence, environmental conflict, and the Israel–Palestine conflict. He has designed innovative research-led modules, supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research, examined doctoral candidates, and held a range of academic leadership roles at Exeter, including Academic Conduct Officer, Employability and Placement Officer, Widening Participation Officer, and member of the Global Engagement team.

Beyond academia, Dr Bakkour works closely with policy institutes, international research centres, civil society organisations, and media outlets to promote evidence-based policy and public understanding of conflict and displacement. His research regularly informs policy reports, public lectures, media commentary, and international academic collaborations, reflecting his commitment to bridging scholarly research with policy and public engagement.