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Kurdish Political Studies Program

The first and only academic program in the United States focusing on Kurdish issues

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DISCOVERY

A MIDDLE BRONZE AGE CITY ON THE ERBIL PLAIN   

Aerial view of an archaeological excavation site with rectangular trenches and surrounding flat, dry landscape under a clear sky.

The Kurd Qaburstan Project explores the archaeology and history of a 4,000-year-old city in northern Mesopotamia. It is the largest site on the Erbil plain and has been identified with ancient Qabra, an influential city-state. Led by Dr. Tiffany Earley-Spadoni at the University of Central Florida and funded by the National Science Foundation, the project uncovers new insights into daily life in the Middle Bronze Age. Innovative scientific and digital approaches are revealing the city’s layout, social organization, and role in the ancient Middle East. We invite you to explore our project’s website to learn more about the latest discoveries.


 

Strengthening Global Citizenship of Kurdistan-Iraq Youth
Model United Nations 2021

Logo of the Soran University Model United Nations 2021 Conference

Model United Nations (MUN) are educational conferences which offer its participants an opportunity to experience the parliamentary procedure and decision-making process employed by the United Nations. As simulations of the world’s largest international organization, MUNs offer a friendly way to expose young people around the world to the international community.

The recent cooperation between UCF’s Kurdish Political Studies Program and Soran University in Iraqi Kurdistan aim to introduce this experience to Iraq by organizing the country’s first National Model United Nations. The conference seeks to bring together one hundred participants from across Iraq. For three days the students will assume the role of country delegates, take part in the parliamentary proceedings, and debate issues of international importance while practicing policy research. Read more


 

After the Last ‘Firman’
Victimhood, Survival and Societal Transformation among the Yezidis   

Drawing of the exodus to Sinjar Mountains by Olgu Ergin
Exodus to Sinjar Mountains. Artist: Olgu Ergin

In 2014, the Yezidi- a religious community with historical roots in the Sinjar area of northern Iraq – had repeatedly been targeted by the Islamic State’s (IS) violence against the Yezidis: thousands of Yezidis were executed and large numbers of women and children were taken hostages and subsequently sold as slaves. While the Yezidis have historically developed a strong sense of existential threat perception as a marginalized minority, the IS assault has pushed the community to the brink of survival.

This project is a collaboration among the University of Central Florida, London School of Economics and Political Science, and the American University of Kurdistan. The project addresses a series of questions about the dimensions of Yezidi religion by empirically focusing on the lived experience of Yezidis. While IS atrocities against the Yezidis have received significant media attention, their lingering effects on Yezidis’ lives and relations between them remain unexplored.

Read more

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News

People seated at round tables attend a presentation in a conference room; a speaker stands at a podium while a screen displays the event.
COS News

UCF Hosts Conference on Kurdish Studies 

Attendees from all over the world gather to share insights and collaborate on Kurdish studies.  By: Emily Dougherty | April 29, 2025 The Kurdish Political…

Hannah Barnes and Myli Sangria standing in a group in front of panel in Kurdistan
COS News

Two Kurdish Political Studies Program Dr. Najmaldin Karim Research Fellows Visit Kurdistan 

Written by Léa Faure, Ph.D. in Security Studies  In May 2023, two students affiliated with the Kurdish Political Studies Program (KPSP), Hannah Barnes and Myli…

Armenia Yerevan
COS News

Travel Abroad Opens New Perspective For PoliSci Major

Hannah Barnes is learning as a Knight thousands of miles from Millican Hall and the Bounce House — and that suits her just fine. Barnes’…

Cyrus Amiri standing in front of a brick wall
COS News

KPSP Welcomes a Scholar of Literature from Iranian Kurdistan

Kurdish Political Studies Program (KPSP) is delighted to welcome Cyrus Amiri, Ph.D., as a visiting scholar in 2023. Amiri is an associate professor of English…

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