Profile
Melike Bozkurt is a Doctoral Researcher at the Institute for International Management and Entrepreneurship. Melike’s research areas focus on Social Inequalities and Justice and Policy, Port and Geopolitics in an Unstable World.
Background
Melike holds both a BA and an MA in International Relations from Kadir Has University, Istanbul, where she earned both degrees with first-class honours. Her academic background includes active involvement in several research projects, covering themes such as political economy, development strategies, and international affairs. Alongside her doctoral studies, she currently works as a Research Assistant within her institute, contributing to ongoing academic work and further developing her research profile in alignment with her broader scholarly interests.
PhD research
Industrial policy, while not a new concept, has been boldly reimagined and vigorously reapplied by national economies around the world. This modern resurgence is reshaping both policy debates and academic inquiries, signalling a pivotal shift in how development strategies are perceived and implemented.
Funded by Loughborough University, Melike’s research, titled “Industrial Policies and the Political Economy of Development in Emerging Economies,” critically examines how states intervene to drive economic development. Specifically, it looks at how countries strategically prioritise and support certain sectors within global value chains to gain a competitive edge and strengthen their position.
The study explores the complex efforts of national economies to reposition themselves in an increasingly multipolar world, focusing on the role of economic statecraft and industrial policies, especially in emerging economies. Through three detailed studies, using both in-depth single-case and comparative case approaches, this research offers a deeper understanding of the relationship between industrial policy, economic development, and global political and economic dynamics.
Professional associations
Melike is a member of several academic and professional associations, including the British International Studies Association (BISA), the European Workshops in International Studies (EWIS), the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics (SASE), and the International Relations Council of Turkey (IRCT).