Abstract

Most observers – at least in the West – agree that the twenty-first century has been particularly tumultuous. But while some explain the volatility of our times by reference to historical analogies, e.g. moments of power transition in the twentieth century, others claim that we are in a moment of polycrisis for which there is no precedent. In this talk I split the difference: mainstream IR is wrong to assume the 21st century will resemble the 20th, but there are other historical precedents we can use to better theorise about our current predicament.  

Bio

Ayse Zarakol is a Professor of International Relations at the University of Cambridge and a Politics Fellow at Emmanuel College. Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Ayse Zarakol earned a BA from Middlebury College and an MA and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before joining Cambridge in 2013, she was an Assistant Professor at Washington & Lee University.  

Her research explores historical sociology and international relations, focusing on East-West dynamics, world orders, sovereignty, and Turkish politics. They have published in top journals, including International Organization and International Affairs.  

Ayse Zarakol is the author of After Defeat (2011) and Before the West (2022), which won multiple book prizes. They currently lead a British Academy grant on historical disorder and serve as Associate Editor of International Organization.