Name: Fatima Rahman
Hometown: San Diego, California
Education:  political science graduate student; received undergraduate degree from UC San Diego and master of arts from UC Riverside
Research Interest: factors and processes that affect liberal democratization and different aspects related to liberal democratization such as women’s empowerment and minority rights

Fatima's award winning research paper is currently under consideration for publication and unavailable for reposting at this time.

 

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Why did you decide to come to UCI?
The political science department at UCI has some of the best scholars in democracy studies.   I was also selected to be a Center for the Study of Democracy fellow.  Having the opportunity to be a part of The Center for the Study of Democracy and to work with and be mentored by some of the premier scholars in democracy studies helped in my decision to come to UCI.

What interests you most about the study of political science and democracy in particular?  Democratization is a dynamic and changing process in the developing world.  Understanding how and why it happens and how it is likely to proceed are some of the most interesting aspects in my field of study. As an undergrad, I became especially interested in understanding the processes that produce political reform and enable minorities to achieve equal socio-political status in the developing world.    As a grad student, I study the factors and processes that affect liberal democratization and different aspects related to liberal democratization such as women’s empowerment and minority rights.  I look at processes both world-wide, and specifically in the Middle East and broader Muslim world.      

What implications does your research have for the global community? 
My research provides insight into the factors that should promote civil liberties, gender equality, and minority rights.  This insight can be used to develop policy that can help achieve these human rights and values.  

What has been you biggest accomplishment at UCI? 
Thus far, one of my biggest accomplishments has been receiving the A. Kimball Romney Award since it recognizes research.  Pursuing important questions, thoughtfully employing appropriate methods to answer those questions, and consequently sharing findings is one of the most important aspects of academia for me.  Having that recognized and awarded is very satisfying.   I’ve also received a Social Science Graduate Fellowship, John Garcia Scholarship for ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research, and am a William F. Podlich Fellow with the Center for the Study of Democracy.    

What do you plan to do after finishing your graduate degree? 
I plan to continue my career in academia as a professor.  As a professor at a university, I will continue to research, publish, and teach.