The Art of Exclusion

My research, titled “The Art of Exclusion,” focused on better understanding why monarchies and authoritarian regimes in the Middle East continue to persist, despite several global waves of democratization. While many scholars have identified a number of reasons contributing to this phenomenon, one avenue they do not explore is how immigration policy affects the stability of an authoritarian regime. Thus, my research explored a previously unexploited path, and ultimately suggested that immigration policy was indeed an important factor in determining the stability of a government, specifically in Bahrain.

The MESA Conference was highly valuable because it specifically focused on honing the research of undergraduates to better prepare us for graduate school and academia. Therefore, I got strategic feedback from acclaimed scholars in the field. The feedback generally pointed out that my research was well developed and well-based in the preexisting theoretical framework, and, as such, provided a nuance to theories on authoritarian states. For points of improvement, I was advised to expand the scope of my research to incorporate more details, such as rates of visa distribution and more concrete statistics.

Through this experience, I’ve learned that even after submission, research is always an ongoing process – and that stands true for well-established academics as well. I presented my research alongside students who were still developing their theories and others who were more definite in their findings, but all of us were provided with ways to elaborate. For me, it solidified that I do indeed want to pursue graduate studies after gaining some work experience, because the possibilities for learning and expanding are endless.

Conference Travel Fund Blog Post by Nalini Ramachandran
Candidate for Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs & Middle East Studies with a Minor in Arabic ’17