Beyond academia, Kamran is a regular media commentator and public speaker on Kurdish, Iranian and Middle Eastern politics.
Recognising excellence
Reader in International Relations Dr Kamran Matin, from the School of Global Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences, has been honoured with the 2027 Kurd-Akad Honorary Award in recognition of his “exceptional academic contributions and outstanding civic engagement”.
Established in 2017 by the Network of Kurdish Academics, the Kurd-Akad Honorary Award celebrates individuals who have made significant scientific contributions and demonstrated a strong commitment to civil society.
Research and wider contributions
Kamran’s research investigates the international dimension of social change, focusing on Kurdistan, Iran and West Asia more broadly. His work has contributed to reshaping debates on Iranian modernity, political Islam and Kurdish nationalism. He has also made original contributions to historical sociology, anti-Eurocentrism and postcolonial critique.
His current project on ‘inter-subaltern colonialism’ theorises non-Western forms of colonialism. Through this project, he reframes the Kurdish question as a colonial question, rather than a minority-rights or human-rights issue.
At Sussex, Kamran serves as a Senator, representing the School of Global Studies. Beyond academia, he is a regular media commentator and public speaker on Kurdish, Iranian and Middle Eastern politics.
Accepting the award, Kamran said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition for my commitment to making the history, experiences and aspirations of the Kurdish nation for freedom and self-determination heard through research and public engagement.
“I dedicate this award to Komar Daroftadeh, a 16-year-old killed during Iran’s 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests, and to Zeynab Jalalian, a Kurdish women’s rights activist imprisoned since 2008.
“I remain committed to scholarship that bridges critical inquiry, historical understanding and civic engagement.”
To learn more about Kamran’s work and the experiences that have shaped it, you can read one of his recent interviews in which he reflects on growing up in post-revolutionary Iran and Kurdistan, and how those experiences continue to inform his research.
About the Network of Kurdish Academics
The Network of Kurdish Academics (Kurd-Akad) is an independent, non-partisan network of Kurdish scholars, academics and students. Founded in Europe, it promotes research collaboration, higher education and scientific and cultural exchange.