Semuhi Sinanoglu

About me

I’m a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of Toronto. I’m originally from Turkey.

My dissertation research is about how autocrats politically control the business elite and sustain their ruling coalition in times of economic crisis through repression and polarization. I employ quantitative, computational, and experimental methods for my academic research. My co-authored papers are published in high-impact academic journals such as Comparative Politics and Sociological Methods & Research.

I’m the co‑founder of a Toronto‑based political risk consultancy company, Maidan Analytics, which leverages big data to forecast protests and elections. Before my doctoral studies, I co‑founded two social impact initiatives for youth empowerment. One based in Montreal advocated for youth inclusion in the design of smart cities. The other, based in Istanbul, mobilized more than 30 stakeholder organizations in six countries across the MENA region to foster youth employment in the region.

I’m a graduate associate at POSTCOR Lab. Previously, I was a Trudeau Centre Fellow at the Munk School, a resident fellow at Jeanne Sauvé Foundation, and a Regional Manager at Digital Society Project. I’m also an alum of Massey College.

You may also find me occasionally singing at open mic events in Toronto and Montreal.