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Sam Erkiletian is a Third-year PhD candidate at UCL’s Department of Political Science.
Biography:
Sam Erkiletian is a third-year PhD candidate at UCL’s Department of Political Science. He is a member of the Conflict & Change research cluster at the Department. He holds an MSc in Security Studies from UCL and a BA in History and Ancient Studies from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. He also spent a term studying International Relations at Sophia University in Tokyo.
PhD Title:
Socialization and Resocialization: The Changing Identities of Former Combatants
Short Abstract:
Why do some former combatants retain their conflict identity? What methods and conditions are effective in changing the conflict identity of former combatants? Armed groups employ a range of ideological and social mechanisms during the military socialization process to construct a distinct conflict identity for their recruits. The attitudes and behaviors that underpin these conflict identities are often incompatible with postwar societies and peace initiatives, yet little is known about what factors can assist former combatants in their transition back into a civilian identity. This PhD project leverages theories from the military socialization literature to explore and test potential mechanisms of resocialization that could assist former combatants in post-conflict environments.
Research Summary:
Sam’s research focuses on the changing identity of combatants in conflict and postwar environments. In particular, he is interested in how the military socialization processes of armed groups affect the behavior and postwar identity of former combatants. Sam employs comparative case studies and utilizes primary sources from conflict archives in his research designs. He is also broadly interested in military history, particularly in the Second World War and Cold War conflicts
Research Groups:
- Conflict & Change Research Cluster
- Strife Blog and Journal (KCL)
Research Themes:
- Military socialization
- Post-conflict environments
- Archival research
- Comparative case studies
- Insurgencies
Teaching Summary:
Sam is a PGTA for the first-year undergraduate module “Political Science I” and “Global Politics” for ESPS0001. Sam is also a PGTA at King’s College London’s War Studies Department for the Experiences of War module.