Tasnia Symoom, PhD

     I am a researcher and educator specializing in political sociology and international political economy, focusing on identity politics and the impact of foreign policy on democratic governance in illiberal regimes across the Global South. I earned my PhD in Political Science at the University of Kentucky in Spring 2025, where I’ve had the honor of receiving the Ashley T. Judd Distinguished Fellowship (2021-2022) for my work on identity politics and a research fellowship (2024) for my study on Gendered Violence in illiberal democracies. 

     Starting Fall 2025, I will be a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Research on Violence Against Women (CRVAW) at the University of Kentucky. My current book project, based on my dissertation, explores intergroup bias among religious and partisan groups in the U.S. and Bangladesh using survey experiments. It examines how identity-based divisions influence public attitudes toward victim-blaming and justice in cases of violence, with implications for institutional legitimacy, social cohesion, and democratic stability. The cross-national comparison offers a broader perspective on how different political and social systems shape perceptions of justice and accountability.

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     My other ongoing research projects focus on a comparative analysis of the impact of U.S.-China foreign Aid and strategic U.S.-China foreign direct investment (FDI) in promoting political freedom and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific region, while examining its impact on U.S. national security and trade. By employing a dynamic mixed-methods approach, I explore how Foreign Aid and FDI can drive political, economic, and security-related changes across both regions.

 

     I hold an M.A. in Economics from Eastern Illinois University and undergraduate degrees in Economics and Development Studies from the Asian University for Women. As a South Asian woman, my personal experiences and academic training fuel my research and teaching commitment to understanding and addressing the global challenges of regional security and sustainable socio-economic development. I have taught both introductory and upper-level political science courses as the primary instructor, focusing on comparative politics, regional politics, and research methods. Additionally, I served as a teaching assistant for introductory and advanced courses at the University of Kentucky and Eastern Illinois University.

 

     If you’re interested in learning more about my work or collaborating, please reach out at tasnia.symoom@uky.edu.

 

     Thanks for stopping by—I look forward to connecting with you!