A Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) professor will join a five-person fellowship cohort to examine democracy’s role in the world and propose ideas to strengthen democratic networks, the university announced April 15.
Gábor Scheiring, an assistant professor of politics at Georgetown’s campus in Doha, Qatar, received the Global Fellowship nomination from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, a non-partisan research organization that aims to research and promote democracy worldwide. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, the foundation centers inclusion, collective action and international engagement in its approach to advocacy. As a Global Fellow, Scheiring will collaborate with other fellows to research democracy and international affairs.
Scheiring, a former member of Hungary’s parliament whose academic work focuses on economic trends and their impacts, said his particular outlook on international politics made him an ideal candidate for the fellowship.
“Part of the reason why I was picked for this fellowship was for my political economy and human development-centric look at democracy and democratic resilience,” Scheiring told The Hoya. “Maybe the other reason is that in a previous life, I was a social organizer and politician.”
Scheiring said the Kettering Foundation connects subject matter experts with international networks that have global influence.
“These kinds of global conversations with the fellows and the other experts and people around the Kettering Foundation are really amazing,” Scheiring said. “They build on this smaller network to generate these bigger international conversations on the topics of liberalism and democracy.”
The Kettering Foundation is home to several fellowships that center technology, journalism, education and civic engagement, among other themes. As a participant in the foundation’s Global Fellowship, Scheiring will join Koketso Moeti, a South African civic activist; Chris Njeri Muriithi, a Kenyan LGBTQ+ rights activist and former journalist; Flávia Pellegrino, a Brazilian civil society leader; and Ivan Vejvoda, a Serbian democratic development professional and academic.
Yasser Sakbani (SFS-Q ’26), one of Scheiring’s students, said Scheiring exposes students to important themes that question preconceived notions about politics and society.
“Professor Scheiring’s Politics of Development has been one of the most eye-opening courses I’ve taken at Georgetown,” Sakbani wrote to The Hoya. “His teaching challenged many of our assumptions about how civil societies, state institutions and international organizations function.”
Scheiring said the educational environment at GU-Q fosters inquiry, debate and critical thinking among a global student body.
“It’s just an amazing opportunity in terms of academic freedom,” Scheiring said. “To emphasize these days, it is increasingly under attack, not just where you’re sitting now, but also in Europe, in many countries, including my own country.”
“Having students from Costa Rica to the Philippines and getting the opportunity to talk about issues related to populism, illiberalism and democratic backsliding — young people experiencing these issues,” Scheiring added. “It’s just also a life changing experience.”
Minahil Mahmud (SFS-Q ’25), another of Scheiring’s students, said Scheiring’s passion for teaching and learning enriches the learning environment in his classes.
“Professor Scheiring’s enthusiasm inspires us all in class,” Mahmud wrote to The Hoya. “He is so passionate about his work. His class was one of my favorite IPOL electives so far and a great learning experience.”
Sabkani said Scheiring’s teaching style merges practice and theory, allowing students to examine examples and debate commonly-held ideas.
“A powerful part of the course was how the course combined foundational theories, such as dependency theory and state capacity with real-world case studies, from East Asian developmentalism to the MENA region’s rentier economies,” Sabkani wrote.
“These discussions challenged our understanding about global hierarchies, aid politics and development models, revealing that development is not a neutral or technical process, but one shaped by power and political dynamics,” Sabkani added.
Scheiring said the fellowship will allow him to expand his work outside academia and engage with real-world issues surrounding democracy.
“As researchers and academics, sometimes it’s hard to get out there in the media or get our voices heard,” Scheiring said. “We get to have our voices heard in the classroom, but getting outside the classroom and beyond the journals is a different matter.”