Furqan Khan, CIR’ 25

Furqan Khan is a graduate of the MA in Committee on International Relations (CIR) program at the University of Chicago. An international student from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Khan chose CIR for its strong research training, tailored courses, and intellectually stimulating environment. His research examines how the relationship between political parties and the military in hybrid regimes shapes foreign policy decision-making, with broader interests in South Asian geopolitics and great power competition.

“I was particularly interested in working with Professor Paul Staniland due to his expertise in international security, political violence, and conflict in South Asia,” he says. During his time at CIR, Khan worked as a Research Assistant with Professor Staniland and took advanced coursework such as "Quantitative Security" with Professor Paul Poast and "Foundations of Realism" with Professor John Mearsheimer. “The program allowed me to strengthen both my theoretical foundations and my empirical research skills,” he notes.

Like many CIR students, Khan entered the program with prior policy and research experience. After completing his undergraduate degree in 2022, he worked at a policy think tank in Islamabad and interned at the Carter Center, where he explored security and foreign policy strategies of China and the United States in South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. These experiences helped shape his academic focus and prepared him for the methodological rigor of CIR. “The program’s emphasis on research design and methods was one of the main reasons I chose CIR,” he says, adding that the program’s alumni network and intellectual culture were also important factors.

Following graduation, Khan received an offer for a fellowship with the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center and joined PoliTact as a Non-Resident Fellow. In these roles, he continues to conduct policy-relevant research on South Asian security, domestic politics, and great power competition.

Looking ahead, Khan plans to continue working in policy research before pursuing a PhD in Political Science with a focus on Comparative Politics. Reflecting on his time at CIR, he emphasizes the importance of preparation. “Because the program is short, having a clear research agenda and familiarity with the courses before arriving can make a significant difference,” he says, “That planning helped me make the most of an intense and rewarding nine months at UChicago.”