Dr. İlker Gökhan Şen is a legal scholar specializing in constitutional law, international law, and democratic theory. He holds a PhD from the University of Zurich. Before joining the University of Oslo, he worked at the Chr. Michelsen Institute and the University of Bergen.
His research focuses on three key strands. First, he examines the role of referendums in comparative constitutional law and international law, particularly in resolving sovereignty conflicts and shaping democratic constitutionalism. Second, he explores contemporary challenges to constitutional law, including the impact of populism and comparative methodologies. Third, he studies Turkish constitutional law and human rights, both in historical and contemporary contexts. He has published on these topics and contributes to academic discourse through teaching, research, and public engagement.
His work combines legal analysis with interdisciplinary perspectives. Drawing from political science, history, and international law, he examines constitutional frameworks, sovereignty disputes, and contemporary challenges to democracy. In addition to his research, he has taught comparative constitutional law and Turkish constitutional law since 2010. He is also actively engaged in legal education and public discussions on democratic processes, constitutionalism, and human rights.