Kamal Makili-Aliyev
About Kamal Makili-Aliyev
I am a Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, specializing in human rights, international law, and the resolution of violent armed conflicts. I hold a habilitated Ph.D. in international law and human rights, and my work bridges research, teaching, and engagement with global human rights challenges.
Research Areas
My research explores the intersection of international law, human rights, and conflict resolution. I am particularly interested in how legal frameworks and political commitments to human rights are mobilised in situations of conflict, humanitarian crisis, and post-war reconstruction. A central theme is the tension between human rights ideals and the political realities of international relations: how states, international organisations, and civil society actors negotiate justice, accountability, and peace in fragile contexts. I also examine how foreign policies—such as Sweden’s human rights–based approach—seek to influence global norms and practices, and what happens when these aspirations are tested by conflict dynamics or competing national interests.
Ongoing Research
My current work investigates the role of international law as both a tool and a constraint in protecting vulnerable communities, addressing violations, and shaping pathways toward reconciliation and sustainable peace. At its core, this research asks how the international community can bridge the gap between the promise of human rights and the practice of conflict resolution, and what this means for achieving justice in a divided world.
Teaching
Alongside my research, I teach courses in human rights, international law, and international relations at both bachelor’s and master’s levels. My teaching is guided by a commitment to critical inquiry and by encouraging students to connect theoretical debates with pressing global challenges in human rights and conflict resolution.