Seung Deok Seo

I am a Ph.D. student in Political Science (Comparative Politics) at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. My research examines how foreign aid structures political incentives and organizational behavior within civil society. In my dissertation, I analyze the conditions under which NGOs cooperate or compete in aid-dependent environments, emphasizing organizational identity as a key mechanism shaping these relations.

Drawing on evidence from Jordan, I employ a mixed-methods research design—combining network analysis, surveys, experiments, and qualitative interviews—to identify the mechanisms underlying inter-NGO dynamics.

Education

• Ph.D. in Political Science (Comparative Politics)
  University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign (Expected 2027–2028)
• M.Sc. in Development Studies
  London School of Economics and Political Science
• B.A. in Arabic Interpretation and Translation
  Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Working Papers

• Beyond Economic and Political Motives: Exploring the Religious Dynamics in Gulf States’ Foreign Aid Allocation (with Paul Un)

Grants & Fellowships

• IQMR (Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research) — Admitted Participant (General Open Pool; fees + lodging covered) (Summer 2026)
• Graduate College Dissertation Travel Grant (2025–26)
• Graduate Research and Professionalization Fund (Department) (2025–26)
• Illinois Global Institute Language Fellowship (Arabic) (2024–25)

Professional & Field Experience

• UN Women — Palestine Country Office
• Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) — Iraq Country Office
• Regional Experience (Training & Study Abroad) — Egypt; Jordan; Israel; Tunisia

Contact

Email: sdseo2@illinois.edu
CV: CV (PDF)

Outside of research, I enjoy photography. Below are selected photographs from my time living in the Middle East.

View Gallery