The British Institute at Ankara is pleased to announce the winner of its 2023 Masters Dissertation Prize.
From a pool of eight entrants, Andrew Peak from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) was chosen as the ultimate prize-winner for his dissertation “The word “Bolshevik” does not need to be translated anywhere in the world’: The Communist Party of Turkey between Ankara and Moscow, 1918-1925”. As one committee member wrote, “This is an exceptionally well written dissertation. It is lucid and confident with a very clear aim to look at the developing relationship between the Communist Party in Turkey and Soviet Russia and the Kemalist Nationalist party. It does so with clarity, arguing with skill and eloquence.”
Two other applicants were Highly Commended, both from the University of Oxford. The first is Deanna Cunningham for her dissertation entitled “Late Antique Christian Bread-Stamps: The possibilities and difficulties of archaeological interpretations.” Secondly, Martin Lopez Howe for his dissertation “Geographical to political to cultural unity? Investigating political networks and cultural identities shared between the Greek cities of Propontis.” Andrew, Deanna and Martin have each been offered three years’ BIAA membership.
The competition was very competitive. The Panel received an excellent group of submissions that were diverse in theme, period and approach, and they were extremely impressed with the quality. The Panel want to emphasise that all the dissertations are worthy of being published, and warmly encouraged the applicants to pursue publishing.
The BIAA Masters Dissertation Prize was developed in 2022 to promote, recognise and support excellent research by scholars engaged in the study of Türkiye and the Black Sea region in any period or discipline. Numerous BIAA members generously contributed to a fundraising effort to support an annual prize of £500, plus membership of the BIAA. You can still make a donation to the BIAA Masters Dissertation Prize Fund today to ensure long-term support for this prize.
The competition is open annually to students completing dissertations for a taught Masters course in a UK University or Higher Education Institution submitted in the past academic year. The call for submissions comes in November of each year. See the current open calls for BIAA Grants and Opportunities here.