Dr. Imdat Oner is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Jack D. Gordon Institute and a former diplomat with over two years of service in Venezuela. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from Florida International University, specializing in Latin American politics.
Dr. Oner is an expert in Venezuelan political affairs, with a focus on government repression, opposition persecution, and human rights violations. His work provides critical insights into state-controlled security forces, judicial persecution, and extrajudicial threats against dissidents. Leveraging his diplomatic experience and extensive research, he offers expert reports for asylum cases, analyzing the risks faced by opposition members through firsthand knowledge, international human rights documentation, and regional political analysis.
I specialize in the political dynamics of Latin American countries, with a focus on authoritarian governance, opposition movements, and human rights issues. My expertise includes analyzing these government's repressive tactics, political persecution, and their treatment of opposition parties and groups.
I provide expert reports and political assessments for asylum cases, focusing on the real and imminent risks faced by opposition members, activists, and perceived dissidents if returned to their countries. My analysis is based on first-hand accounts as a former career diplomat, governmental reports, and international human rights documentation.
I published several reports about political profiles in Latin America. I was quoted in various international media outlet.
Oner, Imdat. (2021). Venezuela’s authoritarian allies: The ties that bind. Washington DC: Wilson Center.
Oner, Imdat. “Once Dictators Seize Power, They're Hard to Remove: Venezuela's Elections.” August 22, 2024. European Center for Populism Studies. https://www.populismstudies.org/once-dictators-seize-power-theyre-hard-to-remove-venezuelas-elections/
Oner, Imdat, and Lana Shehadeh. "Populist discourse beyond the borders: The case of Erdogan and Chavez." Populism 6, no. 1 (2023): 28-54.