I am considering applying in the comparative/IR subfield with a focus on Middle East Politics but am not sure whether my research program would be viewed as credible.
I have a background in Comparative ( research on Sustainability of Peace, Democratization) focusing on the Middle East. I have also completed quantitative coursework including stats, data analysis, game theory, and survey methods. I have never taken language coursework (beyond high school Latin), but am a very rusty Farsi heritage speaker who could become fluent within the duration of a PHD.
I have an interest in studying Comparative Politics of the Middle East (authoritarianism, state capture, factional politics) with a specific focus on Iran.
I have a few questions
A. How do they admissions committees view heritage speakers that are not fully fluent?
B. Is it a bad idea to apply to focus on just one country (Iran) when applying to a comparative program? As Seymour Martin Lipset would say someone