Dr. Steven Wright

Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Student Affairs

Middle Eastern Studies Department (MESD)

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Biography

Dr. Steven Wright is an Associate Professor of International Relations and an Associate Dean for Student Affairs. He previously served as an Associate Dean and the Head of the Department of International Affairs at Qatar University.

His area of research expertise relates to three main areas: US foreign policy toward the Gulf region, Energy Geopolitics, and the International Relations and Political Economy of the Arab Gulf states. He has written widely on these areas, and his work has been published in Arabic, Japanese, French, and Polish. He has also held research fellowships at the London School of Economics, Exeter University, and the University of Durham. He has been invited as a speaker at a wide range of events hosted by leading organizations such as the World Bank, various governments, and several multinational corporations.

He obtained his PhD in International Relations from the University of Durham.

Research Interests

International relations and political economy of the Arab Gulf states; energy geopolitics; U.S. foreign policy towards the Gulf region

Experience

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research

College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (Qatar).

2017-Present

Associate Professor of International Relations

College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (Qatar).
2017-Present
Associate Professor of International Relations and Gulf Studies

College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University (Qatar).
2013-2017
Associate Dean for Planning and Quality Assurance

College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University (Qatar).
2012-2016
Head of Department

Department of International Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University (Qatar).
2011-2012
Acting Head of Department

Department of International Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University (Qatar).
2010-2011
Honorary Research Fellow

Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies, Exeter University (United Kingdom).
2010-13

Research Fellow

(LSE) London School of Economics and Political Science (United Kingdom).
2010
Assistant Professor of International Affairs

College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University (Qatar).
2007-2013
Sir William Luce Research Fellow

Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, University of Durham (United Kingdom).
2006
Teaching Assistant

Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, University of Durham (United Kingdom).
2005-2006
Teaching Assistant

School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, University of Newcastle (United Kingdom).
2005-2006
College Tutor and Warden

Hatfield College, University of Durham (United Kingdom).
2003-2005

Education

PhD in International Relations

University of Durham (United Kingdom)

2001-2006

MA in International Studies

University of Durham (United Kingdom)
2000-2001

BA (Hons.) in Sociology with Political Science

University of London, Royal Holloway College (United Kingdom)
1997-2000

Selected Publications

Steven Wright. Qatar: Energy, Diplomacy and Political Power. Routledge, London. (Under Contract – Forthcoming)
2019
Wright, S. (2018). Qatar: The Context of a Hydrocarbon-Funded Social Contract. In Public Brainpower (pp. 247-259). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
2018
Wright, S. (2017). Qatar's LNG: Impact of the Changing East‐Asian Market. Middle East Policy, 24(1), 154-165.
2017
Wright, S. (2016). Un «petit État» accède à la scène internationale: la trajectoire du Qatar. Critique internationale, (2), 73-88.
2016
Wright, S. (2017). Iran’s Relations with Bahrain. In Security and Bilateral Issues between Iran and its Arab Neighbours(pp. 61-80). Springer International Publishing.
2016
Piet, R., & Wright, S. (2016). The Dynamics of Energy Geopolitics in the Gulf and Qatar’s Foreign Relations with East Asia. In Energy Relations and Policy Making in Asia (pp. 161-179). Springer Singapore.
2016
• Krane, J. and Wright, S. “Qatar ‘Rises Above’ Its Region: Geopolitics and the Rejection of the GCC Gas Market.” No. 35. LSE Kuwait Programme, London, UK.
2014
Baskan, B and Wright, S. “Seeds of Change: Comparing State-Religion Relations in Qatar and Saudi Arabia” Arab Studies Quarterly, Vol. 33, No. 2.
2011
Wright, S., Held, D., & Ulrichsen, K. (2011). Foreign policies with international reach: The case of Qatar. The transformation of the Gulf. London: Routledge.
2011
Wright, S.

Qatar: The Context of a Hydrocarbon-funded Social Contract” in Overland, I. Public Brainpower: Civil Society and Natural Resource Management. Palgrave Macmillan, New York
2018
Wright, S. (2011). Foreign policy in the GCC states. International politics of the Persian Gulf, 72-93.
2011
Wright, S. “Qatar” in Davidson, Christopher M. (Ed.) Power and Politics in the Persian Gulf Monarchies. C. Hurst & Co., London, UK.
2010
Wright, S.“Qatar’s Foreign Policy: Geopolitics and Strategic Pillars” in Czulda, R. and Gorak-Sosnowska, K., (Eds.) The State of Qatar: Economy – Politics – Culture. Ibidem Publishing House, Lodz, Poland.
2009
Wright. S. Fixing the Kingdom: Political Evolution and Socio-Economic Challenges in Bahrain. Vol. 3. CIRS Occasional Paper Series, Georgetown University SFSQ, Doha, Qatar.
2008
Wright, S. M. (2007). The United States and Persian Gulf security: The foundations of the war on terror (Vol. 12). Garnet & Ithaca Press.
2007
Wright S. and Ehteshami, A. Eds. Reform in the Middle East Oil Monarchies, Ithaca Press, Reading, UK.
2007
Ehteshami, A., & Wright, S. (2007). Political change in the Arab oil monarchies: from liberalization to enfranchisement. International Affairs, 83(5), 913-932.
2007
Wright, S.“US Foreign Policy and the Changed Definition of Gulf Security” in Ehteshami, A. and Wright S., Reform in the Middle East Oil Monarchies, Ithaca Press, Reading, UK.
2007
Wright, S. (2006). Generational change and elite-driven reforms in the kingdom of Bahrain.
2006

Honors and Awards

(2016 – Current) Founding Book Series Co-Editor, Palgrave Macmillan: The Contemporary Gulf.
(2011) Elected a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (FRAS).
(2010 – 2012) Assistant Editor, Journal of Arabian Studies (Routledge)
(2010) Qatar University Teaching Excellence Award.
(2005) Honorary Life Membership of Hatfield College M.C.R., University of Durham, Hatfield College.
(2003) Barry Northrop Scholars Prize (Scholarship in Arabic and Islamic Studies), University of Durham, Hatfield College.
(2003 – 2005) Managing Editor, Durham Middle East Papers (University of Durham)
(2002) Barry Northrop Scholars Prize (Scholarship in Arabic and Islamic Studies), University of Durham, Hatfield College.

Biography
Research Interests
Experience
Education
Selected Publications

FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES

Dr. Steven Wright

Biography

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research

Associate Professor of International Relations

Associate Professor of International Relations and Gulf Studies

Associate Dean for Planning and Quality Assurance

Head of Department

Acting Head of Department

Honorary Research Fellow

Research Fellow

Assistant Professor of International Affairs

Sir William Luce Research Fellow

Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistant

College Tutor and Warden

Education

PhD in International Relations

MA in International Studies

BA (Hons.) in Sociology with Political Science

Selected Publications

Steven Wright. Qatar: Energy, Diplomacy and Political Power. Routledge, London. (Under Contract – Forthcoming)

Wright, S. (2018). Qatar: The Context of a Hydrocarbon-Funded Social Contract. In Public Brainpower (pp. 247-259). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

Wright, S. (2017). Qatar's LNG: Impact of the Changing East‐Asian Market. Middle East Policy, 24(1), 154-165.

Wright, S. (2016). Un «petit État» accède à la scène internationale: la trajectoire du Qatar. Critique internationale, (2), 73-88.

Wright, S. (2017). Iran’s Relations with Bahrain. In Security and Bilateral Issues between Iran and its Arab Neighbours(pp. 61-80). Springer International Publishing.

Piet, R., & Wright, S. (2016). The Dynamics of Energy Geopolitics in the Gulf and Qatar’s Foreign Relations with East Asia. In Energy Relations and Policy Making in Asia (pp. 161-179). Springer Singapore.

• Krane, J. and Wright, S. “Qatar ‘Rises Above’ Its Region: Geopolitics and the Rejection of the GCC Gas Market.” No. 35. LSE Kuwait Programme, London, UK.

Baskan, B and Wright, S. “Seeds of Change: Comparing State-Religion Relations in Qatar and Saudi Arabia” Arab Studies Quarterly, Vol. 33, No. 2.

Wright, S., Held, D., & Ulrichsen, K. (2011). Foreign policies with international reach: The case of Qatar. The transformation of the Gulf. London: Routledge.

Wright, S.

Wright, S. (2011). Foreign policy in the GCC states. International politics of the Persian Gulf, 72-93.

Wright, S. “Qatar” in Davidson, Christopher M. (Ed.) Power and Politics in the Persian Gulf Monarchies. C. Hurst & Co., London, UK.

Wright, S.“Qatar’s Foreign Policy: Geopolitics and Strategic Pillars” in Czulda, R. and Gorak-Sosnowska, K., (Eds.) The State of Qatar: Economy – Politics – Culture. Ibidem Publishing House, Lodz, Poland.

Wright. S. Fixing the Kingdom: Political Evolution and Socio-Economic Challenges in Bahrain. Vol. 3. CIRS Occasional Paper Series, Georgetown University SFSQ, Doha, Qatar.

Wright, S. M. (2007). The United States and Persian Gulf security: The foundations of the war on terror (Vol. 12). Garnet & Ithaca Press.

Wright S. and Ehteshami, A. Eds. Reform in the Middle East Oil Monarchies, Ithaca Press, Reading, UK.

Ehteshami, A., & Wright, S. (2007). Political change in the Arab oil monarchies: from liberalization to enfranchisement. International Affairs, 83(5), 913-932.

Wright, S.“US Foreign Policy and the Changed Definition of Gulf Security” in Ehteshami, A. and Wright S., Reform in the Middle East Oil Monarchies, Ithaca Press, Reading, UK.

Wright, S. (2006). Generational change and elite-driven reforms in the kingdom of Bahrain.