Gerd Nonneman

Gerd Nonneman is Professor of International Relations & Gulf Studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar (GU-Q), where he served as Dean from 2011 to 2016. He holds a Ph.D in Politics from the University of Exeter, and Licentiates in Oriental Philology (Arabic) and Development Studies from the University of Ghent, Belgium. Prior to his appointment at Georgetown, he served as Professor of International Relations & Middle East Politics, and Al-Qasimi Professor of Gulf Studies, at the University of Exeter, where he also directed the Institute of Arab & Islamic Studies and the Centre for Gulf Studies.

A former Executive Director of BRISMES (British Society for Middle Eastern Studies), he is Editor of the Journal of Arabian Studies. He has published widely (in some 12 books and 50 articles and book chapters) on the politics and international relations of the Middle East, on Muslim communities in Europe and on comparative political and economic liberalization. Aside from his academic work, he has worked in the private sector in the Gulf region, and acted as a consultant to a range of companies, NGOs, governments and international institutions.

Education

• University of Exeter - Ph.D., Political Science
• University of Exeter - M.A., International Politics
• Ghent University - M.A., Development Studies
• Ghent University - B.A., Middle Eastern Studies

Among his recent publications are:

• ‘European Policies towards the Gulf: Patterns, Dynamics, Evolution, and the case of the Qatar Blockade’, Journal of Arabian Studies, Vol. 10., no. 2 (December 2020), pp. 278-304.
• ‘The Journal of Arabian Studies and the Development of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies’ (with James Onley), Journal of Arabian Studies, Vol. 10, no. 1 (July 2020), pp. 1-50.
• ‘The Qatar Crisis through the lens of Foreign Policy Analysis’, in Rory Miller (ed.), The Gulf Crisis: the View from Qatar (Doha: HBK University Press (2018), pp. 90-100.
• 'The Heritage Boom in the Gulf: Critical Perspectives', Special Section in Journal of Arabian Studies, Vol. 7, no. 2 (December 2017) (co-edited with Marc Valeri).
• Ruling Families and Business Elites in the Gulf Monarchies: Ever Closer? (Chatham House, 2016);
• Al-Mamlaka Al-'arabiyya al-sa'udiyya fi-l-mizan Saudi Arabia in the Balance.
• ‘Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States: Elite Politics, Street Protests and Regional Diplomacy’ (Chatham House, 2011).
• ‘Europe, the US, and the Gulf after the Cold War’, in V. Mauer & D. Möckli (eds.), European-American Relations and the Middle East: From Suez to Iraq (Routledge, 2010).
• ‘Terrorism and Political Violence in the Middle East and North Africa: Drivers and Limitations’, in A. Siniver (ed.), International Terrorism post 9/11 (Routledge, 2010).
• ‘Political Reform in the Gulf Monarchies: From Liberalisation to Democratisation? A Comparative Perspective’, in A. Ehteshami & S. Wright (eds.), Reform in the Middle East Oil Monarchies (Reading: Ithaca Press, 2008).
• Saudi Arabia in the Balance: Political Economy, Society, Foreign Affairs (New York University Press, 2006).
• 'EU-GCC Relations', (Gulf Research Center, 2006).
• Analyzing Middle East Foreign Policies (Routledge, 2005).

Expertise

Arab Gulf States, Arabian Peninsula, Gulf Cooperation Council, International Relations, Middle East, Political Economy

PUBLICATIONS (Full List)

Books:

al-Mamlaka al-ʻarabīya al-saʻūdīya fī al-mīzān: al-iqtiṣād al-siyāsī wa-al-mujtamaʻ wa-al- shuʼūn al -khārijīya [Saudi Arabia in the Balance…], Beirut: Center for Arab Unity Studies, October 2012 (joint editor + introduction & 2 chapters).

Saudi Arabia in the Balance: Political Economy, Society, Foreign Affairs (New York: New York University Press, 2006) (joint editor + introduction & 2 chapters)

Analyzing Middle East Foreign Policies, and the relationship with Europe (editor, & author 2 chapters + introduction) (London & New York: Routledge, 2005)

Muslim Communities in the New Europe (main author [4/16 chapters] and editor), Reading: Ithaca Press, 1996 (ix + 346 pp.). First paperback edition: Reading, Ithaca Press, 1997.

Het Midden-Oosten Hertekend The Middle East Redrawn, Brussels: VUB Press (Free University of Brussels Press), 1996 (501 pp.)

Political and Economic Liberalization: dynamics and linkages in comparative perspective (main author [4/16 chapters] and editor), Boulder, Col.: Lynne Rienner, 1996 (xii + 329 pp).

The Middle East and Europe: The Search for Stability and Integration (second, fully revised and updated edition) (main author [6 chapters] and editor), London: Federal Trust for Education and Research, 1993 (xix + 305 pp. A4, approx. 200,000 words)

European Expertise on the Middle East & North Africa (with E. Murphy & N. Quilliam), Oxford: EURAMES [European Association for Middle Eastern Studies], 1993 (377 pp.).

The Middle East and Europe: an Integrated Communities Approach (main author & editor), London: Federal Trust for Education and Research, 1992 (xix + 299 pp. A4).

War and Peace in the Gulf: domestic politics and regional relations into the 1990s, Reading: Ithaca Press, 1991 (xv + 287 pp.) (with A. Ehteshami).

Country Profile: Oman, Yemen , London: Economist Intelligence Unit, 1990 (73 pp).

Development, Administration and Aid in the Middle East, London: Routledge, 1988 (xi + 203 pp.).

Iraq, the Gulf States & the War: A changing relationship, 1980-1986 and beyond, London: Ithaca Press, 1986 (216 pp.).

Short monographs (Selection, peer-reviewed only)

Al-‘ā’ilāt al-hākima wa-nukhab qitā‘ al-khāss fī mamālik al-khalīj [The Ruling Families and Private Sector Elites of the Gulf Monarchies], (with Marc Valeri, Mehran Kamrava & Anastasia Nossova), London: Chatham House, January 2017.

Ruling Families and Business Elites in the Gulf Monarchies: Ever Closer?, Chatham House Research Paper, November 2016 (with Marc Valeri, Mehran Kamrava, Anastasia Nossova) (https://www.chathamhouse.org/2016/11/ruling-families-and-business-elites-gulf-monarchies-ever-closer).

Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States: Elite Politics, Street Protests and Regional Diplomacy (Chatham House, 2011) (with Ginny Hill) (https://www.chathamhouse.org/2011/05/yemen-saudi-arabia-and-gulf-states-elite-politics-street-protests-and-regional-diplomacy).

Political Reform in the Gulf Monarchies: From Liberalisation to Democratisation? A Comparative Perspective Sir William Luce Fellowship Paper no. 6

EU-GCC Relations: Dynamics, Patterns and Perspectives, Gulf Papers Series (Dubai: Gulf Research Center, 2006, ISBN 9948-434-13-7 )40 pp..

Terrorism, Gulf Security and Palestine: Issues for an EU-GCC Dialogue (= RSC Policy Paper 2002-2). Florence: Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute, January 2002 53 pp.

EU-GCC Cooperation in the Field of Education (=RSC Policy Paper 2002-1) (with Giacomo Luciani & Rodney Wilson).

Governance, Human Rights & the Case for Political Adaptation in the Gulf: Issues in the EU-GCC Dialogue (= RSC Policy Papers 01-3. Florence: Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute, November 2001) 29 pp.

Special Section (edited) in peer-reviewed journal

'The Heritage Boom in the Gulf: Critical Perspectives', Special Section in Journal of Arabian Studies, Vol. 7, no. 2 (Summer 2018), (co-edited with Marc Valeri).

Articles in peer-reviewed journals (all as sole author)

‘European Policies towards the Gulf: Patterns, Dynamics, Evolution, and the case of the Qatar Blockade’, Journal of Arabian Studies, Vol. 10., no. 2 (December 2020), pp. 278-304. (https://doi.org/10.1080/21534764.2020.1883575).

‘The Journal of Arabian Studies and the Development of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies’ (with James Onley), Journal of Arabian Studies, Vol. 10, no. 1 (July 2020), pp. 1-50. (https://doi.org/10.1080/21534764.2020.1847245).

‘EU-GGC Relations: Dynamics, Perspectives and the Issue of Political Reform’, Journal of Social Affairs [AUS, Sharjah], Vol. 23, No. 92, Winter 2006 [published 2007], pp. 13-33.

‘EU-GCC Relations: Dynamics, Patterns and Perspectives’, in The International Spectator [Rome: Istituto Affari Internazionali], vol. XLI, no. 3, July-September 2006, pp. 59-74.

‘Analyzing the Foreign Policies of Middle Eastern & North African States: a conceptual framework’, in Review of International Affairs, Winter 2003/04, pp. 118-130.

‘The Three Environments of Middle East Foreign Policy-Making and Relations with Europe’, in Review of International Affairs, Winter 2003/04, pp. 131-151.

‘A European View of US Policy in the Arab-Israeli Conflict’, in Chaillot Papers (EU Institute for Security Studies, Paris), No. 62, July 2003, pp. 33-46.

‘Saudi-European Relations, 1902-2001: a pragmatic quest for relative autonomy’, International Affairs, Vol. 77, no. 3 (July 2001), pp. 631-661

‘Europe and the Middle East’, in Mediterranean Politics, Vol. 6, no. 1 (Spring 2001), pp. 100-109.

‘Rentiers and Autocrats, Monarchs and Democrats, State and Society: the Middle East between globalisation, human “agency”, and Europe’, in International Affairs, Vol. 77, No. 1 (January 2001), pp. 175-195.

‘The (Geo)Political Economy of Iraqi-Kuwaiti Relations’, in Geopolitics, Vol. 1, no. 2 (1996), pp. 178-223.

‘The Middle East Peace Process’, in: Mediterranean Politics, Vol. 1 (1994), pp. 46-57.

‘The EC and the Gulf’, in Journal of Arab Affairs, Vol. 12 (1993), No.1, pp. 101-112.

‘De Golfoorlog: achtergronden en Perspectieven’ [The Gulf War: Background and Perspectives], Internationale Spectator (Royal Institute of International Relations, The Hague) September 1984 (Vol. 38, no. 9),

Chapters in books (selection only, all in peer-reviewed volumes)

‘European Policies Towards the Gulf: Patterns, Dynamics, Evolution, and the case of the Qatar Blockade’, in David Roberts (ed.), Reflecting on the Qatar Crisis: Qatar and its Neighbours (Routledge, 2022), pp.

‘The Qatar Crisis through the lens of Foreign Policy Analysis’, in Rory Miller (ed.), The Gulf Crisis: the View from Qatar (Doha: HBKU Press, 2018), pp. 90-100.

‘Muhaddidāt as-siyāsa al-khārijīya wa 'anmātuhā’ [determinants and patterns of foreign policy], in Aarts & Nonneman (eds.), Al-Mamlaka al-ʻarabiyya al-saʻūdiyya fi-l-mīzān, Beirut: Center for Arab Unity Studies, 2012, pp. 361-412.

‘Khalāsat wa 'āfāq al-muhāwar ath-thalātha: al-idiulugiyya, al-iqtisād, as-siyāsa al-khārijīya’ [A triple nexus: ideology, economy, foreign policy] with Paul Aarts, in Aarts & Nonneman (eds.), Al-Mamlaka al-ʻarabiyya al-saʻūdiyya fi-l-mīzān, Beirut: Center for Arab Unity Studies, October 2012, pp. 505-530.

‘Terrorism and Political Violence in the Middle East and North Africa: Drivers and Limitations’, in Asaf Siniver (ed.), International Terrorism post-9/11: Comparative Dynamics and Responses. (London/New York: Routledge, 2010), pp. 13-36.

‘Europe, the US, and the Gulf after the Cold War’, in Viktor Mauer & Daniel Möckli (eds.), European-American Relations and the Middle East: From Suez to Iraq (London: Routledge, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-415-47664-5), pp. 203-219.

‘Political Reform in the Gulf Monarchies: From Liberalisation to Democratisation? A Comparative Perspective’, in A. Ehteshami & S. Wright (eds.), Reform in the Middle East Oil Monarchies (Reading: Ithaca Press, 2008), pp. 3-45.

‘Determinants and patterns of Saudi foreign policy: “omnibalancing” and “relative autonomy” in multiple environments’, in Gerd Nonneman & Paul Aarts (eds.), Saudi Arabia in the Balance: Political Economy, Society, Foreign Affairs (New York : New York University Press & London: Hurst, 2006), pp. 315-351.

‘A Triple Nexus: Ideology, Political Economy, Foreign Policy and the Outlook for the Saudi Polity’, in ibid., pp. 433-456 (with Paul Aarts)

‘Analyzing the Foreign Policies of the Middle East and North Africa: A Conceptual Framework’, in Gerd Nonneman (ed.),Analyzing Middle East Foreign Policies, and the Relationship with Europe (London: Routledge, 2005), pp. 6-18.

‘The Three Environments of Middle East Foreign Policy Making and Relations with Europe’, in ibid., pp. 19-42.

‘The Gulf States and the Iran-Iraq War: pattern shifts and continuities’, in L. Potter and G. Sick (eds.), Iran, Iraq and the Legacies of War (New York: Palgrave, 2004), pp. 167-192.

‘Dawr at-ta‘lim fi hiwar ‘an al-hukm wa-huquq al-insan’ [The role of education in the dialogue on governance and human rights’], in Mamdouh Salim (ed.), Ad-dimuqratiya (Cairo: Dar al-Mustaqbal al-Arabi, 2003), pp. 184-199.

‘Constants and Variations in British-Gulf Relations’, in J. Kechichian (ed.), Iran, Iraq and the Arab Gulf States (New York: Palgrave, 2001), pp. 325-350.

‘Security and Inclusion: regime responses to domestic challenges in the Gulf’, in S. McKnight et al (eds.), Gulf Security: Opportunities and Challenges for the New Generation (London: Royal United Services Institute, September 2000), pp. 107-116.

‘Muslim Communities in the New Europe: themes and puzzles’, in G. Nonneman et al (eds), Muslim Communities in the New Europe, (Reading: Ithaca Press, 1997), pp. 3-24.

‘Islam in Belgium and the Netherlands’ (with F. Dassetto), in ibid., pp. 187-217.

‘Islam and Ethnicity in Eastern Europe’ (with B. Szajkowski & T. Niblock), in ibid., pp. 27-51.

‘Muslims In Germany, with special reference to the Turkish-Islamic community’ (with Y. Karakasoglu), in ibid., pp. 241-267.

‘The Yemen Republic: From Unification and Liberalisation to Civil War and Beyond’, in H. Jawad (ed.), The Middle East in the New World Order, (London: Macmillan, 1997), pp. 61-96.

‘Jemen: moeilijke eenmaking en wankele democratie’, [Yemen: difficult unification and uncertain democracy’], in R. Doom & G. Nonneman (eds.), Het Midden-Oosten Hertekend The Middle East Redrawn, 1996), pp. 259-285.

‘Koeweit, Bahrein en Qatar: de rentenierende Emiraten’, [Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar: the rentier Emirates'], in ibid., pp. 191-220.

‘Irak en de 1990-91 Golfoorlog’ [Iraq and the 1990-91 Gulf war], in ibid., pp. 165-188.

‘Irak: dilemma's van verdeeldheid, grenzen en dictatuur’ [Iraq: dilemmas of division, boundaries and dictatorship], in ibid., pp. 141-162.

‘Regionale integratie en het Arabische ideaal’, [Regional integration and the Arab ideal], in ibid., pp. 53-70

‘Economic Liberalization: The Debate’, in G. Nonneman (ed.), Political and Economic Liberalization: dynamics and linkages in comparative perspective (Boulder, Col.: Lynne Rienner, 1996), pp. 3-30.

‘Patterns of economic liberalization: explanations and modalities,’ in ibid., pp. 31-44.

‘Patterns of political liberalization: explanations and modalities’, in ibid., pp. 45-62.

‘Linkages between political and economic liberalization, in ibid., pp. 307-313.

‘Instabiliteit in het Midden-Oosten: Context en Verklarende Factoren’ [Instability in the Middle East: Context and explanatory factors], in: R. Doom (ed.), Stabiliteit, Ontwikkeling en Democratie: Conflictpreventie en -beheersing in the Zuiden (Brussels: VUB University Press, 1994, ISBN 90-5487-075-3), pp. 13-37.

‘Obstacles to Stability in the Middle East: An Overview of Context and Linkages’, in T. Couloumbis, T. Veremis & T. Dokos (eds.), The Southeast European Yearbook 1993, (Athens: ELIAMEP, 1994), pp. 105-134.

‘Key Obstacles to Stability in the Middle East’, in G.Nonneman (ed.), The Middle East and Europe: The Search for Stability and Integration (London: Federal Trust for Education and Research, 1993), pp. 29-34

‘Problems facing Cooperation and Integration Attempts in the Middle East’, in ibid. pp. 35-46.

‘The Gulf: Background Assessment’, in ibid., pp. 55-62.

‘Towards a Security Community in the Gulf’, in ibid., pp. 63-70.

‘The Arab-Israeli Dimension: Background Assessment’, in ibid. , pp. 113-118.

‘Conclusions and Policy Recommendations’, in ibid., pp. 257-276.

‘Oman and Yemen’, in E. Murphy and T. Niblock (eds.), Political and Economic Liberalisation in the Middle East (London: British Academic Press, 1993), pp. 256-277.

‘Europe and the Gulf Region in the 1990s: security, trade and integration’, in H. Fürtig & R. Müller-Syring (eds.), Ursachen gewaltförmiger Konflikte in der Golfregion, (Frankfurt: Peter Lang Verlag, 1993), pp. 44-68.

‘Nisennen Ni Mukete GCC Shokoku Ga Tchokumen Suru Shomondai’ [Problems facing the GCC states towards and beyond the year 2000], in A. Mizuguchi (ed.), Wangan Shokoku no Naisei Keizai no Kenkyu [A Study of the Domestic Politics and Economies of the Gulf Countries], (Tokyo: Middle East Institute of Japan, March 1992), pp. 36-54.

‘The GCC and the Islamic Republic: towards a restoration of the pattern?’, in A. Ehteshami (ed.), Iran and the International Community (London: Routledge, 1991), pp. 102-123.

‘Het Midden-Oosten: rentenierende bureaukratieën’ [The Middle East: rentier bureaucracies], in G. Laporte and J. Bossuyt (eds.), Het Labyrint van de Ontwikkelingssamenwerking, [‘The Labyrinth of Development Co-operation’], (Brussels: National Commission for Development Co-operation, 1989, ISBN 90-71665-09-4), pp. 111-145.

Journal Editorship

Editor, Journal of Arabian Studies (Routledge), 2017-present

Associate Editor, Journal of Arabian Studies (Routledge), 2011-2016

Associate Editor (Middle East), Review of International Affairs (Taylor & Francis), 2004-05

Other Publications

‘Saudi Arabia: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2013, (London: Routledge, 2012), pp. 978-985.

‘United Arab Emirates: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2013, (London: Routledge, 2012), pp. 1192-1201.

‘United Arab Emirates: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2011 (London: Routledge, 2010), pp. 1212-1220 [8,000 words]

‘Saudi Arabia: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2011 (London: Routledge, 2010), pp. 991-1007 [15,000 words]

‘United Arab Emirates: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2010 (London: Routledge, 2009), pp. 1213-1220

‘Saudi Arabia: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2010 (London: Routledge, 2009), pp. 991-1006

‘Obituary: Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah Al Sabah’, The Guardian, 17 May 2008 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/17/2)

‘United Arab Emirates: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2009 (London: Europa Publications, 2008), pp. 1213-1219

‘Saudi Arabia: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2009 (London: Europa Publications, 2008), pp. 991-1005

‘United Arab Emirates: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2008 (London: Europa Publications, 2007), pp. 1207-1214

‘Saudi Arabia: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2008 (London: Europa Publications, 2007), pp. 988-1002

‘United Arab Emirates: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2007 (London: Europa Publications, 2006), pp. 1181-1187 [8,000 words]

‘Saudi Arabia: History’, in The Middle East and North Africa 2007 (London: Europa Publications, 2006), pp. 957-970 [14,000 words]

Keynote Address: ‘Security in the Wider Middle East: a question of avoiding self-fulfilling prophecies’, NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Mediterranean Special Group, Naples, 2 July 2006. Transcript at http://www.nato-pa.int/Default.asp?SHORTCUT=1084

‘Iran under Ahmadinejad: a European View’, presentation at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington 26 June, 2006, Meeting on ‘Iran Under Ahmadinejad’ [transcript published at: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1426&fuseaction=topics.event_summary&event_id=196049]

‘Hamas, the Palestine Question, and the role of the EU’, EuroMeSCo e-news, April 2006.

‘Back to the Future: EU and Gulf Regional Studies’, in GCC-EU Research Bulletin, issue 4, February 2006, pp. 10-12.

‘al-Zubara’, in Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Vol. XI, p. 574 (Leiden: Brill, 2002) (also translated into French)

‘Umm al-Kaiwain’, in Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Vol. X (Leiden: Brill, 2000) (also translated into French, 2001)

‘Yemen’s Dilemmas’, in Yemen Observer, February 2000, pp. 4-5.

‘Kuwait’s New Parliament’, in Middle East International, no. 606, 20 August 1999, pp. 21-23.

‘The New Kuwaiti Parliament gets down to Business’, in MERIA (Middle East Review of International Affairs) News, Issue 10. August 1999

‘Al-Sharika’, in Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Vol. VIII (Leiden: Brill, 1997) (also translated into French)

‘Muslim Communities in Post-Cold War Europe’, in I. Hampsher-Monk & J. Stanyer (eds.), Contemporary Political Studies 1996 (Political Studies Association of the United Kingdom, 1996), pp. 381-394.