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20052024

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

Dr. Steven Wright is a scholar on Middle Eastern geopolitics, energy security, and global affairs. Dr. Wright's expertise combines academic research with real-world policy experience. He expertise spans energy policy and geopolitics, foreign policy and development, global politics and GCC relations with East Asian powers, and AI's global impact. 
 
In the governmental sphere, Dr. Wright has provided strategic advice to several high-level institutions across Europe, Asia, and international organizations. He has advised the UK Cabinet Office on Gulf security and geopolitics, Japan's Ministry of Defense on Middle East security risks, and he has provided expert guidance to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Gulf geopolitics. Notably, Dr. Wright served as a key advisor to Finland's Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, where he participated in high-level discussions in Iran regarding its nuclear program and regional security implications. His expertise has been sought by the defense sector, delivering keynote presentations to senior NATO officers on Gulf security issues, in addition to engaging with the US Department of Defense, Japan's Ministry of Defense and foreign ministries from a wide range of countries. Dr. Wright has been invited to present at high-profile governmental events such as the First Middle East Security Forum hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
 
Dr. Wright's expertise in energy geopolitics and economics has seen him engage as a consultant to the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, where he has delivered comprehensive briefings on Middle Eastern economics and energy security. His strategic insights have also been sought by a range of East Asian major corporations such as Marubeni, Sumitomo, Itochu, Hyundai, and Samsung. Additionally, he has advised leading financial institutions including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Standard Chartered Bank, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he provided perspectives on regional affairs to inform investment strategies and manage risk.
 
Dr. Wright is frequently invited to speak at high-profile events hosted by influential organizations including the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense, British Ministry of Defence, World Bank, and NATO. His commentary is regularly featured in leading international media outlets, including The Economist, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CGTN, and Reuters.
 
Currently serving as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of International Relations at Hamad bin Khalifa University in Qatar, Dr. Wright combines academic scholarship with extensive real-world expertise. His latest book, "Japan and the Middle East: Foreign Policies and Interdependence" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023), provides analysis of regional dynamics and interdependence, which underlines his standing in the field. Dr. Wright obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Durham, where he specialized on US foreign policy towards the Middle East.

Research Interests

My research addresses the intersection of energy geopolitics, international relations, and political economy with a particular focus on the Persian Gulf region and its global interconnections.

I examine how energy transitions and geopolitical shifts are reshaping international relations, especially between the Gulf Cooperation Council states and East Asian powers, while employing foreign policy analysis to understand evolving diplomatic strategies and international behavior. My work also explores the evolution of security frameworks, energy interdependence, and strategic realignments in a multipolar world, with particular attention to the growing influence of BRICS nations in reshaping global governance structures and their deepening engagement with Gulf states.

Current research projects investigate maritime security in the Gulf, the impact of artificial intelligence on geopolitical power dynamics, and the transformation of global energy markets within the context of emerging South-South cooperation. I have a special interest in Qatar's evolving role in global affairs, particularly through its LNG diplomacy and strategic adaptation to energy transitions. My research also encompasses broader themes of political reform in Gulf monarchies, East Asian-Middle East relations, and the changing nature of global power distribution, examining how Gulf states navigate and influence international politics through multilateral frameworks and strategic partnerships.

My work contributes to theoretical debates on small state agency, regional security complexes, and the evolution of global order while maintaining strong policy relevance through engagement with governmental and international institutions.

Education/Academic qualification

International Relations, PhD, Analysing United States Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East 1993-2003: Origins and Grand Strategies., Durham University

20012006

Award Date: 1 Jun 2006

International Studies, Master, Durham University

20002001

Award Date: 31 May 2001

Sociology with Political Studies , Bachelor, Royal Holloway University of London

19972000

Award Date: 1 Jun 2000

External positions

Palgrave Macmillan - The Contemporary Gulf Series

1 Jan 2016 → …

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