Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
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
2001 → 2006
Award Date: 1 Jun 2006
International Studies, Master, Durham University
2000 → 2001
Award Date: 31 May 2001
Sociology with Political Studies , Bachelor, Royal Holloway University of London
1997 → 2000
Award Date: 1 Jun 2000
External positions
Palgrave Macmillan - The Contemporary Gulf Series
1 Jan 2016 → …
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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HBKU-OVPR-FRG-03-8: Transformative Global Governance Led by Non-Western Small and Middle Powers: The Cases of Qatar and South Africa in Pursuing Peace and Justice in a Fractured World
Wright, S. M. (Co-Lead Principal Investigator), Elamin, M. O. I. (Principal Investigator), YIP, K. L. (Co-Lead Principal Investigator), Moloney, K. (Principal Investigator) & Barakat, S. (Lead Principal Investigator)
10/07/25 → 9/07/27
Project: Applied Research
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EX-QNRF-ARG-265: The Maritime Sector and Resilience-building in a Small State: The Qatar
Wright, S. M. (Lead Principal Investigator)
1/04/24 → 1/04/27
Project: Experimental Development/Translation Research
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EX-QNRF-NPRPS-2: Managing National Security Risk during and after the Blockade: Strategic Challenges and Opportunities for Qatar’s Energy Sector
Olawuyi, D. S. (Principal Investigator) & Wright, S. M. (Lead Principal Investigator)
1/01/20 → 5/05/23
Project: Applied Research
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How South Korea's Political Shifts Could Reshape Gulf Relations.
Wright, S., 22 Jan 2025, In: International Policy Digest. p. 1-3 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE AND CHINA-GCC RELATIONS: Strategic Partnerships in a Multipolar World Order 2.0
Wright, S., 1 Jan 2025, Routledge Handbook of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Eurasia. Taylor and Francis, p. 435-454 20 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
US Foreign Policy and the Gulf States: Changing Dynamics in a Multipolar World
Wright, S., 1 Dec 2025, In: World Affairs. 188, 4, e270032.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Developing the Desert: How Qatar Achieved Dairy Self-Sufficiency Through Baladna
Al-Dobashi, H. & Wright, S., 22 Dec 2024, In: Sustainability (Switzerland). 16, 24, 11262.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
A Conceptualisation of Japan’s Relations with the Middle East
Nakamura, S. & Wright, S., 12 Mar 2023, Japan and Middle East. 1 ed. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore, p. 1-25 25 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Open Access