Gerd Nonneman
Encyclopedia
Gerd Nonneman is professor of Arab Gulf studies
and a former Director of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter
. As of September 2011, he will be the Dean of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University
's campus in Qatar
. He also serves as professor of international relations
and Middle East
ern politics, which involves teaching and supervising a number of students, as well as conducting his own research. He is a former Executive Director of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES).
(Temse, 1959) and educated at Ghent University
, Belgium
in Oriental Philology (Arabic) and, at postgraduate level, in Development Studies, Professor Nonneman subsequently worked in the commercial sector in Iraq
for a number of years during the 1980s, before returning to academia and further studies - including a doctorate
in Middle East Politics at the University of Exeter.
and Exeter Universities, and a spell as Visiting Professor at the International University of Japan
, he taught International Relations and Middle East Politics at Lancaster University
from 1993 to 2007, at which point he returned to Exeter.
He was a member of the UK's 2001 National Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) panel on Middle Eastern Studies, and served as Executive Director of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) between 1998 and 2002. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Middle East Programme at Chatham House
(Royal Institute of International Affairs).
(Royal Institute of International Affairs, London). He has acted as a consultant to or worked with a range of companies, national and international official institutions including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, foreign ministries in Europe and the Middle East, the European Commission
, and various NGOs - ranging from Amnesty International
to the Bertelsmann Foundation
. He has also been a regular media commentator on Middle Eastern and Gulf affairs, and has frequently acted as expert witness on human rights cases relating to the Middle East.
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and a former Director of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
. As of September 2011, he will be the Dean of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
's campus in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. He also serves as professor of international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
and Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern politics, which involves teaching and supervising a number of students, as well as conducting his own research. He is a former Executive Director of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES).
Early life
Born in FlandersFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
(Temse, 1959) and educated at Ghent University
Ghent University
Ghent University is a Dutch-speaking public university located in Ghent, Belgium. It is one of the larger Flemish universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector is Paul Van Cauwenberge.It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in Oriental Philology (Arabic) and, at postgraduate level, in Development Studies, Professor Nonneman subsequently worked in the commercial sector in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
for a number of years during the 1980s, before returning to academia and further studies - including a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Middle East Politics at the University of Exeter.
Academia
After teaching Middle East politics and political economy at ManchesterUniversity of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and Exeter Universities, and a spell as Visiting Professor at the International University of Japan
International University of Japan
The is a private university located in Minami-Uonuma city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.IUJ is the first, and one of the few Japanese universities which run their courses entirely in English. It was founded in 1982, primarily with the aim of providing a platform for delegates from all over the...
, he taught International Relations and Middle East Politics at Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
from 1993 to 2007, at which point he returned to Exeter.
He was a member of the UK's 2001 National Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) panel on Middle Eastern Studies, and served as Executive Director of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) between 1998 and 2002. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Middle East Programme at Chatham House
Chatham House
Chatham House, formally known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's leading...
(Royal Institute of International Affairs).
Other roles
Nonneman is the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula specialist of Chatham HouseChatham House
Chatham House, formally known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's leading...
(Royal Institute of International Affairs, London). He has acted as a consultant to or worked with a range of companies, national and international official institutions including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, foreign ministries in Europe and the Middle East, the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, and various NGOs - ranging from Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
to the Bertelsmann Foundation
Bertelsmann Foundation
The Bertelsmann Foundation is the largest private operating non-profit foundation in Germany, created in 1977 by Reinhard Mohn. The Bertelsmann Foundation holds 77.4 percent of Bertelsmann AG....
. He has also been a regular media commentator on Middle Eastern and Gulf affairs, and has frequently acted as expert witness on human rights cases relating to the Middle East.
Notable works
- Analyzing Middle Eastern Foreign Policies, and the relationship with Europe (Routledge, 2005)
- Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
in the Balance: Political Economy, Society, Foreign Affairs (New York University Press, 2006 / Hurst & Co, 2005) (co-editor & contributor, with Paul Aarts) - ‘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 (Routledge, 2010);
- ‘“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 (Routledge, 2010), pp. 13–36;
- ‘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 (Ithaca Press, 2008), pp. 3–45;
- ‘EU-GGC Relations: Dynamics, Perspectives and the Issue of Political Reform’, Journal of Social Affairs [AUS, Sharjah], Vol. 23, No. 92, Winter 2006, pp. 13–33;
- EU-GCC Relations: Dynamics, Patterns and Perspectives, Gulf Papers Series (Dubai: Gulf Research Center, 2006)
Notable Earlier Works
- Muslim Communities in the New Europe (Reading: Ithaca Press, 1996).
- Het Midden-Oosten Hertekend [The Middle East Redrawn] (Brussels: VUB Press (Free University of Brussels Press), 1996).
- Political and Economic Liberalization: dynamics and linkages in comparative perspective (Boulder, Col.: Lynne Rienner, 1996).
- The Middle East and Europe: The Search for Stability and Integration (London: Federal Trust for Education and Research, 1993)
- War and Peace in the Gulf: domestic politics and regional relations into the 1990s (Reading: Ithaca Press, 1991) (with Anoushiravan Ehteshami).
- Development, Administration and Aid in the Middle East (London: Routledge, 1988).
- Iraq, the Gulf States & the War: A changing relationship, 1980-1986 and beyond (London: Ithaca Press, 1986).