phd georgetown international relations

Global Engagement

Graduate Programs

Georgetown University offers a range of leading graduate programs on international relations and world affairs.

Within the School of Foreign Service, the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) is one of eight graduate degrees that prepare students for careers across global issues and world regions. Georgetown’s other schools also offer graduate degrees with a strong international dimension.

Georgetown's Washington, D.C., location places its students in one of the most prominent global cities, with access to policymakers and experts across fields. Building on the Jesuit tradition of academic excellence and service to others, Georgetown's graduate programs prepare students to be citizens and leaders in an interconnected world.

Select Programs

M.S. in Global Health

Sponsored by the School of Health, the Master of Science in Global Health program is based on an interdisciplinary and development-oriented approach to global health. With a strong focus on quantitative, qualitative, and applied social sector research in developing countries, the Global Health graduate program offers new opportunities to individuals pursuing a career in the field of global health.

Master of International Development Policy

Office of Global Education

School of Medicine International Programs

Graduate Programs

SFS graduate programs strive to enroll a diverse class of students who have demonstrated academic excellence, a wide range of personal and professional experiences, a commitment to service and a passion for their area of study. We seek students who can contribute to the education of their peers and to their field.

How to Apply

Prospective graduate students can submit your application online via a secure system managed by Georgetown University. We encourage you to thoroughly read the important information about the application process, policies and procedures.

Financial Aid

At SFS, we are committed to giving students of all backgrounds the opportunity to study international affairs. Over 50% of our graduate students receive some funding from Georgetown University in order to attend. Our students also utilize external funding opportunities from private foundations and government fellowships, in addition to loans.

U.S. Foreign Service Fellowships at SFS

Public service is at the heart of our mission at SFS. As part of our commitment to develop the next generation of values-led global public servants, SFS offers extensive financial aid packages (including full coverage of outstanding costs), mentorship programs and tailored career support to recipients of Pickering, Rangel and Payne Fellowships who are accepted to any SFS graduate program.

• Career Outlook
• Student Profile
• Success Stories
• Course Schedule
• How to Apply
• Tuition & Financial Aid

Doctor of Liberal Studies

Doctor of liberal studies degree, on-campus format.

Cultivate skills in perception, analysis, communication, and creative thinking through an interdisciplinary curriculum rooted in human values and ethics.

Georgetown’s Doctor of Liberal Studies positions you at the intersection of multiple disciplines. You will explore philosophical, cultural, political, international, and current social concepts in a global context to develop a broader perspective of the complexities facing the modern world. Distinct from traditional Ph.D. programs, our interdisciplinary approach brings together different perspectives and fields of knowledge while addressing pressing issues.

You will have the opportunity to develop your own research project within the structure of the program, benefiting from Georgetown’s extensive scholarly work to guide you as you craft your doctoral thesis. Throughout your time in the program, you will learn how to synthesize your existing knowledge in new and innovative ways while mastering skills in perception, analysis, communication, and creative thinking.

Number of Credits 36 credits

Format On-campus

Tuition $58,968*

Enrollment Full-time or part-time

Duration 5 to 7 years

Semester of Entry Fall

Built on a foundation of ethics and human values, our program provides you with comprehensive tools needed to achieve your personal and professional aspirations. The program encourages you to frame issues in ways that cut across traditional academic disciplines.

Ideal for working professionals, our program is designed to fit your schedule. We offer courses exclusively on weekday evenings so you can earn your degree at a pace that suits your needs—without interrupting your career. No GMAT or GRE is required.

Testimonials from current students and alumni.

This is a learning community of accomplished professionals who wish to take their intellectual achievements to a higher level yet. The program provides the environment where their vision can gain academic mastery along with a broader disciplinary perspective, all of this with an eye to significant human values.”

In the classroom, you will learn and grow alongside peers. The small size of our program ensures that you will have ample opportunities to interact and exchange ideas with your classmates through reading, reflection, writing, and discussion. You will also benefit from a faculty of distinguished experts and scholars, who serve as advisors, mentors, and advocates.

Upon completing the degree, you will be equipped with the analytical tools needed to make connections, dissect complexities, and pursue a life of curiosity and intellectual advancement

*Tuition rates for each term are published annually, typically in February. Total tuition listed here reflects Fall semester of entry.

A People’s Identity, Explored Through Their Garments

Women veterans ‘belong’ at georgetown.

We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident: The National Guard and the Categorical Imperative

Want to learn more.

Simply complete this form to receive additional information about our Doctor of Liberal Studies program.

All fields are required.

• Spring 2024
• Summer 2024
• Spring 2025
• Summer 2025

* indicates required field

Choose Your Term

This program has multiple applications available. Please select your preferred term.

Title: Magazine: Georgetown First Worldwide for Graduate International Affairs Study

Foreign Policy magazine ranked Georgetown No. 1 in the world for graduate study in international relations for the fourth time.

“We are both proud and flattered that Georgetown University again ranks high among the schools to study international affairs,” says James Reardon-Anderson, School of Foreign Service interim dean, of

“We are both proud and flattered that Georgetown University again ranks high among the schools to study international affairs,” says James Reardon-Anderson, School of Foreign Service interim dean, of Foreign Policy magazine’s high rankings for the school’s programs.

Foreign Policy magazine has once again ranked Georgetown No. 1 in the world for graduate study and No. 4 for undergraduate programs in international affairs.

Georgetown also ranked first for its international affairs master’s degree programs in 2007, 2009 and 2012 in the magazine’s rankings.

The magazine cited Georgetown’s two-year master’s programs, which allow students to supplement coursework with mentorship from its prestigious faculty, as well as with professional internships in Washington, D.C., and abroad.

Service of Humanity

“We are both proud and flattered that Georgetown University again ranks high among the schools to study international affairs,” says James Reardon-Anderson, School of Foreign Service (SFS) interim dean.“This is a great credit to the students, faculty and staff of Georgetown and confirms the wisdom of our commitment to education for the service of humanity.”

The oldest school of its kind in the world, SFS is home to eight graduate programs spanning many issues and regions.

Thematic degrees include the Master of Science in Foreign Service, Master of Arts in Security Studies and Master of Global Human Development.

Regionally focused degrees span the globe, including separate Master of Arts degrees in: Asian Studies, Arab Studies, Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies, German and European Studies and Latin American Studies.

Rigorous Education

The SFS undergraduate program offers 1,500 students over four years the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS).

The program features an interdisciplinary liberal arts core curriculum that focuses on the study of international affairs.

Students undergo a rigorous education that includes courses in international affairs, government, economics, philosophy, theology, history, literature, language training and geography.

According to Foreign Policy , “the … survey offers a window into how America’s top IR (international relations) scholars see the world today – and which institutions are effectively nurturing future generations of thinkers and policymakers.”

Foreign Policy Wonks

A collaboration between Foreign Policy and the Teaching, Research, and the International Policy (TRIP) project at the College of William and Mary, the survey gathered responses from 1,615 international relations scholars drawn from 1,375 U.S. colleges and universities.

The survey also asked about trends in international affairs and which issues are the most important foreign policy issues to the United States today. Answers ranged from global climate change to armed conflict in the Middle East to China’s rising military power.

Foreign Policy noted that while there are debates about higher education, “scholars and policymakers alike rightly agree, however, that language skills, expertise about regions of the world, and other knowledge gleaned in the classroom make for a stronger, more effective corps of foreign-policy wonks.”

• Connecting Globally

College of Arts & Sciences

Ph.D in Government

Please explore further each of our fields of expertise:

• American Government
• Comparative Government
• International Relations
• Political Theory

Course scheduling and course information is available on the Schedule of Classes . Graduate Students should select a Term. Then “Government” as the Subject and choose “Advanced Search” and select “MN or MC Graduate” for Level.

The mission of the Government Department Ph.D. program is to provide students with the analytical skills and substantive knowledge needed to both generate and evaluate research in political science, preparing them for careers at the highest levels of scholarship and teaching. A Georgetown Ph.D. in Government signifies theoretical, methodological, and substantive expertise in various topics of political significance, as well as the research and communication skills necessary for productive scholarship.

The degree indicates that the recipient has acquired extensive knowledge in at least two fields, both typically drawn from the four major subfields of political science, but which may also include related fields such as history, security studies, or public policy. A Georgetown Ph.D. in Government is granted only to students who have demonstrated the ability to synthesize large quantities of information and rigorously evaluate the merits of competing theoretical and empirical arguments. The degree indicates that its holder has obtained the analytical and methodological skills to design and conduct original research of the highest quality. It further certifies that its holder has the written and oral communication skills necessary to engage with debates at the leading edge of the field. Individuals holding a Georgetown Ph.D. in Government are also equipped with the knowledge and skills to teach political science at the university level in both survey courses and specialized seminars.

Doctoral-level seminars taken during coursework are designed to familiarize students with the scholarly literature in at least two fields of study. Students gain a broad understanding of the development and major topics of research within these fields, as well as expertise in several more specialized areas. Students learn to evaluate and engage with the major scholarly debates in their fields of study, both in classroom discussion and in written work. All students learn the methodological skills needed to carry out original research in their respective fields.

Ph.D. students are required to take comprehensive examinations in one major. The purpose of comprehensive examinations is to demonstrate a student’s broad familiarity with the literature in his or her fields of study. This prepares students both as professional members of a scholarly community and as future teachers at the university level. Our doctoral students write dissertations that consist of rigorous original research that contribute to our understanding of a topic of empirical importance and theoretical significance to the field of political science. Once a dissertation of high quality is complete, there is a dissertation defense at which the student presents the results of his or her research and is questioned about the implications of the work for the field of political science by the dissertation committee.

In addition to the formal requirements of the doctoral program, students are encouraged and expected to participate in opportunities for professional socialization and development. All four subfields of the department organize speaker series to host scholars from other universities and promote intellectual exchange. Doctoral students are also encouraged to attend our seminars on various aspects of the academic profession, including teaching, publishing, and the job market.

Students acquire teaching skills in a number of settings. Many serve as teaching assistants for the larger undergraduate courses offered by the department, while others may have the opportunity to teach their own undergraduate-level seminars. Students may also take advantage of training seminars offered by the department, as well as the certification offered through the  Apprenticeship in Teaching Program  run by the  Center for New Designs in Teaching and Learning .

Doctoral students engage with the political science community outside of Georgetown by attending specialized seminars and presenting their research at academic conferences.

For students admitted with a Fellowship, we provide tuition and a stipend of $38,000. Typically students in their first year are assigned a service-free fellowship and will work on coursework and related research. In their second year, students normally are assigned service assistantships and and will typically serve as TA’s in GOVT courses or on other assignments. Students in their fourth year are assigned service assistantships and typically serve as an RA for a professor or some other assignment. In the fifth year, students usually also are service-free conditional on having successfully defended their dissertation prospectus and advanced to ABD status.

Our Ph.D. graduates have tenure-track jobs at many excellent institutions, including:

• American University
• Cornell University
• University of Wisconsin at Madison
• LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin
• George Washington University
• George Mason University
• University of California at Riverside
• University of Michigan
• Villanova University
• Carleton University

In addition, our Ph.D.s have been winning prestigious fellowships, including ones from Harvard, Princeton and Brookings.

Part of our placement success is due to our strong record of working closely with students, including producing jointly authored articles.

All inquiries should be sent to [email protected] .

MAGES/Ph.D. in Government

CGES and the Department of Government offer a dual course of study leading to a MAGES/Ph.D. in Government. Within the Ph.D. program, students can choose from one of two tracks: Comparative Government or International Relations.

The curriculum includes a total of three years (63 credits) of course work drawn from the MAGES program and the Department of Government. This program is oriented towards students who wish to complement their disciplinary studies in Government with the interdisciplinary regional focus of the MAGES Program.

Candidates complete all requirements for both the Ph.D. in Government and the MAGES degree requirements with the following variations:

• MAGES free elective course work must be comprised of required courses from the Department of Government.
• Students must pass the MAGES second foreign language examination prior to taking departmental comprehensive examinations.

Application

Students who are interested in this program may either apply to both degree programs jointly, or may apply for the Ph.D. portion of the program during their first year of study in the MAGES program. Applicants to the joint MAGES/Ph.D. program must complete all application procedures and fulfill all entrance requirements for the MAGES program. Applicants must also submit a separate application packet for the Government program according to the guidelines set out by the Department of Government. Application requirements for the Government program can be found on the Department of Government website .

Session Expired

Your session has expired and you've been logged out.

Inactive Modal

Georgetown360

Bio and featured works.

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.

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] (updated Arabic edition: Beirut: Center for Arab Unity Studies, 2012).
• ‘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).

PUBLICATIONS (Full List)

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] (main author [1/3] & editor), 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).

Th e 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] (Durham: IMEIS, Durham University, 2006. ISSN 1476-4830 [37 pp.] http://eprints.dur.ac.uk/archive/00000222/)

EU-GCC Relations: Dynamics, Patterns and Perspectives, Gulf Papers Series (Dubai: Gulf Research Center, 2006, ISBN 9948-434-13-7 )[40 pp.] (http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fss/politics/people/nonneman/EU-GCC%20Relations%20(GRC%20Gulf%20Paper).pdf).

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.] (http://www.iue.it/RSCAS/WP-Texts/02_02p.pdf )

EU-GCC Cooperation in the Field of Education (=RSC Policy Paper 2002-1) (with Giacomo Luciani & Rodney Wilson). (http://www.iue.it/RSCAS/WP-Texts/02_01p.pdf )

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.] (http://www.iue.it/RSCAS/WP-Texts/01_03p.pdf )

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), pp. 554-564.  

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-ʻarabi yya 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.), Inter national 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.), Euro pean-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.), Re form 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] ( Brussels: F.U. Brussels University Press), 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 < www.biu.il/SOC/besa/meria.html >

‘Al- Sh arika’, 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.

Academic Specialties

Language(s), new language entry.

Please enter a new language below. Once created, the language will be added to your profile automatically. Please email [email protected] for any questions.

Please note: If you are entering multiple languages, please use semicolons to separate the different languages.

Upload Featured Work

Delete featured work.

Are you sure you'd like to delete your existing Featured Work?

Academic Appointment(s)

The World Order — and Where It’s Heading

The subject of international relations is more relevant than ever. We are living through a time of disruption and promise. On one hand, technology offers more people a voice—on the other, populist movements threaten democracy. The world economy is more connected than ever, yet threats like pandemics shut down supply chains and cause shortages. Industry is more productive, but causes environmental ills. How do these problems and potentials interact? Who are the new movers and shakers? What will your role be in the future? If you are interested in international relations, politics, law, economics or just curious about how our world works, this course is a must.

Program Dates

Choose the course length that works for you: 1-week intensives, 2-week sessions, and 4-week sessions

Eligibility

For students ages 13 and up

How Does the World Work — and How Will It Work?

What is international relations.

Our world isn’t just a collection of nations, leaders, and issues—it’s an intricate system. Learn the history of international relations, skills required, and the many career opportunities.

Understand the Structure of Today’s International System.

Think of it as a chess game, and the resulting power shifts in every move. Explore the players, goals, and rules of the game of international relations.

Learn How Human Rights Have Become a Guiding Force.

Evaluate different world viewpoints on human rights. Review and discuss genocide and the evolution of international human rights law. Are healthcare and education human rights? 

Gain Insight Into the Many Kinds of Force.

Learn how war differs from terrorism and cyber attacks. Study the international laws related to the use of force and a nation’s right to defend itself.

Apply the Tools of International Relations to a Simulated Crisis.

Assume the role of a President faced with a human rights crisis in a far-off nation. Identify the actors, issues, and determine what actions to take.

Explore College Majors and Future Careers.

Topics in this course offer a good background for potential college majors and career paths related to international relations, political science, law, history, sociology, and the sciences.

How You Will Benefit

• Learn the skills needed to be an international relations professional.
• Identify the leading players of today’s global system.
• Learn the different theories of human rights.
• Be able to discuss environmental issues, international conflict, and technological change in an informed manner.
• Gain insight into the many forms of global conflict.
• Discover your role and what your future could hold.
• Complete a Final Capstone Project to demonstrate what you’ve learned.
• Earn a Certificate of Completion from Georgetown University.

Three Learning Advantages Designed for You

Final capstone project.

Assume the role of the U.S. President and make a decision about how to solve a global crisis. This will involve:

• Writing a “Policy Paper” outlining your goals, recommended actions, and what success looks like.
• Thinking through how you will modify your decision based on interactions with international organizations such as the Security Council.
• Answering the question: will you use force, economic sanctions, or diplomacy?

You’ll receive guidance from a mentor who will support you and answer questions throughout your learning experience. You can expect:

• Encouragement and direction on all assignments.
• Inspiration and motivation to help you succeed.
• Brainstorming to help you prepare for your capstone project.
• Feedback on your Final Capstone Project.

Flexible Learning

• 100% online learning that works with your schedule.
• Flexible format: you’ll learn through video lectures. Tune in anytime that works for you.
• 20 to 30 hours of total instruction and course work, including engaging multimedia, simulations, and curated assignments for which you will receive guidance and support from mentors.

Apply Now for the Next Available Course

May 5 - june 2, international relations: how the world works.

Length: 4 weeks

Cost: $1,795.00

Application Deadline: Sunday, April 28, 2024

Type: Enrichment

May 19 - June 2

Length: 2 weeks

Application Deadline: Sunday, May 12, 2024

June 9 - July 7

Application Deadline: Sunday, June 2, 2024

Hear from Georgetown University

What Our Students Are Saying

"It was an amazingly informative experience that lets you connect with people across the world with similar interests to you. That coupled with the ability to take it at whatever pace you want made it an incredibly enjoyable course. "

"The course was super fun, and I feel that I learned a lot! I would absolutely recommend it to anybody interested in International Relations."

Course Designed by Georgetown University Faculty

Anthony Clark Arend, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair of the Department of Government at Georgetown University

Dr. Arend, a renowned and popular professor at Georgetown University, designed and leads both the international relations and the international law pre-college courses. He earned a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Foreign Affairs from the Department of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia, and he received his B.S.F.S from Georgetown University. He is also the author of  Legal Rules and International Society.

Meet Your Mentors

Georgetown University student working toward a Ph.D. in American Government. Served as a TA for U.S. Politics and Polling and Survey Methodology courses at Georgetown. Gabrielle's research is primarily focused on environmental politics, with a secondary focus on research related to political science pedagogy and democracy in the U.S.

Undergraduate student majoring in Finance with a minor in Politics and International Affairs. Completed internships at Bank of America, AT&T, and South State Bank. Aspires to become the Chief Financial Officer of a Fortune 500 company.

Undergraduate student at Georgetown University majoring in International Political Economy and minoring in Women’s and Gender Studies. Laidlaw Scholar conducting research in eldercare in East Asia. Aspires to work in the federal government as a foreign service officer.

How to Apply

It’s easy. No transcripts or letters of recommendation are required. Our application asks you to provide the following:

• Basic contact information for you and your parent or guardian.
• Why you wish to take this course, and a bit of your story, through writing, video, photos—any media you prefer.

Begin the guided process . It should take only a few minutes to answer the questions.

Want to Know More?

Sign up for more information and we’ll be in touch.

Our application process is easy. You can expect a prompt decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will you be graded? What are assignments like? How much time do you have to turn around a project? When do you find out if you’re admitted? Find answers to your questions here .

Scholarships

We offer need-based scholarships in each cohort to students exhibiting high potential and an inability to pay full tuition. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship but you:

• Haven’t applied to the program, complete your application now. The scholarship application is included.
• Applied to the program and didn’t fill out a scholarship request, resume your application and click “Apply for Scholarship”.
• Are unsure about whether or not you applied for a scholarship, reach out to us at [email protected] for assistance.

The University reserves the right to modify the course as may become necessary.

Center for Jewish Civilization

Georgetown university, the israel-hamas war: a view from israel.

The CJC hosted Dr. Shira Efron for a conversation with Director Lincoln  about the ongoing war, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and  what comes next. Find the event recording here .

Read Shira Efron’s latest article for the Israel Policy Forum here

Dr. Shira Efron is the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Senior Director of Policy  Research at the Israel Policy Forum. Dr. Efron has spent over two decades in U.S. think  tanks, including the RAND Corporation, where she founded and led the Israel program between 2016-2022, the Center for American Progress, and Middle East Institute, and the Tel Aviv based Institute for National Security Studies. She was previously a consultant with the U.N. country team in Jerusalem, where she focused on access and movement issues in Gaza. She has a PhD and MPhil in policy analysis from RAND’s Graduate School, an MA in international relations/international business from New York University, and a BSc in biology (major) and computer science (minor) from Tel Aviv University.

Title: Georgetown Grad Students Spend Spring Break Fighting AI Scams in Singapore

Mac Milin Kiran (G’24) led a team of Georgetown University students from law, public policy, communications and design programs on a trip to Singapore over spring break. His goal was to collaborate with faculty and students at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on a global project that addressed AI scams that target vulnerable communities on social media.

They spent five days paired with experienced practitioners to analyze data, iterate on concepts and develop a prototype to fight AI scams. Their work was so successful that the prototype – which educates and enhances users’ digital awareness of what is and isn’t correct information to avoid being tricked by future scams – will be turned into a long-term research project with the agencies in Singapore.

The spring break trip was part of Ideathon, a program designed to uncover tech policy solutions that offer students hands-on experience in the field. Ideathon is the brainchild of graduate students in the Communication, Culture & Technology program in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and Tech & Public Polic y program at the McCourt School of Public Policy who wanted to come up with interdisciplinary solutions to emerging technology and policy issues.  They also wanted to make the field more accessible to those without technical backgrounds.

Kiran, who is an NTU alumnus, made the connection for Georgetown to go to Singapore in 2024 and facilitated partnerships with local government offices to guide students through the one-week challenge. Known for its groundbreaking technological innovations, Singapore was the ideal destination for the second annual Ideathon, which takes place in a different city each year.

During the week, the students combined AI detection tools, public awareness initiatives and policy recommendations to meet their goal. This immersion experience in a vibrant tech hub city fostered the local and global perspectives that Georgetown aims to impart to students in all its programs.

“It challenged them to apply their theoretical knowledge to solve real-world problems, and encouraged students to work collaboratively across cultural and disciplinary boundaries,” Kiran said.

Explore Kiran’s personal reflections from the trip to Southeast Asia and how it ties back to his master’s degree in Communication, Culture & Technology (CCT).

International Perspectives & Practical Applications

“The Ideathon offers Georgetown students an invaluable opportunity to dive deep into the intersection of technology, policy and society. We worked alongside government agencies, like the Ministry of Communications & Information , GovTech and civil society experts on tech law and policy, which gave the team insights into Singapore’s strategic planning for emerging technologies.

It was intriguing to learn about their efforts to anticipate and mitigate potential adverse outcomes. This highlighted their thoughtful approach to product policy and developing digital services for citizens, emphasizing preparedness and the community’s well-being.

This project not only challenged us technically, but required a comprehensive understanding of the socio-technical dynamics that influence tech policy and its implementation. Singapore’s commitment to leveraging technology while ensuring the safety and rights of its citizens offered a compelling context for our work, underscoring the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling tech-related challenges. This exposure to international perspectives and practical experience in tackling pressing issues is complemented by the chance to expand our professional networks with experts and leaders in the field. ”

“The emphasis on ethical considerations and societal impacts of technology reinforces Georgetown’s values, encouraging students to develop solutions that are innovative and socially responsible.” – Mac Milin Kiran

“ The knowledge and experiences I gained in Singapore seamlessly integrate into my academic pursuits within the CCT program, particularly my focus on tech law and policy. Classes like Meg Leta Jones ’ Digital Law and Policy and Laura DeNardis ’ Global Cyber Policy gave me a strong foundation to address tech policy issues. Singapore’s dynamic approach to technology governance provided practical insights into applying technology laws and policies. This real-world exposure to the challenges and solutions in tech policy complements the theoretical foundation provided by my program.

The emphasis on ethical considerations during Ideathon deepened my appreciation for socio-technical analysis — a key aspect of the Communication, Culture & Technology program — and broadened my perspective on global tech policy issues. I feel more equipped with the practical skills to understand the complexities involved in governing emerging technologies.”

Related Content

• Graduate Students ,
• Interdisciplinary ,
• McCourt School of Public Policy ,
• Student Experience