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Dr Eleanor Gao

Senior Lecturer in Middle Eastern Politics

I am a Senior Lecturer of Middle East Politics at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter. My research examines how identity politics affects the provision of public goods, the continuing influence of tribal politics on the politics of the Arab world, and the impact of elections in nondemocratic contexts.  My articles have appeared in Comparative Political Studies and Comparative Politics.  

I received my PhD in Political Science from the University of Michigan. I teach modules on the politics of nondemocratic countries, ethnic politics, and state and society in the Middle East.  

 

For office hours and research leave go here.

Research interests

My research interests are elections in nondemocratic countries, good governance, local government, identity (especially tribal) politics, politics of the Arab world, and more broadly the politics of semidemocratic and authoritarian countries. 

Research supervision

I am happy to supervise or co-supervise students working on my research interests (see above), regardless of whether the research will focus on the Arab world.  

Research students

Christopher Cox, influence of the Arab Uprising on informal and formal political participation in Morocco

Sahar Alnaas, Libyan women's political participation and social media

 

Modules taught

Biography

I am a graduate of Wellesley College (USA) where I received a BA in Political Science. I received my PhD in Political Science from the University of Michigan (USA). 

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