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Safa Al-Saeedi
I am an assistant professor of political science at Marist University. I came to Marist after a postdoctoral associateship at MIT and, before that, a predoctoral fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School.
My research examines the relationship between media and social conflict under authoritarian rule. I combine statistical analysis with qualitative evidence, focusing empirically on the Middle East, especially the Arabian Peninsula. My work has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the American Political Science Association (APSA), and the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS), among others.
I earned my Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from Northwestern University and a B.A. in political science, economics, and philosophy from Duke University.
I teach courses on research methods, technology, religion, and the politics of the modern Middle East.
RESEARCH
Book
Quiet Wars: Media and Societal Factions under Authoritarianism
Manuscript in preparation.
Articles
Appeals of the Saudi Populace in Petitions at King’s Doorsteps (1990-2012)
British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 50(4) (2026): 1-27.
A New Balance of Power in Red Sea: How Saudi Miscalculations Empowered the Houthis
(With Christina Bouri) Middle East Policy Council, September 22, 2026.
Governance Fragmentation and Collapsing Health in Wartime Yemen
(With Christina Bouri) Lawfare, July 19, 2026.
The Arab Spring: Why Did the Uprisings Miss the Monarchies?
Contemporary Politics, 28(5) (2022): 491-516.
Media Change and Intra-Societal Battles in Authoritarian Contexts
Under review (available upon request).
Avoiding Past Failures: Why Yemen Needs a Bottom-Up Political Vision
Under review (available upon request).
Select Works in Progress
How The Internet and Sectarianism Can Cause Decline in Religiosity
(with Richard Nielsen). Journal article. Draft available upon request.
Anonymous Dissidence in Autocratic Politics
(with Alexandra Siegel). Journal article. Ongoing research.
Media and Social Relations under Authoritarianism
Journal article. Ongoing research.
TEACHING AND ADVISING
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CV · ·
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