Matthew Barry Gray

Matthew Barry Gray is a Professor at the School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. He previously held academic roles at The Australian National University (2005–2013) and The University of Tokyo (2015–2016). His career spans political economy, Middle Eastern studies, and international relations.

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science, The Australian National University (2000)
• Master of Arts (MA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science, Macquarie University

Gray’s research interests focus on political economy in the Gulf states, minilateralism, and conspiracy theories in Middle Eastern political discourse. His work interrogates rentier state theory, economic diversification, and the role of cultural and historical narratives in governance.

Recent publications include analyses of minilateralism in Gulf security, the political economy of scent in the Gulf, and the evolution of late rentierism in Arab Gulf monarchies. His books and edited contributions explore economic models, tourism dynamics, and constitutional politics in the Middle East.

Gray actively contributes to academic discourse as a conference presenter, including topics on Gulf sovereign wealth funds, heritage symbolism, and the impacts of peak oil. He is a member of the JAPAN ASSOCIATION FOR MIDDLE EAST STUDIES and affiliated with Waseda University’s Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies and Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies.