Martin Beck

Martin Beck is a Professor of International Relations and Security Studies currently serving as a substitute professor (Vertretungsprofessor) for Middle Eastern Politics at Philipps-Universität Marburg's Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (Centrum für Nah- und Mittelost-Studien). He is on leave from his permanent position as Professor of International Relations and Security Studies at the University of Kurdistan Hewler (UKH) in Erbil, Iraq. Beck maintains additional affiliations with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and serves as an Associate at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA).

Beck received his academic education at the University of Tübingen, earning his doctorate in social sciences in 1994 and completing his habilitation in political science in 2001. His academic journey has taken him across multiple continents, with teaching and research positions in Europe (Tübingen, Hamburg, Bremen, and Odense), the United States (Denver, Colorado), and extensively throughout the Middle East (Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq).

Martin Beck's research focuses on the international politics and political economy of the Middle East, with particular emphasis on regional power relations, the Arab-Israeli conflict, oil politics, comparative analysis of rentier states, migration studies, and critical security studies using the Copenhagen School framework. His work bridges theoretical approaches with empirical analysis of contemporary Middle Eastern politics, examining how global forces interact with regional dynamics. Beck's scholarship is characterized by its interdisciplinary nature, connecting political science with economics, security studies, and migration theory to provide comprehensive analyses of complex Middle Eastern issues.

His most recent publications reveal a strong focus on the political economic dimensions of Middle Eastern conflicts, particularly examining how declining oil revenues have forced Gulf states to adjust their policies since 2014. Beck has also made significant contributions to understanding securitization processes related to migration, particularly regarding Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Muslim immigrants in Germany. His work consistently demonstrates how political economy frameworks can illuminate security dynamics in the region, challenging conventional wisdom about refugee 'crises' and migration securitization.

Beck has taught an extensive range of courses across multiple institutions, covering topics including Middle Eastern politics, international oil politics, security studies, migration, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. His teaching spans both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, delivered in multiple languages including English and German, reflecting his international academic profile and deep engagement with the region he studies.