Maye Kassem

Maye Kassem is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at The American University in Cairo. She specializes in comparative politics with a focus on the Middle East and authoritarian regimes, particularly in Egypt. Her academic contributions include foundational research on governance and authoritarian rule in contemporary Egypt.

• Education: BA from The American University in Cairo, MA and PhD from SOAS, University of London
• Visiting Professor at Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University (2008–2010)

Her research interests revolve around:

• Authoritarianism and regime dynamics
• Post-Mubarak Egyptian political transitions
• Developing political systems in the Global South

Her notable publications include:

• In the Guise of Democracy: Governance in Contemporary Egypt (Ithaca Press, 1999)
• Egyptian Politics: The Dynamics of Authoritarian Rule (Lynne Reinner Press, 2004)

Kassem founded the Political Science Seminar and served as Faculty Advisor for the Cairo International Model United Nations (CIMUN) and Cairo International Model Arab League (CIMAL) from 2002 to 2013.