Steffen Hertog

Dr. Steffen Hertog is an Associate Professor in Comparative Politics at the Department of Government, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He specializes in Gulf and Middle East political economy, focusing on public sectors, labor markets, and state-business relations. His research also examines socio-economic roots of political violence. Previously, he held roles at Sciences Po Paris, Durham University, and Princeton University. He earned a D.Phil. from Oxford, alongside degrees from the School of Oriental and African Studies and the University of Bonn.

Education:

• MA, University of Bonn
• MSc, School of Oriental and African Studies
• D.Phil., University of Oxford

Research Interests: Gulf and Middle East political economy, labor market reforms, socio-economic drivers of terrorism, and resource distribution in rentier states. His work explores how oil wealth shapes governance, inequality, and policy responses to economic challenges.

Key Contributions: Authored Princes, Brokers, and Bureaucrats: Oil and the State in Saudi Arabia (2010) and co-authored Engineers of Jihad: The Curious Connection between Violent Extremism and Education (2016). Recent work includes analysis of Vision 2030 reforms and GCC labor market dynamics.

Advising & Grants: Engages in policy consultancy and has led research projects on Gulf economic reforms, migration regulation, and counter-terrorism strategies. Collaborates with institutions like the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and the Gulf Research Center.

Labs/Teams: Active in LSE’s Middle East Centre and Gulf Initiative, fostering interdisciplinary research on regional political and economic challenges.