Steven Heydemann

Steven Heydemann is the Janet Wright Ketcham 1953 Professor in Middle East Studies at Smith College, with a joint appointment in the Department of Government. He is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Middle East Policy. His career includes leadership roles at the U.S. Institute of Peace, directing the Syria program and co-authoring the influential 'The Day After' transition plan. He has extensive experience consulting governments and NGOs on Middle Eastern policy, particularly Syria. Heydemann’s research focuses on authoritarian governance, political economy, and civil society in the Middle East, with notable works analyzing the Arab Uprisings and Syria’s conflict. He holds a Ph.D. and A.M. from the University of Chicago and an A.B. from the University of Michigan.

Education:

• Ph.D., A.M., University of Chicago
• A.B., University of Michigan

Research Interests: Heydemann explores authoritarian resilience, economic development, and political reform in the Middle East. His work highlights how informal networks shape economic policies and authoritarian governance. Key themes include post-conflict reconstruction, social contracts, and the dynamics of authoritarian regimes in Syria and Iran.

Articles Overview: His publications span comparative politics, conflict analysis, and Middle Eastern governance. Recent works address Syria’s post-uprising challenges, authoritarian adaptation, and the political economy of social contracts in the MENA region.

Grants & Advising: He contributed to transition planning in Syria through USIP’s 'The Day After' project and advises the Syrian-led NGO The Day After Association. His consulting spans U.S., European, and regional governments on Syria policy and Middle East dynamics.

Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary research on Middle East governance, collaborating with institutions like Brookings and Georgetown University’s Center for Democracy and Civil Society.