Syed Mohammad Ali

Syed Mohammad Ali is a Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, where he teaches in the MA in Global Security Studies program. He holds a PhD in Development Anthropology and combines academic rigor with practical experience working with multilateral organizations on international development challenges. Ali is also a Non-Resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute, a Non-Resident Faculty member at Beaconhouse National University, and a recognized expert on South Asian asylum cases for the U.S. and U.K.

• Education: PhD in Development Anthropology

Ali’s research and practice intersect across international development, security studies, and South Asian policy. His work critically examines power dynamics in development interventions, particularly in Pakistan, and bridges ethnographic insights with policy-oriented analysis. His expertise extends to media engagement, where he contributes regular op-eds to the Express Tribune and participates in international media discussions on geopolitical and socio-economic issues.

Awarded the AAP’s 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award, Ali is recognized for his pedagogical impact in global security education. His contributions include policy papers for institutions like the United States Institute of Peace and the Middle East Institute, alongside his book Development, Poverty and Power in Pakistan (Routledge, 2015).