Thomas Demmelhuber

Thomas Demmelhuber is Professor of Middle East Politics and Society at the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), where he holds the Chair of Middle East Politics and Society within the Institute of Political Science. He also serves as Visiting Professor at the College of Europe (Natolin) since 2015. His academic career includes previous positions as Assistant Professor for Political Science at the University of Hildesheim (2012-2015).

Demmelhuber's research focuses on state, power and politics in the Middle East from a comparative perspective, with particular attention to international actors and transregional entanglements. His scholarly trajectory has evolved from EU-Middle East relations toward the study of authoritarian diffusion, with significant contributions to the conceptualization of 'authoritarian gravity centers' – regimes that serve as forces of attraction and contagion for countries in geopolitical proximity.

His recent publications demonstrate a clear thematic concentration on Gulf monarchies, authoritarian resilience, and the mechanisms of authoritarian promotion across regions. The pattern shows increasing attention to China's role in the Middle East and the transregional dimensions of authoritarian cooperation, particularly evident in his 2025 publication on Sino-Gulf relations and 2022 work on Sino-Emirati relations during the pandemic.

• German Middle East Studies Association's dissertation prize for best PhD in Middle Eastern studies
• Fellow of the Bavarian Science Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Research (2024)

Demmelhuber maintains active service to the academic community through multiple advisory roles, including board membership (2018-2025) of the German Middle East Studies Association (DAVO), membership on the scientific advisory board of the Orient Institute in Beirut (since 2020), and service on the research advisory board of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (since 2021). His scholarly influence extends through co-editing significant volumes including The Routledge Handbook on European Neighbourhood Policy (2018) and Authoritarian Gravity Centres: A Cross-Regional Study of Authoritarian Promotion and Diffusion (2020).