Sean Yom
Professor of Political Science, Temple University
Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Democracy in the Arab World Now (DAWN)
Welcome! I am a scholar of authoritarian politics, with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa. For over two decades, my work has engaged critical aspects of this region: autocratic rule, democratic mobilization, economic development, and foreign policy. While familiar with most Arab states and Iran, I often focus on Jordan, Morocco, and the Gulf kingdoms.
My latest book is Jordan: Politics in an Accidental Crucible (Oxford University Press, 2025). This is a sweeping study of Jordan’s politics, economy, society, and foreign relations. My edited Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa (Routledge, 2026), a popular textbook in its 10th edition, was also recently released.
My longstanding research is eclectic. One thread grapples with the dynamics of authoritarianism and state institutions in the Middle East. Beyond Jordan, I also work on political development in Morocco, Kuwait, and the broader Arabian Gulf. Finally, I am deeply concerned with American hegemony as it relates to regional wars, geopolitical order, and the future of Arab democracy.
I sit on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Middle East Studies and the Editorial Committee of the Middle East Report and Information Project, and am an Associate Editor of Research & Politics. I also occasionally consult with legal and political organizations.
Updated June 2026