Expertise
Comparative Politics, Middle East, Democracy, Authoritarianism, US Foreign Policy
Biography
Sean Yom is Professor of Political Science at Temple University. He is a specialist on regimes and governance in the Middle East, especially in Arab monarchies like Jordan, Kuwait, and Morocco. His research explores the dynamics of authoritarian politics, democratic reforms, and economic development in these countries, as well as their implications for US foreign policy. His past publications include various books, including From Resilience to Revolution: How Foreign Interventions Destabilize the Middle East(Columbia University Press, 2015/2016), the co-edited The Political Science of the Middle East: Theory and Research since the Arab Uprisings(Oxford University Press, 2022), and the edited Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa (Routledge, 2026). He has published in many academic journals, such as Comparative Political Studies, European Journal of International Relations, Journal of Democracy, and Global Policy. He sits on the editorial board of the International Journal of Middle East Studiesand the editorial committee of Middle East Report. Education: A.B., Brown University (2003); PhD., Harvard University (2009).
Selected Publications
- Jordan: Politics in an Accidental Crucible(Oxford University Press, 2025).
- "Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy Change: The Gulf Model in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates," Global Studies Quarterly 6, 2 (2026).
- “The Politics of Anti-Corruption Crackdowns: Evidence from Jordan” (with Steve Monroe), Mediterranean Politics (2025/26).
- “Kuwait’s Democratic Promise,” Journal of Democracy 34, 3 (2023): 46-61.
Courses Taught
- POLS 0878: Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in the US
- POLS 3241: Middle East Politics
- POLS 3510: How Democracies Die
- POLS 8217: Democracy, Dictatorship, and Political Regimes
