Dr Amir Magdy Kamel joined the Defence Studies Department (DSD) in September 2013, he has also been a Fellow in the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies since September 2015, also at King's College London.

His research is focused on two areas. The first is concerned with political and economic issues across the Middle East (and a focus on EU and US foreign policies towards the region). The second explores how Cryptocurrencies impact central authorities and state capabilities.

Amir has held Visiting Scholar roles at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2021-22) and at Georgetown University (2017) where he worked on his research. Dr Kamel holds a PhD in Middle East and Mediterranean Studies from King's College London (2013), an MSc in International Relations (2009), and a BSc in Economics with Management Systems (2008).

Dr Kamel also has over a decade of combined experience providing advice to various international government agencies, working as an analyst for an international economic consultancy organisation and as a member of the steering committee for a nuclear policy focused NGO. Prior to joining DSD, Amir taught modules on the BA/BSc in Economics programme at the University of East London.

Research Interests

• Politics and Economics

• Foreign Policy

• Digital Currencies and International Affairs.

Publications

Books:

• Amir M. Kamel, 2015, The Political Economy of EU Ties with Iraq and Iran: An Assessment of the Trade-Peace Relationship (Palgrave Macmillan).

Book Chapters:

• Amir M. Kamel, 2018, ‘Post-Qadhafi Libya: rejecting a political party system’, in Cavatorta and Storm (eds), Political Parties in the Arab World Continuity and Change (Edinburgh University Press).
• Amir M. Kamel, 2020, ‘Libya: The Altered Resource Competition’, in El-Issawi and Cavatorta (eds), The Unfinished Arab Spring: Micro-Dynamics of Revolts between Change and Continuity (Chicago University Press).

Research Articles:

• Amir M. Kamel, 2016, ‘Trade and peace: the EU and Gaddafi's final decade’, International Affairs 92:3, pp.683–702.
• Amir M. Kamel, 2018, ‘The JCPOA: how Iran's grand strategy stifled the US’, Middle Eastern Studies 54:4, pp.706–722.

Policy/Consultancy Papers:

• Amir M. Kamel, 2014, ‘IS: From the Middle East to the Far East?’, Security Report, Rubeus Ltd.
• Amir M. Kamel with Senussi, Ziemba and Bazoobandi, 2012, ‘MENA domestic divides raise risks to growth & oil prices’, MENA Focus, Roubini Global Economics.

Media Articles:

• Amir M. Kamel, 2017, ‘Donald Trump, uncertainty and Iran’s economy’, LiveMint.
• Amir M. Kamel, 2016, ‘ISIS is the real winner in Libya’, Newsweek.

Teaching

Teach courses on: International Security, International Relations, Defence Studies, Strategy, Research Methods, Governance, Command, Leadership & Management, International Political Economy (with reference to the Middle East)

Doctoral supervision areas:

• Contemporary politics and economics of the Middle East (chiefly: Iran, Iraq, Egypt, and Libya)
• US and EU foreign policy
• Theories of IPE and conflict studies
• Cryptocurrencies and international affairs

 

Dr Amir Kamel PURE Profile