Kristian Coates Ulrichsen
Baker Institute Fellow
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen is a Baker Institute fellow for the Middle East at Rice University.
Analysis
The Gulf States in a New Syria
Given how Syria after 2011 became a cockpit for external intervention in domestic affairs, the early signs this time for engagement of Gulf states appear more promising, particularly due to their ability to convene and lead in regional affairs.
Gulf States Choose Diplomacy Facing Region on Fire
Any escalation in the tit-for-tat exchanges of fire between Iran and Israel could heighten the Gulf states’ vulnerability to being caught in the crossfire.
King Salman’s Outreach to Asia
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz is conducting a six-country tour of Asia that will take him to Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, China, and the Maldives. Aside from its monthlong duration, the trip is significant for the commercial and strategic messages it conveys in the context of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious program of economic reform and...
Economic Diversification Plans: Challenges and Prospects for Gulf Policymakers
This paper puts the attempts by Gulf Arab states and Iran to launch large-scale development programs into historical and comparative context.
Qatar: Reshuffling Toward Austerity
The surprise Cabinet reshuffle undertaken on January 27 by Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani reflected and reinforced the convergence of three trends that together are reshaping the policymaking and decision making landscape in Qatar. An influx of new ministers signals the continued clearing out of the “old guard” as Tamim consolidates his position after assuming...
