Kristin Smith Diwan

Senior Resident Scholar, AGSIW

Kristin Smith Diwan is a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Her current projects concern generational change, nationalism, and the evolution of Islamism in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Her analysis of Gulf affairs has appeared in many publications, among them Foreign Affairs, Financial Times, and The Washington Post.

Diwan was previously an assistant professor at the American University School of International Service and has held visiting scholar positions at the George Washington University and Georgetown University. From 2013-14 she served as a visiting senior fellow at the Atlantic Council where she published on youth movements and participated in the Strategic Dialogue for a New US-Gulf Partnership.

Diwan received her PhD from Harvard University and holds an MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She completed her undergraduate degree at Baylor University in Texas, her home state.

AGSIW x Culture Summit: Channeling the Uncanny in Counter-Futurisms

On March 4, AGSIW convened a session on Gulf Futurism during Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.

2024 Outlook

On January 9, AGSIW hosted a virtual roundtable with its leadership and scholars as they looked ahead and assessed trends likely to shape the Gulf region and U.S. foreign policy during the coming year.

Book Launch: Art in Saudi Arabia: A New Creative Economy?

On January 19, AGSIW hosted a discussion on art in Saudi Arabia.

How Is the Israel-Hamas Conflict Affecting Gulf Arab States and Their Strategic Calculations?

On November 7, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Gulf responses to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Will the Israel-Hamas Conflict Spell the End of Regional Reconciliation?

On October 12, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

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Kuwait's New Emir: A Frank Speech Signals a Sharp Change in Direction

Kuwait's new emir, Meshal al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, announces an end to the current populist terms of engagement with the Parliament, which seems to suggest a forceful corrective – and perhaps more domestic strife – to come.

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Saudi Arabia Storms the World of Football

Saudi Arabia's successful bid to host the 2034 World Cup and aggressive recruitment of top players from elite football clubs across Europe mark another audacious play for state-financed entry into global sports.

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New Elections and Frustration Within Kuwait's Elite

Amid an ongoing political standoff and governing malaise, some within Kuwait's elite have challenged the Al Sabah family-led government.

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Saudi Arabia's New Nationalist Foreign Policy

A more self-assertive Saudi Arabia is taking steps to amplify its role on the global stage, at times in defiance of its U.S. partner. What does this mean for global energy markets and the future of U.S.-Saudi relations?

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Kuwait's Constitutional Stand

A sit-in by members of Kuwait's National Assembly was a relatively rare example of a successful targeted political protest to achieve limited political aims, but it is unlikely the good feelings of national unity will last.

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Tourism Ambitions Transform Saudi Arabia

The global opening and new embrace of arts and entertainment are indicative of broader trends as the kingdom navigates its "post-oil" future.

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Electoral Law Sparks Debate Over Qatari Citizenship and Political Rights

While Qatar’s electoral rules may produce a more malleable legislative body, they pose the risk of upending the national unity forged over the course of Qatar’s dispute with its neighboring states.