I am a historian of the modern Middle East, specializing in the history and politics of Palestine/Israel, Iran and the Persian Gulf. Most of my time is spent writing, teaching and editing. Occasionally, I also comment on Middle East-related affairs in international media.

I hold a DPhil (PhD) in History from the University of Oxford, where I am currently a Postdoctoral Associate Member. My doctoral dissertation was titled “On Islands of Oil: Jews and Zionism in the Persian Gulf 1880-1948” and dealt with the Persian Gulf’s modern Jewish history. While exploring a hitherto unknown history of Middle Eastern Jews, I took a particular interest in Gulf region and its relationship to Palestine and the Zionist movement. Drawing on documents and literature in Hebrew, Persian, Arabic and French, the result was a new history of Jewish life in the Gulf and the emergence of the Palestine/Israel-conflict as seen by peoples and states in the Gulf. In our days, this carries particular importance when the Gulf region, long understood as a periphery, has taken center stage in questions relating to Palestine/Israel.

Before starting my doctoral studies, I completed an MPhil in Modern Middle Eastern Studies (Oxford, 2020) and a BA in Arabic and History (SOAS, 2017). In between, I have also done policy work at the Norwegian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.

My academic work has appeared in journals like Past & Present and British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. I’ve also written commentary for NRK Ytring, Morgenbladet and Stavanger Aftenblad. I was previously Chief Editor of Oxford Middle East Review.

Besides my research, I offer editing services and advice for other researchers and writers. Check out my Editing page and get in touch at eirik (at) kvindesland (dot) net