Abdullah Khurram is a doctoral researcher in the Department of International Relations at the Australian National University. He is interested in studying the evolution of powerhood in international relations. Khurram’s research focuses on exploring the renewed potential of middle power statecraft, particularly looking at the diplomatic approaches and strategies adopted by Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey.

Khurram is a Rising Powers Fellow at PoliTact, a strategic advisor at Gulf State Analytics, and serves on the board of advisors for Duke University and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s jointly organised U.S.-China Leadership Summit.

Previously, Khurram has held research positions and/or fellowships at the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin, Germany; Middle East Institute in Washington DC, USA; Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, Pakistan; and at the Economic Policy Research Institute in Cape Town, South Africa.

Amongst other places, he has guest lectured at Columbia University, Duke University, Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy, Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies in Slovenia, and at the National Defence University (NDU) of Pakistan. For his contributions in the field of education, Khurram was chosen as the recipient of 2009 National Award by the Government of Pakistan.

Khurram holds a master’s degree in global security studies from Johns Hopkins University, a master’s degree in international relations from The University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in economics & government and international politics from George Mason University.