Director, Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge

Professor Abdel-Rahman's research interests cover a wide range of aspects of the sociology and politics of development including state-civil society relations, opposition politics and social movements, political Islam, human rights, Islamic and cultural commodification, the history of development studies, and labour relations and NGOs – both at the global level and within the context of the Middle East.

Her current research focuses on the politics of the ‘Arab Spring’ and the history of social and political struggles in the Arab Middle East and the meaning of revolution in the 21st century.

Professor Abdel-Rahman have carried out consultancies for international development organisations such as UNICEF, OXFAM NOVIB, DANIDA, and Swedish International Development Assistance (SIDA). I have worked as team leader and academic expert for projects in different areas including civil society networking, education and culture, children rights, and aid policies.