Dr Claire Spencer is Senior Research Fellow in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Programme and Second Century Initiative at the foreign policy institute Chatham House. Prior to this she was Head of the MENA Programme at Chatham House for 8 years, which she expanded significantly, and remains a member of a number of advisory boards and associations relating to the MENA region.

Educated at Bristol University (BSc Politics) and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (Ph.D), Claire’s core research interests are in the changing dynamics of the Mediterranean region, the geopolitics of economic change and the socio-cultural dimensions of regional political developments. 

Claire’s recent publications include ‘Algeria’s past reclaimed’ in The World Today, July 2017; ‘The Mediterranean and its migrants: porous policy for a porous border’ (review essay), International Affairs, July 2017; ‘The Middle East and North Africa need the gig economy’, Prospect Magazine, March 2017.