Books

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

• Cengiz, S., & Kozhanov, N. (2025). The Implications of change and Continuity in GCC Leaderships on State-Business Elite Relations: The Case of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Asian Affairs, 56(1), 112–137. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2453914

• Cengiz, S. (2023). Voting behavior of Turks in the GCC states within the context of turkish-gulf relations . Oasis. 39 (dec. 2023), 145–167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18601/16577558.n39.09.

• Cengiz, S. (2022). Dynamics of Saudi Arabia–KRG Relations: From 2003 Iraq War to 2017 Referendum and Beyond. Contemporary Review of the Middle East, 9(3), 321-340. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/23477989221099342

• Cengiz, S., & Wasilewski, K. (2022).Turecki kryzys uchodźczy – lekcje dla Polski, Polski Przegląd Dyplomatyczny (Polish Diplomatic Review), No. 3, pp. 105–112.

• Cengiz, S. (2020). Saudi Foreign Policy Towards China in the Post-Arab Uprisings Era: A Neo-classical Realist Approach. Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, 14(1), 51–67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/25765949.2020.1728971

• Cengiz, S. (2020). Assessing the Astana Peace Process for Syria: Actors, Approaches, and Differences. Contemporary Review of the Middle East, 7(2), 200-214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2347798920901876 

• Cengiz, S. (2020). Abraham Accords: Mutual Concerns and Interests binding Israel and the Gulf States, Foreign Policy – Journal of the Turkish Foreign Policy Institute, Vol. 47, pp. 17–31.

• Cengiz, S. (2019). An Assessment of Turkish and Saudi Policy toward Gulf Crisis: Three Levels of Analysis, Contemporary Arab Affairs, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 151–168. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/caa.2019.122007

• Cengiz, S. (2017). Kuveyt Siyasal Sistemi ve Kasım Seçimleri’ [Political System of Kuwait and November Elections], Ortadoğu Analiz, Vol. 9, No. 78, pp. 28–31. https://www.orsam.org.tr/tr/kuveyt-siyasal-sistemi-ve-kasim-secimleri/

Book Chapters

• ‘Key Trends Shaping the Middle East: Impact on Gulf Geopolitics and Women’ in Zeynep Alemdar, Muge Dalkiran, Bezen Balamir Coskun (eds.), Women, World Politics and Turkey in 2023, Istanbul Okan University Publications, 2024, ISBN: 978-605-5899-70-7, pp. 28–30

• ‘Contemporary Kuwait through the State and Society: An Introduction’ (pp. 1-6), In Zweiri, Mahjoob; Cengiz, Sinem (eds.), The Making of Contemporary Kuwait: Identity, Politics, and its Survival Strategy, Routledge, 2023.

• ‘Narratives on Arab World in Turkish Academic Discourse: Publications of State-Centric Institutions’ in Muddassir Quamar (ed.), Politics of Change in Middle East and North Africa since Arab Spring: A Lost Decade? Routledge, 2022, pp. 219–237.

• ‘ABD’nin Değişen Dış ve Güvenlik Politikasının Basra Körfezi Güvenliğine Etkisi’ [The Impact of the Changing US Foreign and Security Policies on the Basra Gulf Security]’ in Özden Oktav and Necmettin Acar (eds.), Basra Körfezi Güvenliğinin Yeni Dinamikleri: Küresel ve Bölgesel Güçlerin Değişen Rolü [The New Dynamics of Basra Gulf Security: Changing Roles of the Global and Regional Powers],Orion, 2022, pp. 15–47.

• ‘Sosyo-ekonomik Çerçevede Kuveyt’te Emek Piyasası ve Sınıf Oluşumu [Class Formation and Labor Market in Kuwait Within the Socio-Economic Framework]’ in Erhan Akkaş (ed.), Körfez Bölgesi’nin Politik Ekonomisi ve Emek Piyasası [Gulf Region’s Political Economy and Labor Market], Nobel İktisat Yayınları, 2022, pp. 149–181.

• ‘Saudi Arabia and Russia in the Syrian Crisis: Divergent Policies, Similar Concerns’ in Dania Koleilat Khatib (ed.), The Syrian Crisis: Effects on Regional and International Relations, Springer, 2020, pp. 105–121.

• ‘The Gulf Cooperation Council: From Past to Present and Gulf Crisis’ in Mehmet Emin Erendor (ed.), Uluslararası İlişkilerde Güncel Sorunlar [Contemporary Issues in the International Relations], Nobel, 2019, pp. 149–164.

• ‘Kuveyt [Kuwait]’ in Hasan Öztürk (ed.), Modern Orta Doğu Siyasi Tarihi [Middle East Political History], Bilgesam, 2016, pp. 365–377.

Book Reviews

• Cengiz, S. (2025). Islam and Statecraft: Religious Soft Power in the Arab Gulf States: Jon Hoffmann. I. B. Tauris, London, New York, 2025. pp. 288, $26.95. ISBN: 9780755655700. Asian Affairs, 1–3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2555487

• Cengiz, S. (2024). Book Review: The Gulf Monarchies after the Arab Spring: Threats and Security, Global Policy.

• Cengiz, S.(2020). Book Review – ‘Aspiring Powers, Regional Rivals: Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the New Middle East’, London School of Economics and Political Science.

• Cengiz, S. (2020). Book Review – ‘Iffat Al Thunayan: An Arabian Queen’ by Joseph Kéchechian’, London School of Economics and Political Science.

In-House Publications for Qatar University

Policy Briefs

• Gulf States and the Gaza War: Variation in Responses and Policies. Gulf Studies Center Report.

• GCC’s Disaster Diplomacy toward Morocco and Libya, Gulf Studies Center Policy Brief No. 18.

• Diplomatic Delight: Turkiye’s Future with the Gulf and Analyzing GCC Responses to Erdogan’s Victory, Gulf Studies Center Policy Brief No. 14.

• Crisis Diplomacy in Action: GCC’s Efforts to Restore Stability in Sudan, Gulf Studies Center Policy Brief No. 12.

• GCC’s ‘Disaster Diplomacy’ toward Turkiye and Syria, Gulf Studies Center Policy Brief No. 10.

Gulf Insights

• September 9 attacks: Is a paradigm shift in Gulf security underway?, Gulf Insights, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, No: 100.

• Maritime Politics between Iraq and Kuwait: Securitize or Diplomatize? Gulf Insights, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, No: 98.

• Deciphering Qatar’s Niche Role and Influence in Afghanistan, Gulf Insights, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, No: 95.

• Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Renaissance: Societal Codes and Embrace, Gulf Insights, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, No: 91.

• The Art of Gulf Diplomacy: Kuwait’s New Emir Embarks on a GCC Tour, Gulf Insights, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, No: 89. (with Amna Sadiq)

• Navigating Change: A Closer Look at Kuwait’s New Leadership and Policy Priorities, Gulf Insights, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, No: 86.

• New Saudi Generation reestablishes Al-Balad to keep the past alive – Gulf Insights, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, No: 81.

• Her Excellency, Not His: Gulf Women Breaking Diplomatic Tradition – Gulf Insights, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, No: 75. 

• Post-World Cup 2022: What Potential Legacies Qatar Can Build On – Gulf Insights, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, No: 69.

• Assessing the Socio-political Aspect of Kuwait’s 2022 Parliamentary Elections: Kuwaitis Vote for Change, Gulf Insights, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University, No: 63. 

Peer-Reviews

• Asian Affairs – 2025

• Media, War & Conflict – 2025

• All Azimuth: A Journal of foreign Policy and Peace – 2025

• Contemporary Review of the Middle East – 2024

• Journal of Gulf Studies – 2023

• Journal of Arabian Studies – 2022

• Insight Turkey – 2020

• Contemporary Review of the Middle East – 2019

Op-Eds

• (2025). Turkey on Alert: Strengthening Military Posture, Gulf International Forum

• (2025). The growing Turkey-UAE partnership in the South Caucasus, Amwaj.media

• (2025). Why Gulf Arab states and Turkey eye key roles in ending Ukraine war, Amwaj.media.

• (2025). Turkey and Saudi Arabia: Steering Syria’s Future Together, Gulf International Forum.

• (2024). Turkish-Saudi Normalization Grows Under Security Umbrella, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

• (2024). From Concerns to Collaboration; Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait and the Development Road Initiative, Gulf International Forum.

• (2024). Why Saudi Arabia, Turkey Skip Competition over Gaza War, Amwaj.media.

• (2024). From Past to Present: Ghabga, Gargeean, and the Gulf’s Ramadan, Gulf International Forum.

• (2023). Women Opera Singers in the Gulf: Breaking Barriers With Their Voices, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

• (2023). Expats as Homegrown Heroes: The Rise of Women’s Cricket in the Gulf, Gulf International Forum.

• (2023). Rise of Gulf Women in Diplomacy, Peninsula Qatar.

• (2023). Gulf Normalization under Strain as Israel Pounds Gaza, Afkar – Middle East Council on Global Affairs. (with Betul Dogan-Akkas)

• (2023). The Jeddah Summit: Unveiling Saudi Diplomacy’s Objectives, Gulf International Forum.

• (2023). Gulf Women Closing Ranks in Security and Diplomacy, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

• (2023). Deep Dive: How do Turks in the GCC states vote? Amwaj.media.

• (2023). Traveling Through History on the Forgotten Hejaz Railway, Gulf International Forum.

• (2022). The GCC’s Tilt Toward Asian Regional Organizations, Gulf International Forum.

• (2022). Turkey-Bahrain Relations Getting Back on Track, as Erdogan Set to Visit Manama, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

• (2022). How the Gulf Fell in Love with Turkish Cinema, Gulf International Forum.

• (2022). Echoes from President Erdoğan’s Saudi Arabia Visit: A Fresh Start?, PoliticsToday.

• (2022). Turkey-GCC Relations: From Personal Diplomacy to Institutional Version?, Gulf International Forum.

• (2022). The Emergence of Saudi-Turkish Relations: Ataturk and Ibn Saud’s Pragmatism, Gulf International Forum.

• (2021). GCC-Damascus Rapprochement Can Pit Syria Against Turkey Even Further, PoliticsToday.

• (2021). Realpolitik vs. Idealpolitik: Turkey-Gulf Re-friending after a Decade-Long Rivalry, PoliticsToday.

• (2021). The Gulf Dimension of the Greek–Turkish Rivalry, Al Sharq Strategic Research.

• (2021). Another approach to Turkey-Gulf reconciliation: Ankara’s ties with Kuwait and Oman, Al Sharq Strategic Research.

• (2021). China is Quietly Mending the Turkish-GCC Split, Gulf International Forum.

• (2021). Turkey-UAE Rapprochement and Prospects for Regional Stability, Gulf International Forum.

• (2021). Change of Heart is the Key to Unlock Turkey-Armenian Door, the Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research.

• (2020). Progress in the Middle East Held Hostage by Bureaucracy, London School of Economics and Political Science.

• (2020). Turkey: Between the EU and GCC, Gulf State Analytics.

• (2020). Social, Economic and Political Impact of Coronavirus on the Gulf, GUST.

• (2021). Gulf and South Caucasus: Relations and Stakes, Azeri Observer, Azerbaijan, Winter Issue, pp. 34-37.

• (2020). How Russia Recognizes the Middle East Zeitgeist, Azeri Observer, Azerbaijan, Winter Issue, pp. 28-30.

• Weekly articles for Arab News available at:  https://www.arabnews.com/authors/sinem-cengiz

(IN TURKISH)

• (2021). Arap ayaklanmalarının 10’uncu yılında Körfez ülkeleri, Independent Turkish.

• (2021). 40’ncı yılında Körfez İşbirliği Konseyi: Bir kriz daha atlatıldı mı?, Independent Turkish.

• (2021). Çatışan Körfez denkleminde Türkiye-Kuveyt ilişkileri, Independent Turkish.

• (2021). Kudüs’ün renklerinde kaybolan Filistinliler, Independent Turkish.

• (2021). Ortadoğu’da Diplomasi Odaklı Yeni İklimin Parametreleri, daktilo1984.

• (2020). Kuveyt “istisnailiği”: Neden İsrail ile ilişkilerin normalleşmesi zor?, daktilo1984.

• (2020). Kraliçe İffet: Suudi Kadınların “Pek Bilinmeyen” İlham Kaynağı, daktilo1984.

• (2020). Odadaki Fil: Yabancılar, Körfez Ülkeleri ve Millî Kimlik İnşası, daktilo1984.

• (2020). Koronavirüs Körfez Krizini Çözer mi?, daktilo1984.

• (2020). Korona Virüsü ve Körfez Bölgesinde Olası Yeni Düzen, daktilo1984.

• (2020). Orta Doğu’yu Rehin Tutan Gerici Bürokratik Gelenek, daktilo1984.

• (2020). Bürokrasi Koridorlarına Sıkışan Hayatlar ve Pasaportlar, daktilo1984.

• (2020). Bölge Çalışmaları Araştırmacıların Nasıl Kâbusu Oldu?, daktilo1984.

• (2020). Kuveyt’te yaklaşan seçimler ve çözüm bekleyen meseleler, Independent Turkish. Cengiz, Sinem. (2020). Kuveyt Seçimleri: Halk Siyasette Değişim İstiyor, Perspektif.