Fred Halliday is a well-known and authoritative scholar on Middle Eastern affairs and a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics. He appears regularly on the BBC, ABC, al-Jazeera television, CBC and Irish radio, and speaks six languages.

He is the author of a many books, including The Middle East in International Relations: Power, Politics and Ideology (2005) and 100 Myths about the Middle East (2005).

Born in Dublin, Fred Halliday grew up in Dundalk. He completed his first degree at Queen’s College, Oxford, followed by an MSc at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. 

Recent articles

Why do some countries achieve independence and not others? The key factor is "post-colonial sequestration syndrome", argues Fred Halliday, who connects the experience of aspirants to statehood with the moment of international power-politics which entraps or releases them.

(This article was first published on 9 May 2008) 

The work of Mai Ghoussoub and Parvin Paidar embodies a humane and life-affirming engagement with the world that is needed today more than ever, says Fred Halliday.

(This article was first published on 18 April 2008) 

The rise of "sovereign wealth funds" signals the end of the neo-liberal model and challenges western states and financial institutions to develop a coherent and long-term response, says Fred Halliday.

The dynamic of change in Cuba as the end of the Fidel Castro era approaches can be understood only by viewing the deep flaws of his leadership style in the context of the record of the revolution as a whole, says Fred Halliday.

(This article was first published on 24 August 2006)

The recurrent political and media spasms over “sharia" or “Islamic law” too often avoid looking at the reality the terms purport to describe, says Fred Halliday