BA(Hons) PhD(Otago)Dr Leon Goldsmith works on Middle Eastern and comparative politics. His research looks at ethno-religious conflict and integration processes, sub- and supranational identity politics, youth politics, political participation, political culture, institutions and comparative political systems. His main geographic areas of research are Syria and the Levant, and Oman and the Arab Gulf states. Leon's current theoretical interests are Arab-Islamic empiricists Ibn Khaldun and Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi.
Dr Goldsmith welcomes postgraduate supervision in the above areas or any related topics.
Research groups
Middle East and Islamic Studies Aotearoa (MEISA)
Teaching
- POLS 105 Introduction to Comparative Politics
- POLS 210 Middle Eastern Politics
- POLS 326 Politics of the Arabian Peninsula
- POLS 550 Comparative Regional Conflicts
Contact details
Room 4N10, 4th floor, Arts (Burns) Building
Tel +64 3 479 8665
Email leon.goldsmith@otago.ac.nz
Research day – Friday
Publications
Fulco, C., & Goldsmith, L. (2023). Internationalizing Middle Eastern politics (MEP): A study of the educational potential of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) for Middle East politics pedagogy. Journal of Political Science Education. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/15512169.2023.2217360
Journal - Research Article
Goldsmith, L. T. (2022). Foreword. In The nature of tyranny: And the devastating results of oppression. (pp. ix-xxiii). Abingdon, UK: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oso/9780197631959.001.0001
Chapter in Book - Research
Goldsmith, L., Shaikh, A. K., Yildiz Tan, H., & Raahemifar, K. (2022). A review of contemporary governance challenges in Oman: Can blockchain technology be part of sustainable solutions? Sustainability, 14, 11819. doi: 10.3390/su141911819
Journal - Research Article
Ellis, L., Winter, C., Headley, J., Goldsmith, L., Patman, R., Roper, B., & Nel, P. (2022, August). World in crisis panel. Panel discussion at the Otago Politics Day School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Shaikh, A. K., & Goldsmith, L. T. (2021). A conceptual model for e-participation by Omani citizens using blockchain technology. WAS Science Nature, 4(1). Retrieved from https://worldascience.com/journals/index.php/wassn/article/view/27
Journal - Research Article
Goldsmith, L. T. (2016). دائرة الخوف العَلَويون السوريون في الحرب والسلم [Cycle of fear: Syria's Alawites in war and peace]. Beirut, Lebanon: Arab Scientific, 388p.
Authored Book - Research
Goldsmith, L. T. (2015). Cycle of fear: Syria's Alawites in war and peace. London, UK: Hurst, 288p.
Authored Book - Research
Goldsmith, L. T. (2022). Foreword. In The nature of tyranny: And the devastating results of oppression. (pp. ix-xxiii). Abingdon, UK: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oso/9780197631959.001.0001
Chapter in Book - Research
Goldsmith, L. (2018). Syria's Alawis: Structure, perception and agency in the Syrian security dilemma. In R. Hinnebusch & O. Imady (Eds.), The Syrian Uprising: Domestic origins and early trajectory. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Chapter in Book - Research
Goldsmith, L. T. (2018). The Alawites of Syria: The costs of minority rule. In P. S. Rowe (Ed.), Routledge handbook of minorities in the Middle East. (pp. 185-196). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Chapter in Book - Research
Goldsmith, L. T. (2017). Adapting to shifting ground: The Alawites of the Northern Levant. In K. S. Parker & T. E. Nasrallah (Eds.), Middle Eastern minorities and the Arab Spring: Identity and community in the twenty-first century. (pp. 101-128). Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Goldsmith, L. T. (2015). Alawi diversity and solidarity: From the coast to the interior. In M. Kerr & C. Larkin (Eds.), The Alawis of Syria: War, faith and politics in the Levant. (pp. 141-158). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Fulco, C., & Goldsmith, L. (2023). Internationalizing Middle Eastern politics (MEP): A study of the educational potential of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) for Middle East politics pedagogy. Journal of Political Science Education. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/15512169.2023.2217360
Journal - Research Article
Goldsmith, L., Shaikh, A. K., Yildiz Tan, H., & Raahemifar, K. (2022). A review of contemporary governance challenges in Oman: Can blockchain technology be part of sustainable solutions? Sustainability, 14, 11819. doi: 10.3390/su141911819
Journal - Research Article
Shaikh, A. K., & Goldsmith, L. T. (2021). A conceptual model for e-participation by Omani citizens using blockchain technology. WAS Science Nature, 4(1). Retrieved from https://worldascience.com/journals/index.php/wassn/article/view/27
Journal - Research Article
Goldsmith, L. T. (2020). 'Dancing between raindrops': Politics education in the Sultanate of Oman 2012-2019. Arabian Humanities, 13. doi: 10.4000/cy.5913
Journal - Research Article
Goldsmith, L. (2013). 'God wanted diversity': Alawite pluralist ideals and their integration into Syrian society 1832-1973. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 40(4), 392-409. doi: 10.1080/13530194.2013.811631
Journal - Research Article
Goldsmith, L. (2011). Syria's Alawites and the politics of sectarian insecurity: A Khaldunian perspective. Ortadoğu Etütleri, 3(1), 33-60.
Journal - Research Article
Goldsmith, L. (2011). Syria's Alawites and the politics of sectarian insecurity: A Khaldunian perspective. Ortadoğu Etütleri, 3(1), 33-60.
Journal - Research Article
Alabri, R. N. H., Shaikh, A. K., Goldsmith, L., & Albadi, A. (2019). Designing of a framework for electronic voting systems using blockchain technology. Proceedings of the 34th International Business Information Management Association (IBIMA) Conference. Retrieved from https://ibima.org/accepted-paper
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Goldsmith, L. (2019). 'Dancing between raindrops': Politics education in an authoritarian state: The Sultanate of Oman 2012-2019. Proceedings of the New Zealand Political Studies Association (NZPSA) Conference. Retrieved from https://nzpsa2019.sched.com
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Goldsmith, L. (2011). The seeds of the Syrian Revolution: A Khaldunian perspective. Proceedings of the New Zealand Political Studies Association (NZPSA) Conference. (pp. 15). Retrieved from http://nzpsa.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/nzpsa-2011-conference-abstracts.pdf
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Ellis, L., Winter, C., Headley, J., Goldsmith, L., Patman, R., Roper, B., & Nel, P. (2022, August). World in crisis panel. Panel discussion at the Otago Politics Day School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Shaikh, A. K., & Goldsmith, L. (2020, July). A conceptual model for e-participation by Omani citizens using blockchain technology. Verbal presentation at the International Conference on New Computer Science and Engineering Trends (NCSET), [Online].
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Goldsmith, L. (2018, February). Complex and interactive residual risk: Opportunities & challenges for resilience. Verbal presentation at the Risk Management Conference, Muscat, Oman.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Goldsmith, L. (2017, February). The 'Alawī sheikhs of religion: A brief introduction. Verbal presentation at the Leading the Faithful: The Role of Religious Authorities in the Middle East Working Group II, Doha, Qatar.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Goldsmith, L. (2016, August). Alawite religious leadership, the state, and politics in the Levant. Verbal presentation at the Leading the Faithful: The Role of Religious Authorities in the Middle East Working Group I, Doha, Qatar.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Goldsmith, L. (2015, April). Between integration and disintegration: Reconciling 'heterodox' and 'orthodox' Islamic identities in Syria. Verbal presentation at the International Symposium on Syria: History, Politics and Foreign Policy, Ankara, Turkey.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Goldsmith, L. (2015, March-April). Searching for institutional equilibrium in divided societies: Lessons from the Levant. Verbal presentation at the Economics of Conflict International Workshop, Muscat, Oman.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs