Sahar T. Rad is currently a lecturer in economics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Her work focuses on the political economy of international development, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Sahar Rad’s main areas of research and work include international development assistance and the global development architecture, international trade and investment, and conflict and economic development. She is the author of ’The Political Economy of Aid in Palestine: Relief from Confl ict or Development Delayed?’ and the co-editor of ’Trade Policies, Employment and Poverty in Arab Economies.’ Sahar Rad has also worked as an economist with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Labour Office and the African Development Bank.