James Onley
Ahmed Seddiqi Chair in Gulf and Middle Eastern Studies & Professor of History at the American University of Sharjah
Editor of the Journal of Arabian Studies (Taylor & Francis / Routledge)
Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool
I specialize in the history of the Gulf region (eastern Arabia, southern Iran, southern Iraq), the heritage industry in the GCC states, archival digitization, Gulf material culture, Gulf architectural history, Gulf ruling families, Gulf merchant families, Arab-Persian society and culture in the Gulf, the British Raj and the Gulf, Indian diasporas in the Gulf, and the long history of Gulf-India connections.
CAREER:
2022-now: Ahmed Seddiqi Chair in Gulf and Middle Eastern Studies & Professor of History, American University of Sharjah
2017-2022: Director, Historical Research and Partnerships, Qatar National Library
2016-2017: Visiting Professor, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University
2015-2016: Visiting Professor, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar
2008-2016: Senior Lecturer in Middle Eastern History, University of Exeter
2008-2009: Visiting Professor, Georgetown University, Qatar campus
2005-2007: Visiting Professor, American University of Sharjah, UAE
2005-2008: Lecturer in Middle Eastern History, University of Exeter
2003-2005: Assistant Professor of History, American University of Sharjah, UAE
2002-2003: Lecturer in Middle Eastern History, University of Exeter, UK
2001-2002: Postdoctoral Fellow, St Antony's College, University of Oxford
1998-1999: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Bahrain
1996-2001: D.Phil. Student, St Antony's College, University of Oxford (graduated with Distinction)
1994-1995: Graduate Student, History Department, Simon Fraser University
1991-1993: Undergraduate Student, History Department, University of British Columbia
1989-1991: Undergraduate Student, Peace and Conflict Studies, Langara College
1988: Peacekeeper, United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group
1985-1997: Canadian Army Reserve
Editor of the Journal of Arabian Studies (Taylor & Francis / Routledge)
Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool
I specialize in the history of the Gulf region (eastern Arabia, southern Iran, southern Iraq), the heritage industry in the GCC states, archival digitization, Gulf material culture, Gulf architectural history, Gulf ruling families, Gulf merchant families, Arab-Persian society and culture in the Gulf, the British Raj and the Gulf, Indian diasporas in the Gulf, and the long history of Gulf-India connections.
CAREER:
2022-now: Ahmed Seddiqi Chair in Gulf and Middle Eastern Studies & Professor of History, American University of Sharjah
2017-2022: Director, Historical Research and Partnerships, Qatar National Library
2016-2017: Visiting Professor, Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University
2015-2016: Visiting Professor, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar
2008-2016: Senior Lecturer in Middle Eastern History, University of Exeter
2008-2009: Visiting Professor, Georgetown University, Qatar campus
2005-2007: Visiting Professor, American University of Sharjah, UAE
2005-2008: Lecturer in Middle Eastern History, University of Exeter
2003-2005: Assistant Professor of History, American University of Sharjah, UAE
2002-2003: Lecturer in Middle Eastern History, University of Exeter, UK
2001-2002: Postdoctoral Fellow, St Antony's College, University of Oxford
1998-1999: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Bahrain
1996-2001: D.Phil. Student, St Antony's College, University of Oxford (graduated with Distinction)
1994-1995: Graduate Student, History Department, Simon Fraser University
1991-1993: Undergraduate Student, History Department, University of British Columbia
1989-1991: Undergraduate Student, Peace and Conflict Studies, Langara College
1988: Peacekeeper, United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group
1985-1997: Canadian Army Reserve
less
InterestsView All (34)
Uploads
Papers by James Onley
This article was written as a rejoinder to two reviews of my book, The Arabian Frontier of the British Raj: Merchants, Rulers, and the British in the Nineteenth Century Gulf (Oxford University Press, 2007), by Priya Satia in the Journal of British Studies (July 2009) and Kristi Barnwell in British Scholar (September 2009).
Trucial States (United Arab Emirates), and Oman during the era of British
hegemony in the region: 1820–1971. It argues that Britain’s role as guardian
of the Persian Gulf, beginning in 1835, was not imposed coercively, that
Britain largely conformed to local expectations of a protector’s duties and
rights, and that its record in Eastern Arabia was far better than its record
elsewhere in the Middle East. It begins with an overview of regional
insecurity before the Pax Britannica. It then examines why Britain came to
defend Eastern Arabia and the advantages and disadvantages that entailed for
the local rulers. It explains the legal status of the Gulf shaikhdoms and Oman
resulting from their treaties with Britain and their close relationship with
the British Empire. It also discusses Britain’s post-war attempts to develop
these states, the nature of Anglo–American relations in the region, and the
growing challenges to Britain’s position in Eastern Arabia in the 1950s–60s.
It provides a new account of Britain’s withdrawal from the Persian Gulf,
showing how Britain introduced defense arrangements that remain in place
forty years on. It finishes with a reflection on Britain’s legacy in the Gulf
today.
This article was written as a rejoinder to two reviews of my book, The Arabian Frontier of the British Raj: Merchants, Rulers, and the British in the Nineteenth Century Gulf (Oxford University Press, 2007), by Priya Satia in the Journal of British Studies (July 2009) and Kristi Barnwell in British Scholar (September 2009).
Trucial States (United Arab Emirates), and Oman during the era of British
hegemony in the region: 1820–1971. It argues that Britain’s role as guardian
of the Persian Gulf, beginning in 1835, was not imposed coercively, that
Britain largely conformed to local expectations of a protector’s duties and
rights, and that its record in Eastern Arabia was far better than its record
elsewhere in the Middle East. It begins with an overview of regional
insecurity before the Pax Britannica. It then examines why Britain came to
defend Eastern Arabia and the advantages and disadvantages that entailed for
the local rulers. It explains the legal status of the Gulf shaikhdoms and Oman
resulting from their treaties with Britain and their close relationship with
the British Empire. It also discusses Britain’s post-war attempts to develop
these states, the nature of Anglo–American relations in the region, and the
growing challenges to Britain’s position in Eastern Arabia in the 1950s–60s.
It provides a new account of Britain’s withdrawal from the Persian Gulf,
showing how Britain introduced defense arrangements that remain in place
forty years on. It finishes with a reflection on Britain’s legacy in the Gulf
today.