Bassant Hassib

Dr Bassant Hassib is a Senior Researcher at UNIDIR’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, within the Security and Technology Programme. She is also an Associate Professor of Political Science in the LSE Programmes at the University of London Branch, European Universities in Egypt; a Visiting Fellow at the University of South Wales; and a consultant with Transnational Strategy Group.

Previously, she was a Non-Resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute’s Strategic Technologies and Cybersecurity Program, and a consultant with Chatham House’s International Security Programme on gender and cybersecurity.

Her research covers the geopolitics and governance of AI, cybersecurity and internet infrastructure in the Middle East, military AI, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, digital authoritarianism and surveillance and cryptocurrency regulation in the MENA region.

Bassant is a frequent speaker at international conferences and policy forums, including the Global Cybersecurity Forum and Raisina Dialogue. She has published in leading journals, including International Affairs, Middle East Policy, and the Journal of Cybersecurity, and contributed to edited volumes by Routledge, Springer and Manchester University Press. She is the author of the book “EU, Egypt and Democracy Promotion: The Civil Society Facility in Egypt” and has been featured in media outlets, including Middle East Eye, The National News, WIRED Middle East, DW and the Washington Times.

She holds a PhD in Euro-Mediterranean Studies from Cairo University. Bassant speaks Arabic and English.