DrSeema Khan

I am a researcher and lecturer in International Relations working at the intersection of great-power politics and societal vulnerability. My scholarship examines the structural dynamics of US–China rivalry and its implications for smaller and middle powers, including Australia, through the lenses of strategic competition, regional order, and realpolitik. I am particularly interested in how systemic rivalry reshapes development trajectories, alliance behaviour, and political decision-making across South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. At the same time, my work moves beyond state-centric analysis. Drawing on critical political sociology and grounded qualitative research, I examine how power politics at the international level translates into everyday consequences for marginalised communities. Under the shadow of strategic competition, minorities in South Asia often experience intensified exclusion, securitisation, and socio-economic precarity. My research foregrounds these lived realities, ensuring that debates on geopolitics remain attentive to human impact. Methodologically, I specialise in qualitative and community-engaged research, including in-depth interviews, textual and policy analysis, and participatory approaches. My work bridges theory and practice, linking macro-level international structures with micro-level social experiences. This dual perspective enables me to contribute to both academic scholarship and policy conversations. In 2022, I was awarded a competitive fellowship at the London School of Economics (LSE). I subsequently secured a distinguished fellowship with the Henry L. Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., where I contributed to the South Asia Programme. These appointments reflect the international recognition of my work and my commitment to producing research that is analytically rigorous and policy-relevant. My publications include a monograph and numerous peer-reviewed articles and policy reports on regional security, socio-economic development, minority rights, and the geopolitical consequences of US–China competition. I regularly engage with academic and policy forums, translating research findings into insights for decision-makers, think tanks, and civil society stakeholders. Prior to academia, I served in government roles in both Pakistan and Australia. This experience informs my understanding of institutional constraints, policy processes, and the practical implications of geopolitical rivalry for governance and social cohesion.