Asia and the Middle East

A core group of regional as well as thematic experts work within the Asia and Middle East programme. The programme also consults expertise from other FOI divisions.

Samuel Bergenwall, Senior Analyst, Head of Programme
Samuel focuses on South Asia and Saudi Arabia. He has degrees in Middle East and North Africa Studies, History and Development Studies.

Oscar Almén, Senior analyst
Oscar focuses on China and East Asia. He has a background as associate professor of political science at Uppsala University. Oscar has researched Chinese politics for 20 years and he has spent three years in the country. His publications on Chinese politics appear in several peer review journals.

Johan Englund, Analyst
Johan’s research mainly focuses on foreign and defence policy issues related to China. Prior to joining FOI, Johan pursued a PhD in International Relations at City University of Hong Kong. His thesis analyses how the emergence of global first-tier suppliers within the automotive and electronics industry impacts the power of the state, and its ability to promote local business development in China and South East Asia. Johan is particularly interested in China’s relations with Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Erika Holmquist, Analyst
Erika holds a Master of Arts degree in Persian and Middle East Studies from Uppsala University. Her studies are mainly focused on Iran and Central Asia.

Aron Lund, analyst
Aron researches Middle Eastern politics, with a special focus on the conflict in Syria, regional security, and violent non-state actors. He holds an M. A. in Arabic from Uppsala University and has studied in Damascus, Algiers, Cairo, and Amman

Magnus Normark, Senior Analyst
Magnus Normark is a specialist in non- and counter proliferation and disarmament. His research includes threat assessment of Weapons of mass destruction and terrorism

Per Olsson, Analyst
Per's research mainly concerns Economic development, military expenditure, military equipment and defence industrial capability. Within the Asia and Middle East programme, Per has mainly worked with China's military modernisation. He has a Master degree in Institutional Economics with a Focus on China from Lund University. In addition to his work within the Asia and Middle East programme, Per leads the Defence Economic and Materiel Supply programme.

John Rydqvist, Deputy Research Director
John Rydqvist is a specialist in WMD strategy and Asian security. His research includes the dynamics of the strategic balance in East Asia and the Pacific theatre, strategic weapons modernization and force transformation in key regional and global powers.