International Energy Politics & Economics

Giacomo Luciani (born July 18, 1948, in Rome) is a renowned Italian academic who has shaped the understanding of energy geopolitics and Middle Eastern political economy. As Scientific Director of the Master in International Energy Transitions at Sciences Po's Paris School of International Affairs, he brings over four decades of expertise in energy economics and policy. His academic contributions include pioneering work on rentier state theory, developed with Egyptian economist Hazem Beblawi in their influential 1987 publication. His career spans prestigious appointments, including Princeton University Global Scholar (2010-2013) at the Woodrow Wilson School, and teaching positions at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. His professional experience includes roles at the Bank of Italy and consulting for major international oil companies. He is an active member of influential forums including the Oxford Energy Policy Club and the Paris Energy Club. His research primarily focuses on two interconnected areas: the political economy of the Middle East and North Africa, and global energy issues. Most recently, he edited the comprehensive "Handbook of International Energy Economics" (2022), further cementing his position as a leading authority in energy economics and Middle Eastern studies.