School of Social and Political Science

Background

Kazuto Matsuda is a PhD student in Politics in the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. He specialises in international relations of the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf region, and their interstate relations with Japan. His PhD research examines the intricacy of interdependence between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and Japan in the contemporary context.

He holds a Master of Science in International Relations from the University of Edinburgh and a Master of Arts in Gulf Studies from Qatar University, where he was awarded the prestigious Thesis Award and the Graduate Research Award. He previously served as Non-Resident Fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs in Qatar, Researcher and Advisor at the Embassy of Japan in Qatar and Research and Analysis Specialist at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, among other research and diplomatic postings.

PhD Supervisors (Co-Supervision)

Dr Lucy Abbott

Dr Nicola Nymalm

Academic Awards & Scholarships

• Edinburgh Award for Professional Development (University of Edinburgh, 2026)
• Thesis Award (Qatar University, 2024)
• Graduate Research Award (Qatar University, 2024)
• JASSO PhD Scholarship (JASSO, 2025-present)

Publications

Journal Articles

• Matsuda, K., & Kozhanov, N. (2023). Not just hydrocarbons: Japan’s multifaceted foreign policy approaches towards the GCC states. International Politics, 60(6), 1248–1269. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41311-023-00498-w

Book Chapters

• Matsuda, K. (2023). Intra-East Asian competition in the Gulf and the Indo-Pacific: The case of Japan and China. In A. Baabood & A. AbdelGhafar (Eds.), Asia in the GCC: A new strategic partner? (pp. 48–55). Waseda University & Middle East Council on Global Affairs. https://mecouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MECGA_Dossier-1_Final_WEB.pdf#page=52

Book Reviews

• Matsuda, K. (2024). Review of Energy kingdoms: Oil and political survival in the Persian Gulf, by J. Krane. Journal of Gulf Studies, 1(1), 102–104. https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/jgs_00007_5
• Matsuda, K. (2023). Review of The making of the modern Gulf states: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, by R. S. Zahlan. Tajseer Journal, 5(1), 197–201. https://journals.qu.edu.qa/index.php/tajseer/article/view/3012

Other Research Papers

• Matsuda, K. (2025). Reinvigorating Japan-GCC state relations: The case for enhancing top-level diplomacy. Middle East Council on Global Affairs. https://mecouncil.org/publication/reinvigorating-japan-gcc-state-ties-the-case-for-enhancing-top-level-diplomacy/
• Matsuda, K., & Al-Khazraji, A. (2023). Iraq: 2021 parliamentary elections and the crisis of government formation. Observatory on Politics and Elections in the Arab and Muslim World. http://opemam.org/sites/default/files/Iraq%20Electoral%20Report%202023.pdf
• Matsuda, K., & Bonnie-James, T. (2022). Kuwait: 2022 parliamentary elections: Key characteristics and future prospects. Gulf Insight No. 64, Qatar University Gulf Studies Center & Observatory on Politics and Elections in the Arab and Muslim World.  https://www.qu.edu.qa/static_file/qu/research/Gulf%20Studies/documents/Gulf%20Insights%2064.pdf

• Matsuda, K. (2022). Japan-Gulf relations: Discussing the major analytical tendencies (Qatar University Gulf Studies Center Working Paper No. 4). http://www.qu.edu.qa/static_file/qu/research/Gulf%20Studies/documents/Working%20paper%204%20-%20Kazuto%20Matsuda.pdf

   

Academic Presentations (Selected)

• Matsuda, K. (2026). The Evolution of Interdependence: A Longitudinal Analysis of Cooperation and Contention between Japan and the GCC States. Centre for Security Research & Foreign Policy Research Group Annual Conference 2026. University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
• Matsuda, K. (2026). Japan-GCC State Relations: Interdependence, Agency and Driving Forces. British International Studies Association Postgraduate Network Annual Conference 2026, Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.
• Matsuda, K. (2026). Interdependence in International Relations: Notion of Time and Methodological Approaches. School of Social and Political Sciences 3rd Annual Postgraduate Research Conference. University of Glasgow. Glasgow, United Kingdom.
• Matsuda, K. (2026). Mid- and Long-term Impacts of the Iran War on the GCC States. Webinar: US-Israel War on Iran: Present and Future Costs to the Middle East and Global Politics. Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University & Demos Tunisia [Online].
• Matsuda, K. (2025). Qatar’s Foreign Policy Approaches Towards Japan: A Hedging Strategy?. Gulf Research Meeting 2025. The University of Cambridge. Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Matsuda, K. (2025). The Place of Cyber Diplomacy in Japan’s Foreign Policy Making and Its Implications for Japan-GCC State Relations. King’s College London & Waseda University. Tokyo, Japan.
• Matsuda, K. (2025). The Gulf States and Trump’s Second Presidency: Opportunities and Challenges for Japan. The 41st Annual Meeting of the Japan Association for Middle East Studies. Hokkaido University. Sapporo, Japan.
• Matsuda, K. (2023). Japan, China and the GCC States: Discussing the tripartite political dynamics in the Gulf. The 10th Annual Gulf Studies Forum, Arab Center for Research & Policy Studies. Doha, Qatar.
• Matsuda, K., & Al-Khazraji, A. (2023). Iraq 2021 parliamentary elections: The new electoral law as critical juncture. Understanding electoral politics and state-society relations in the Gulf, Middle East and North Africa. Qatar University [Online]. Doha, Qatar. 
• Matsuda, K., & Al-Khazraji, A. (2023). Electoral politics in Iraq: Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the 2021 parliamentary elections. Understanding electoral politics and state-society relations in the Gulf, Middle East and North Africa. Qatar University [Online]. Doha, Qatar.
• Matsuda, K. (2023). Discussing Japan’s energy import diversification: Can the Russia-Ukraine war be a catalyst for change?. The British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies Annual Conference 2023. University of Glasgow [Online]. Glasgow, United Kingdom.
• Matsuda, K. (2023). Intra-East Asian competition in the Gulf: The case of Japan and China. Asia in the GCC: A New Strategic Partner?. Middle East Council on Global Affairs & Waseda University [Online]. Tokyo, Japan.
• Matsuda, K. (2023). Public diplomacy between the Arab Gulf states and Asia: Case study of the Ship for World Youth Program. Katara Center for Public Diplomacy & Qatar University Gulf Studies Center. Doha, Qatar.
• Matsuda, K. (2022). Japan-GCC states relations: Discussing the Japanese government’s perspective through the lens of energy diplomacy. The 9th Annual Gulf Studies Forum, Arab Center for Research & Policy Studies. Doha, Qatar.
• Matsuda, K. (2022). Locating Japan–GCC relations within Japan’s inter-regional foreign policy frameworks. Asia in the GCC: A New Strategic Partner?, Middle East Council on Global Affairs & Waseda University. Doha, Qatar.
• Matsuda, K. (2022). Japan’s new foreign policy challenges? Identifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ recent policy moves vis-à-vis the GCC states, Islamic Trust Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies [Online]. Tokyo, Japan.
• Matsuda, K. (2020). The impact of hydrocarbons on interstate relations and domestic politics of the Gulf since 1973. The 36th Annual Meeting of the Japan Association for Middle East Studies [Online], Japan.

Poster Presentations

• Matsuda, K. (2026). The Intricacy of Interdependence: Materials and Ideas between Japan and the GCC States. Politics/International Relations First-Year PhD Research Showcase. University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
• Matsuda, K. (2025). Political Economy of the State-Society Relations in Kuwait since the 19th Century: A Qualitative Case Study. The 4th Islamic Trust Studies International Symposium. The University of Tokyo. Tokyo, Japan.
• Matsuda, K. (2023). Theory and practice: Discussing the nexus between the concept of comprehensive security and Japan-Gulf relations. Islamic Trust Studies Plenary Meeting. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Tokyo, Japan.
• Matsuda, K. (2022). Japan-Gulf relations: The major analytical trends. Qatar University Annual Research Forum and Exhibition 2022. Qatar University. Doha, Qatar.

Conference Panel Chairing

• Panel Chair (2026). Session 2: US-China Competition & Hegemony. Conference: British International Studies Association Postgraduate Network Annual Conference 2026. Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.
• Panel Chair (2023). Session 7: Electoral Politics in the Gulf 1. Conference: Understanding Electoral Politics and State-Society Relations in the Gulf, Middle East and North Africa, Qatar University Gulf Studies Center. Doha, Qatar.
• Panel Chair (2022). Session 4: Contemporary Issues in Latin America-Gulf Relations. Conference: Latin America-Gulf Relations: Beyond Oil and Football, Qatar University Gulf Studies Center. Doha, Qatar.

Research Groups

• International Relations Research Group
• Foreign Policy Research Group
• Middle East Research Group