Youssef Cherif
Youssef Cherif is a PhD Candidate at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies. He specialises in North African affairs, with extensive experience in both academic and practical domains related to the region. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Leiden University, focusing on the international relations and political economy of Libya and Tunisia. He is also the Founding Director of the Columbia Global Center Tunis, a regional entity that covers North and West Africa. In this role, he leads initiatives that promote academic exchange, policy dialogue, and collaborative research across North and West Africa.
Recent publications:
Cherif, Y. (2026). The Iran War’s Indirect Shockwaves in the Mediterranean Maghreb. https://www.iemed.org/publication/the-iran-wars-indirect-shockwaves-in-the-mediterranean-maghreb/
Cherif, Y. (2026). Gulf-Funded Extractivism in the Maghreb: Green Transformation or Authoritarian Neoliberalism? DOI: https://doi.org/10.17170/kobra-2026022311940 Gulf-Funded Extractivism in the Maghreb: Green Transformation or Authoritarian Neoliberalism? - extractivism.de/en/
Cherif, Y. cited in Carrera Espriu, 2026, African Business. Egypt’s bid to anchor a Cairo to Cape Town African trade highway. https://african.business/2026/02/trade-investment/egypts-bid-to-anchor-a-cairo-to-cape-town-african-trade-highway
Cherif, Y. (2025). Tunisia and Ghana: Parallel histories, diverging democracies [MECAM Paper]. GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies. x.com+3globalcenters.columbia.edu+3ec.linkedin.com+3x.com+7giga-hamburg.de+7ec.linkedin.com+7
Cherif, Y. (2024, May). The BRICS+ takes all? Not yet, but maybe doon. IEMed Mediterranean Yearbook. https://www.iemed.org/publication/the-brics-takes-all-not-yet-but-maybe-soon/
Cherif, Y. (2024, January). The real annus horribilis of the Southern Mediterranean? Med Dialogue Series no. 41, Konrad Adenuar Stiftung. https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:c8d514df-53e9-486c-88eb-cc79f9d796bb
Cherif, Y. (2023). Neo-pan-Arabism: a renewed contract of legitimacy in the Maghreb. Revista CIDOB d’Afers Internacionals, 135, 95-114. DOI: doi.org/10.24241/rcai.2023.135.3.95/en
Cherif, Y. (2023, November). Ukraine and the changing face of the Southern Mediterranean – European relations. IEMed Mediterranean Yearbook 2023. https://www.iemed.org/publication/ukraine-and-the-changing-face-of-the-southern-mediterranean-european-relations/