Matteo Colombo

Matteo Colombo works as a Research Fellow at Clingendael’s Conflict Research Unit. He is part of its Middle East team focusing on political Islam, the rule of law, and the political economy of Egypt and Libya. He has conducted high-quality confidential research projects for NATO and the World Bank on the security landscape in Iraq, as well as for the Italian Parliament on MENA geopolitics. Furthermore, he authored the book Discussing the Islamic State on Twitter (Palgrave) with Luigi Curini on how Arabic Twitter users responded to the Islamic State’s propaganda, using machine-learning technology. Finally, Matteo combines experience in mixed research methods with good data visualization techniques to ensure his work is both rigorous and appealing. He is skilled in producing infographics and maps on current dynamics in the Middle East.

As a person, Matteo is an adaptable and can-do professional who has successfully worked with diverse teams of (local) researchers, consultants, partners, and clients.

Matteo is also regularly interviewed by international media, including l’Express, Haaretz, Corriere della Sera, Radio Rai, Telegraaf, TgCom24 and Asharq News on current events in Egypt, Libya, and across the Middle East. He obtained a PhD in Political Studies from the University of Milan and speaks Arabic as well as Italian and English.