Kathrin Bachleitner is a Program Associate at Salzburg Global Seminar. She is specialized in economic and political developments in the Middle East and wider Asia. Prior to joining Salzburg Global in 2010, she has worked at various governmental bodies such as the Austrian Foreign Ministry, The Liaison Office of Salzburg to the European Union in Brussels and the Government of the Federal State of Salzburg, Office for Women’s Affairs and Gender Equality. Her research interests include conflict management, post-conflict reconstruction, economic development as well as democracy building. She holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Salzburg, Austria and an M.A. in international relations and economics from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, USA.