2019-20 Abstract: We, Mercenaries: Migrants and Militaries across the Indian Ocean

The oil-rich countries of the Persian Gulf - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates - have long relied on migrant workers from the east and south to work as construction laborers, domestic caretakers, service workers, and all other manner of professionals. Darryl Li is exploring the importance of the less well-known trans-regional migrants who comprise much of the security architecture of the region, as well as the economic, political, and moral questions that arise when foreign military workers may outnumber resident citizen-soldiers.