Ms. Umarat Firdous is a Research Associate with the  Middle East Outlook (MEO). She works closely with both the Editorial Director and Research Director and contributes to MEO’s editorial and research initiatives. She is the recipient of the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and is currently a research intern at the Centre for Contemporary China Studies, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. She has previously worked with the National Human Rights Commission and the Jammu & Kashmir MLA Internship Programme.

Ms. Firdous has completed her Master’s in Conflict Analysis and Peacebuilding from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Her MA dissertation research examines soft power in Chinese strategic thinking, focusing on language, culture, and the Belt and Road Initiative. She also did her B.A. (Hons.) in Sociology from Jamia Millia Islamia. Her research interests focus on Chinese foreign policy, Strategic Thinking, peace and conflict studies, Psychology, and International Diplomacy.