I’m Ali Alhajji, an Assistant Professor of English and World Literature at King Saud University. I work at the intersection of world literature, higher education, and cultural policy, exploring how critical inquiry, comparative perspectives, and literary study can inform institutional development and policy thinking in a global context.
My research focuses on world literature, postcolonial studies, and contemporary Anglophone Arab writing, with particular interest in transnational literary forms and narrative reliability. I teach undergraduate and graduate courses in world literature and postcolonial theory, and I supervise M.A. research in comparative literary studies.
Beyond teaching and research, I write on education, youth, and innovation—and on the changing role of universities in social and cultural transformation—through both academic work and my newsletter قراءات في الأدب العالمي.
Academic Research at King Saud University
As an Assistant Professor of English and World Literature at King Saud University, my research and teaching focus centers on the dynamic field of contemporary Anglophone Arab writing. This area of study is increasingly vital in higher education, offering fresh perspectives on how literature navigates questions of identity, language, and power across cultures. At King Saud University, I strive to foster cross-cultural communication by integrating narrative theory into both my research and classroom teaching, encouraging students to engage deeply with world literature and its many voices.
My academic journey, which began with a PhD in English from The Ohio State University, has shaped my approach to postcolonial studies and translation. I am particularly interested in how translation acts as both a bridge and a site of negotiation between cultures, raising important questions about authenticity, representation, and the politics of language. Through my research, I draw on comment and critique from a diverse range of scholars, aiming to expand the conversation around postcolonial theory and its relevance to contemporary English literature.
At King Saud University, I also lead the Artificial Intelligence & Linguistic Technologies Lab, where we explore the intersections of technology, language, and culture. This innovative research environment allows us to examine how digital tools can enhance our understanding of narrative and cross-cultural communication, further positioning the university as a leader in higher education research.
By weaving together postcolonial studies, translation, and narrative theory, my work seeks to illuminate the complexities of contemporary Anglophone Arab writing and its place within world literature. Ultimately, my goal is to inspire students and fellow researchers to ask new questions, challenge established boundaries, and contribute to a richer, more inclusive academic landscape—both at King Saud University and in the global study of English literature.
Work
I created this website as a public home for two closely connected forms of work: writing and podcasting. My writing—essays, notes, and reading lists—treats literature as a method of inquiry, attentive to language, context, power, and perspective. My podcast, Reading the World | قراءة العالم, is bilingual (English/Arabic) and explores critical reading as a humanities-based way of understanding how meaning is made.
Questions
Across scholarship, teaching, and public writing, I return to a set of recurring questions: What does it mean to “read the world”? How do translation and interpretation shape what we think we know? And what role should universities play in cultural and intellectual life today?
On This Site
• Writing: essays and shorter notes
• Podcast: episode pages with show notes and selected transcripts
• Reading Lists: curated pathways for students, researchers, and general readers
If you’d like to collaborate—on a talk, workshop, academic project, or podcast conversation—please reach out via the Contact page.