She received her PhD in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin, where she wrote her dissertation on Islamic liberalism. Dr. Alawadhi is on sabbatical leave from Kuwait University for one year, during which she is working on a book project on the Kuwaiti model of democracy. Her book focuses on the Kuwaiti political system; the socio-political structure of Kuwaiti society, culture, and mentality; and the challenges that all of these present to democracy as she has experienced them as a woman and as a member of parliament. Dr. Alawadhi also will be publishing in various journals, writing about women and power in the Middle East, democracy without liberty, and Islamic liberalism.