Lena Rethel's research interests include the international politics of finance and development, the global governance of Islamic economies (including finance and food), and the disciplinary parameters and spatial location of contemporary International Political Economy. Her work explores both the theories and common understandings that underpin economic and financial policymaking, examining how these shape institutional change—particularly the expansion of capital markets and the development of Islamic finance—and the socio-economic implications of these transformations. Her research draws significantly from insights into the Southeast Asia region, especially Indonesia and Malaysia. From August 2024 to July 2029, she is leading the research project "FINDEM – The Politics of Financial Citizenship." This project investigates how middle-class expectations influence financial policy and politics in emerging market democracies, with all the ambiguities this term entails. It is funded by a UKRI Frontier Research grant, the UK guarantee scheme for successful ERC Consolidator Grant applications.