Juan Cole

@jricole

Juan Cole, the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan, is the author, most recently, of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: A New Translation From the Persian.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The Istanbul Terror Attack May Force a Reckoning in Turkey’s Foreign Policy The Istanbul Terror Attack May Force a Reckoning in Turkey’s Foreign Policy

Ankara has already patched up relations with Israel and Russia—and Washington could be next.

Jul 6, 2016 / Juan Cole

Trump AIPAC

When Donald Trump Says His Foreign Policy Is ‘America First’—What Exactly Does He Mean? When Donald Trump Says His Foreign Policy Is ‘America First’—What Exactly Does He Mean?

Four experts consider how exactly Trump might go about making America great again.

May 24, 2016 / That’s Debatable / Sherle R. Schwenninger, Heather Hurlburt, Stephen Kinzer, and Juan Cole

Rebels in Aleppo.

Why Is Washington Supporting Fundamentalist Jihadis in Syria? Why Is Washington Supporting Fundamentalist Jihadis in Syria?

A CIA-backed rebel group has joined with Al Qaeda in attacking another rebel force—the one leading negotiations in Geneva.

May 16, 2016 / Juan Cole

Saudi and Egyptian Heads of State

Egyptian President Sisi Is Ridiculed for ‘Selling’ Islands to Saudi Arabia Egyptian President Sisi Is Ridiculed for ‘Selling’ Islands to Saudi Arabia

Even members of the usually supine elite are horrified; the dictator’s move could provoke much more widespread opposition.

Apr 11, 2016 / Juan Cole

Yemenis carry relief supplies

War Crimes and US Responsibility in Syria and Yemen War Crimes and US Responsibility in Syria and Yemen

Washington is giving substantial support to the Saudi-led war in Yemen, even helping to choose bombing targets.

Feb 18, 2016 / Foreign Policy In Focus / Juan Cole

Palestinian child collecting water

Flint and Gaza: Water Crises of Colonialism Flint and Gaza: Water Crises of Colonialism

In both places, local people have been deprived of autonomy, and they face a severe public health crisis as a result.

Feb 3, 2016 / Juan Cole

Iran's Mahan Air

Iran Is Open For Business. What Does This Mean for the Global Economy? Iran Is Open For Business. What Does This Mean for the Global Economy?

The country could put up to a million barrels of oil a day on the market.

Jan 19, 2016 / Foreign Policy In Focus / Juan Cole

Why the Saudi-Iranian Cold War Is Heating Up

Why the Saudi-Iranian Cold War Is Heating Up Why the Saudi-Iranian Cold War Is Heating Up

It’s not a religious struggle—though both sides deploy sectarianism as a recruiting tool.

Jan 6, 2016 / Juan Cole

ISIS guard

ISIS Wants a Clash of the Civilizations: Let’s Not Give In ISIS Wants a Clash of the Civilizations: Let’s Not Give In

It’s a huge error to dignify these desert pirates as a “state” on which one might wage war as an equal.

Nov 25, 2015 / Editorial / Juan Cole

France Should Stop Listening to Saudi Arabia on Syria

France Should Stop Listening to Saudi Arabia on Syria France Should Stop Listening to Saudi Arabia on Syria

ISIS is the most urgent threat to the West stemming from the Syrian war and must be destroyed. Assad’s murderous dictatorship can be dealt with next.

Nov 15, 2015 / Juan Cole

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