The Security Architecture of the Modern Middle East, 1979 to Present

This lecture looks broadly at how the Middle East dramatically changed in 1979 due to: peace between Egypt and Israel, the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, and Saddam’s seizure of power in Iraq. These transformational events helped radicalize the region and created the alliances and threats that the United States and its allies would be engaging with over the next five decades.

Shahin Berenji, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Strategy and Policy Department at the U.S. Naval War College. Before joining the Naval War College, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Albritton Center for Grand Strategy at Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government and Public Service. From 2020 to 2022, he taught at Southern Methodist University as a Visiting Assistant Professor and Colin Powell Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Berenji earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from UCLA and his B.A. from the University of Southern California, respectively.  He studies foreign policy decision-making, diplomacy, military history, international security, and the modern Middle East. His research has appeared in peer-reviewed journals such International Security and Security Studies, and his commentary has been featured by outlets such as the Modern War Institute at West Point, E-IR, and the National Interest. He has also provided expert analysis for NBC10 WJAR, the BBC, BBC Bangla, ABC Australia, and other local and international media outlets.