Ilan Berman

Ilan Berman is an Adjunct Professor at Missouri State University’s Department of Defense and Strategic Studies and serves as Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC. His expertise spans regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Russian Federation, with a focus on arms control, energy security, missile defense, and Islamic radicalism. He has advised U.S. intelligence and defense agencies, including the CIA, Department of State, and Department of Defense, and is a prolific author and commentator featured in major publications like The Wall Street Journal and Foreign Affairs.

Research Focus

Berman’s scholarship examines the intersection of demographic decline and geopolitical instability, particularly in Russia. His work highlights how persistent adverse population trends, including low life expectancy, high abortion rates, and skilled emigration, threaten Russia’s long-term territorial integrity and fuel expansionist foreign policy. He also analyzes Iranian strategic vulnerabilities following military conflicts and the shifting dynamics of Sino-Russian energy cooperation.

Publications

He has authored or co-edited six books, including Wars of Ideas: Theology, Interpretation, and Power in the Muslim World (2021) and Challenging Moscow’s Message: Russian Disinformation and the Western Response (2023). His academic work appears alongside op-eds in leading outlets, and he teaches the course IWPO 725: International Law and Global Security.