Fawaz A. Gerges

Fawaz A. Gerges is a Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), holding the Emirates Professorship in Contemporary Middle East Studies. He previously served as the inaugural Director of the LSE Middle East Centre (2010–2013). Educated at Oxford University (PhD) and LSE (M.Sc.), Gerges has taught at Oxford, Harvard, Columbia, and held the Christian A. Johnson Chair in Middle Eastern Studies at Sarah Lawrence College. His research focuses on Middle East politics, Islamist movements, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and U.S. foreign policy.

Key expertise includes Islam and political processes, jihadist groups (e.g., Al Qaeda), state-society dynamics in the Middle East, and historical conflicts. He has authored influential books such as ISIS: A History (2016), The Great Betrayal (2025), and Making the Arab World (2018). His work bridges academia and public discourse, with frequent media appearances and speaking engagements.

Gerges has received MacArthur, Fulbright, and Carnegie fellowships. His research combines fieldwork in the Middle East with analysis of diplomatic and historical records, emphasizing grassroots activism and marginalized voices. He critiques Western policy failures in the Middle East and explores pathways for democratic change.