Vali Nasr
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Vali Nasr (Persian: ولی نصر, born December 20, 1960) is an Iranian-American academic, author, and former diplomat. He is a leading scholar on the Middle East, the Islamic world, and political Islam.[1] Nasr served as the Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) from 2012 to 2019 and is currently a professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at the school.[2] He has also served in the U.S. Department of State as Senior Advisor to the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Early life and education
Vali Nasr was born in Tehran, Iran. He left Iran to pursue his education in the United States, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Political Science from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.[3]
Academic career
Early academic work
Nasr began his academic career teaching at the University of San Diego and later at the Naval Postgraduate School. His early research focused on Islamist movements, Islam and democracy, and politics in South Asia and the Middle East. His first major book, The Vanguard of the Islamic Revolution: The Jama'at-i Islami of Pakistan (1994), established his reputation as a specialist on political Islam.[4]
Tenure at SAIS and other institutions
In 2007, Nasr joined the faculty of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He was appointed Dean of SAIS in 2012, a position he held until 2019.[5] Prior to SAIS, he was a professor at the University of San Diego and a fellow at the Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations.
His scholarly work includes influential books such as The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future (2006) and Forces of Fortune: The Rise of the New Muslim Middle Class and What It Will Mean for Our World (2009).[6]
Government service
Advisor to the U.S. Department of State
From 2009 to 2011, during the Obama administration, Nasr served as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, the late Richard Holbrooke.[7] In this role, he was involved in shaping U.S. policy in the region and provided analysis on political dynamics.
Publications and media
Notable works
Nasr is a prolific author and commentator. His publications are widely cited in academic and policy circles:
The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future (2006) – Analyzes the historical and political resurgence of Shia Islam and its impact on Middle Eastern geopolitics.[8]
Forces of Fortune: The Rise of the New Muslim Middle Class and What It Will Mean for Our World (2009) – Argues that economic modernization and a growing middle class are transformative forces in the Muslim world.[9]
The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat (2013) – A critique of U.S. foreign policy under the Obama administration, based in part on his diplomatic experience.[10]
Media commentary
Nasr is a frequent contributor to major media outlets, including CNN, BBC, The New York Times, and Foreign Affairs, where he provides analysis on Middle Eastern politics and U.S. foreign policy.[11]
Awards and recognition
Nasr has been recognized for his scholarship and public service. He was named one of the "Top 100 Global Thinkers" by Foreign Policy magazine in 2010.[12] His books have received numerous awards and have been translated into multiple languages.
Personal life
Vali Nasr is a naturalized citizen of the United States. He maintains a public profile primarily through his academic and writing endeavors.
Selected bibliography
The Vanguard of the Islamic Revolution: The Jama'at-i Islami of Pakistan (1994) Template:ISBN
The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future (2006) Template:ISBN
Forces of Fortune: The Rise of the New Muslim Middle Class and What It Will Mean for Our World (2009) Template:ISBN
The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat (2013) Template:ISBN
See also
Geopolitics of the Middle East
List of Iranian-American academics
References
External links
Official profile at Johns Hopkins SAIS