Henri J. Barkey

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies

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Henri J. Barkey is an adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen chair in international relations at Lehigh University. At CFR he works on the strategic future of the Kurds in the Middle East. Previously he was the director of the Middle East Center at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars (2015-2017). Barkey served as chair of the Department of International Relations at Lehigh University for thirteen years. He served on the State Department Policy Planning Staff (1998-2000) working on the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and intelligence-related issues. He was a non-resident senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2008-2011). Currently he also serves as the chair of the academic committee on the board of trustees of the American University in Iraq, Sulaimani. He has written extensively on Turkey, the Kurds and other Middle East issues.

affiliations

  • American University in Iraq Sulaimani, chair of the academic committee on the board of trustees
  • Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Turkey program board of advisors
  • Lehigh University, Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen chair in international relations
  • Middle East Journal, editorial board member
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Explore More on Middle East and North Africa

Palestinian Territories

What Is Hamas?
The Palestinian militant group struggled to govern the Gaza Strip before launching a surprise attack on Israel in 2023. Now facing Israel’s military campaign to destroy it, Hamas’s future is in doubt, as is Gaza’s.

Backgrounder by Kali Robinson April 18, 2024

Iran

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards
Conceived as the principal defenders of the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has evolved into an institution with vast political, economic, and military power.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors April 17, 2024

Iran

Iran’s Regional Armed Network
Iran’s web of armed partners such as Hezbollah and the Houthis serves to strengthen its influence in the Middle East and could pose a significant threat to the United States and U.S. allies in the region, especially Israel.  

Article by Kali Robinson and Will Merrow April 15, 2024

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Censorship and Freedom of Expression

World Press Freedom Day 2024: Mounting Threats, Renewed Purpose

Podcast
In this special episode to mark World Press Freedom Day, Jeffrey Gedmin, cofounder and editor-in-chief of American Purpose and former president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the global state of press freedom. They cover the challenges that a growing number of journalists face in exile or imprisonment, the U.S. role in upholding freedom of the press, and more.

Podcast with Robert McMahon, Carla Anne Robbins and Jeffrey Gedmin May 2, 2024 The World Next Week

Ukraine

Is U.S. Aid to Ukraine Too Little, Too Late?
U.S. aid is critical not just for Ukraine, but for U.S. credibility in Russia and beyond.

Article by Liana Fix May 2, 2024

Turkey

Erdogan’s Crisis of Legitimacy and Its Consequences
Despite the destabilizing effects of his economic and foreign policies, as well as a major election loss, President Erdogan shows no sign of interest in course correction.

Article by Henri J. Barkey May 2, 2024