Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine: Implications for the Middle East and the Muslim world

Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine: Implications for the Middle East and the Muslim world

Public talk by Juan Cole
Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan, USA

When: Wednesday Mar 23 at 6:00 PM (MST)
Where: Zoom webinar. For free registration please CLICK HERE.

Abstract:
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has few upsides for the Middle East and the Muslim World. Many states in this region depend on Russian and Ukrainian wheat and other products, and the non-oil states such as Turkey and Egypt will be hit by higher energy costs. Geopolitically, many states [and not necessarily peoples and the public opinion] in this region have attempted to hedge what they have come to see as an over-dependence on an erratic U.S. with stronger relations with Moscow and Beijing, and they are reluctant therefore strongly to take sides in the conflict. For the Iranian state, taking a partisan stand could interfere with the restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal, which would much improve its economy. Each state in the region has its own reasons for continuing to hedge, which will be discussed.

Bio:
Juan Ricardo Cole is a public intellectual, prominent blogger and essayist, and the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan. An authority in modern and contemporary history of Middle East and South Asia, intellectual & cultural history and religion of Asia and Middle East, Professor Cole is also known for his weblog, “Informed Comment.” He is a prolific writer and researchers, and the author and editor of several books including Peace Movements in Islam: History, Religion and Politics (2021); The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: A New Translation with historical Afterword (2020); Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires (2018); Global Connections: Politics, Exchange, and Social Life in World History, 2 vols (2015); The New Arabs: How the Millennial Generation is Changing the Middle East (2014); Engaging the Muslim World (2009); Napoleon’s Egypt: Invading the Middle East (2007); Sacred Space and Holy War: The Politics, Culture and History of Shi`ite Islam (2002), and many other books, artilces and book chapters. He has appeared on PBS’s Lehrer News Hour, ABC World News Tonight, Nightline, The Today Show, Charlie Rose, Anderson Cooper 360, The Rachel Maddow Show, All In With Chris Hayes, The Colbert Report, Democracy Now, and has written widely about Egypt, Iran, Iraq, and South Asia with his command in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Turkish. A bibliography of his writings may be found here.