Robert Rabil, Ph.D.
Professor | Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL, UNITED STATES
Robert Rabil is an expert in political Islam, terrorism, U.S. foreign policy, and U.S.-Arab relations.
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Biography
Robert Rabil received his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, his Masters in Government from Harvard University Extension School and his Ph.D. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University. His area of research includes Political Islam, Terrorism, Transnational and Revivalist Movements, U.S.-Arab Relations, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Reform in the Arab world, and Contemporary Middle Eastern and Southeastern Politics.
He is the author of Embattled Neighbors: Syria, Israel, and Lebanon (Lynne Rienner, 2003), Syria, the United States, and the War on Terror in the Middle East (Praeger, 2006), Religion, National Identity and Confessional Politics in Lebanon: The Challenge of Islamism (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), Salafism in Lebanon: from Apoliticism to Transnational Jihadism (Georgetown University Press, 2014), The Syrian Refugee Crisis in Lebanon: The Double Tragedy of Refugees and Impacted Host Communities (Lexington Books, 2016), and White Heart (London: Austin Macauley Publishers, 2018) . His articles have appeared in major newspapers and academic journals, including the Wall Street Journal, Chicago-Sun Times, Daily Star (Beirut), History News Network, National Interest, CNN, Middle East Journal, Middle East Policy, the Journal of International Security Affairs, Middle East Quarterly, and Middle East Review of International Affairs. He also contributed a number of book chapters on Political Islam and Middle Eastern Politics.
Rabil is currently undertaking multiple research projects on U.S. National Security and Arab Revolts; Arab Revolts and Christians in the Middle East; and Salafism.
Previously, Rabil served as the chief of emergency for the Red Cross in Beirut, Lebanon, taught at Suffolk University, and was the project manager of the U.S. State Department funded-Iraq Research and Documentation Project.
Areas of Expertise (8)
U.S. Foreign Policy
Reform in the Arab world
U.S.-Arab Relations
Terrorism
Political Islam
Transnational and Revivalist Movements
Arab-Israeli Conflict
Contemporary Middle Eastern and Southeastern Politics
Accomplishments (1)
Honorary Doctorate in Humanities
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Education (3)
Brandeis University: Ph.D. 2001
Harvard University Extension School: M.L.A. 1995
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: B.S. 1987
Links (1)
Selected Media Appearances (6)
The True Value of Lebanon's Armed Forces
The National Interest online
2019-12-03
Alongside a campaign to push for a war with Iran, there is a parallel campaign to undermine Iran’s proxies is equating the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with Hezbollah. Though the armed forces need to answer and act on some legitimate concerns, this pairing is not only erroneous but also dangerous because it undermines the only institution stabilizing Lebanon.
Trump’s flip-flopping on Syria proves he does not know how complicated the reality is
Independent online
2019-10-26
Robert Rabil, professor of political science at Florida Atlantic University, says the US presence in Syria is becoming increasingly dangerous. “Sooner or later American troops will face Russian and Syrian forces as they will try to control all of Syria,” he told The Independent. “Syrian Kurdish fighters will not be able to support the US like before, given their recent agreement with the Syrian and Russian governments.”
How Russia is filling the gap left by Trump's withdrawal of US troops in Syria
Independent online
2019-10-16
Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American troops from Syria has started to change the balance of power in the war-torn country where regional and international powers have long been involved in a complex situation. Russian troops have now moved into northern Syria to fill the security vacuum left by the United States, and Syrian government forces are taking over areas previously controlled by US-backed Kurdish fighters.
Fleischman Lectures About Israel
Sun Sentinel
2015-11-02
The group's next lecture will be by Robert Rabil, distinguished FAU political science professor, who will speak about "U.S., Russia, and the Syrian Crisis; Challenges and Prospects." [...]
Tunisia: An Imperfect Blueprint For Post-Arab Spring Reform
The Media Line
2018-04-22
“The economy isn’t doing too well and there’s high unemployment. It’s not as picturesque as it seems,” Robert Rabil, Professor of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University, explained to The Media Line. [...]
Saudia Arabia is Pulling Lebanon Apart
Business Insider
2017-12-02
Robert Rabil, a professor of political science at Florida Atlantic University and author of “Salafism in Lebanon: From Apoliticism to Transnational Jihad,” agreed. [...]
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