Robert Rabil, Ph.D.
LLS Jupiter Distinguished Faculty Award, 2010
LLS Distinguished Professor of Current Affairs, 2012-2013
Lifelong Learning Professorship of Current Affairs, 2018-2019
Political Science
Robert G. Rabil, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned and acclaimed scholar. His books have been highly commended and reviewed by major academic journals globally. His recent book on Salafism broke new ground in the fields of Islamism, terrorism and Middle East politics. He is considered one of the leading experts on Salafism, radical Islam, U.S.-Arab and Arab-Israeli relations, and terrorism. He served as Chief of Emergency for the Red Cross in Lebanon and was Project Manager of the U.S. State Department-funded Iraq Research and Documentation Project. He lectures nationally and internationally and participates in forums and seminars sponsored by the U.S. government. He holds a Master’s in Government from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University. In May 2012, he received an honorary Ph.D. in Humanities from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He is a Professor of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University.
In September 2016, Professor Rabil was presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Army Central.
Student Testimonials
- “One of the most enthusiastic and engaging
FAU lecturers.”
- “Excellent current knowledge base on topic and
updates as events happen.”
UAE Israel Peace 2020 with Robert Rabil, Ph.D.
The Hard Line — Robert Rabil, Ph.D., discusses the Syrian refugee crisis
The Hard Line: Robert Rabil, Ph.D., the Professor of Middle East studies at Florida Atlantic University's Department of Political Science and author of “Salafism in Lebanon: From Apoliticism to Transnational Jihadism,” discusses the Syrian refugee crisis and the role the Obama administration has played in what has happened in Syria.
Dr. Rabil discusses Salafism in Lebanon in a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute
The Washington Institute: Facing a leadership crisis, Lebanon's Sunnis must contend with a vigorous Salafi movement in which the activist and jihadist elements are increasingly hard to distinguish from each other. On February 13, 2015, Robert Rabil addressed a Policy Forum concerning the issue of Salafism in Lebanon at The Washington Institute.
Dr. Rabil discusses Salafism on WPBT2's Viewpoint
Viewpoint: Salafism is perhaps best known for the ideologies of Salafi jihadism such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. It is actually comprised of many fundamentalist Islamic movements whose followers consider themselves the only "saved" sect of Islam. Professor and author Robert Rabil discusses Salafism and his book, “Salafism in Lebanon: From Apoliticism to Transnational Jihadism.”
Dr. Rabil on U.S.-Iran Mounting Tensions and the Threat and Consequences of a Potential Military Confrontation
News and Notes From Dr. Rabil
- Click here to visit his web site, robertrabil.com.
- Click here to order his latest book — "Salafism in Lebanon".
- Click here to read a review of his book, "Salafism in Lebanon," by the British Cambridge Journal of International Affairs.
- Click here to view the PowerPoint slides on the Divisions and Schools of Islam.
Articles written by Dr. Rabil
- Chaos in the Caucasus: Why a New Regional War Would Be Catastrophic — The National Interest, October 25, 2020.
- Heir to the Ottomans – Interview — Carnegie Middle East Center, October 16, 2020.
- Bashir’s Farm And The Tragedy Of Lebanon – OpEd — Eurasia Review, August 14, 2020; Palm Beach Center for Democracy & Policy Research, August 15, 2020.
- Lebanon is a Lightning Rod for Political Currents in the Arab World — The National Interest, July 17, 2020.
- Domestic Threats in the Era of Nationalism — The National Interest, June 21, 2020.
- Israel and the China Connection — The National Interest, June 7, 2020.
- Why America Has Misdiagnosed Russia’s Role in Syria — The National Interest, May 27, 2020.
- The Middle East Can't Fight A War Against Both Coronavirus And Iran — The National Interest, March 31, 2020.
- Russia's Strategy for the Middle East: Stabilize, Revitalize, Create Chaos — The National Interest, March 14, 2020.
- The Inevitable Middle East War — Eurasia Review, February 21, 2020.
- Saving the Revolution and Lebanon — Eurasia Review, January 23, 2020.
- Why America Should Keep Supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces — The National Interest, December 4, 2019.
- The True Value of Lebanon's Armed Forces — The National Interest, December 3, 2019.
- The Trump Administration Is Tackling One of the World's Most Dangerous Border Disputes — The National Interest, August 11, 2019.
- The Moribund Legacy Of Arab Nationalism – Analysis — Eurasia Review, June 21, 2019.
- Defeating the Islamic State of Idlib — The National Interest, June 13, 2019.
- The Iran Crisis And Washington Strategic Miscalculation – Analysis — Eurasia Review, May 19, 2019.
- Tending to Israel’s Relationship with Russia — Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, December 26, 2018.
- ISIS Isn't Dead Yet — The National Interest, September 1, 2018.
- Contextualizing Jihad and Takfir in the Sunni Conceptual Framework — The Washington Institute, August 31, 2018.
- Contextualizing Jihad and Takfir in the Shi’a Conceptual Framework — The Washington Institute, August 31, 2018.
- Donald Trump is reshaping the Middle East — in Russia’s favor — The Washington Post, August 22, 2018.
- The distortion of Islam that drives terrorism — The Washington Post, August 1, 2018.
- Trump Should Prioritize Fighting Terrorism — The National Interest, July 18, 2018.
- Assad’s Impending Victory Raises Stakes for Security in Israel — The Palm Beach Post, July 16, 2018.
- Syria’s Victory and Israel’s Predicament — Eurasia Review, July 12, 2018.
- The Last Thing The Middle East Needs Now Is Another War – OpEd — Eurasia Review, May 1, 2018.
- Kissinger’s World Order, United States And Russia In The Middle East – Analysis — Eurasia Review, September 3, 2017.
- The Coming Gulf War: Qatar vs. Everyone — The National Interest, June 27, 2017.
- How Muslim Extremists Exploit European Liberalism — The National Interest, June 12, 2017.
- Does Donald Trump Know He's Helping Saudi Arabia Ruin Yemen? — The National Interest, May 4, 2017.
- The Syria Crisis Has Evolved into an International Power Struggle — The National Interest, April 18, 2017.
- The Burkini Isn't a Religious Duty — The National Interest, September 14, 2016.
- Is Peace in Syria Finally Within Reach? — The National Interest, July 16, 2016.
- Profiling Muslims Is Bad. So Is Ignoring Radical Islam. — The National Interest, May 25, 2016.
- God, Paris and Islam: How Salafism Challenges France’s Church-State Relationship — The National Interest, December 3, 2015.
- This Is What Russia REALLY Fears in Syria — The National Interest, October 7, 2015.
- Why America Needs to Beware of Saudi Wahhabism — The National Interest, May 18, 2015.
- Syria's Changing Strategic Landscape — The National Interest, May 5, 2015.
- The ISIS Chronicles: A History — The National Interest, July 17, 2014.
- Moral Outrage Necessitates Defining a Strategy — e-International Relations, September 16, 2013.
- Syria Part of Aggressive Iranian Strategy — The National Interest, June 18, 2013.
- Arab Uprisings Boost Israel's Enemies — The National Interest, September 5, 2012
- The Battle For Aleppo — The National Interest, August 14, 2012
- The Rise of Salafists — The National Interest, August 7, 2012
- Syria and the Power of Sectarian Strife — The National Interest, July 2, 2012
- Syria: The Death of a Nation? — e-International Relations, June 4, 2012
Books by Dr. Rabil
Critical Challenges To American National Security and Strategy - ANNEX SEATING
The Obama administration has been both pilloried and lauded for its approach to safeguard U.S. national security interests. Some describe the president as cerebral and cautious in his approach to international affairs, while others impugn him for beating a retreat in American foreign policy and resolve. However, little has been said about the implications of the drastic changes the world have undergone for the U.S. The U.S. is wrestling with some of the hardest national security challenges in its history. From the Arab revolutions and intervention in the Arab world, to combating radical Islam and ISIS, to checking Iran’s nuclear ambitions and coping with the power of China and assertiveness of Russia, the Obama administration has been deliberating strategies often discombobulated by partisan politics and internal differences among policymakers. Lost in these deliberations are sober and impartial analysis and examination of the complex and nuanced changes affecting the world on the local, regional and international levels. This eight-part lecture series will examine critical challenges to U.S. national security in the context of their local and international dimensions, shedding light on important matters often misconceived in foreign diplomacy.
Eight Lectures
- Russia, United States and the Middle East: A Cold or Proxy War? -
- The Shi’a of the Gulf: An Oppressed or Seditious Group? -
- The Philippines' Abou Sayyaf and Indonesia’s Jama’a Islamiyah -
- Islam and Islamism in Bangladesh: The New Pakistan? -
- The Decline or Growth of ISIS Power: A Reassessment -
- The Future of the Iranian-Saudi Relationship: Détente or Confrontation? -
- The Refugees of the Middle East: A Demographic and Ideological Powder Keg? -
- The United States, ISIS and the Middle East: Retreat or Power Balancing? -
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| Course # W8M3X — Full 8 Weeks
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| Place: | Room 151 (Annex), Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Mondays, January 11, 18, 25; February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 2016 |
| Time: | 11:15 - 12:45 PM |
| Fee: | $68 / member; $98 / non-member |
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Register Now
Critical Challenges To American National Security and Strategy
The Obama administration has been both pilloried and lauded for its approach to safeguard U.S. national security interests. Some describe the president as cerebral and cautious in his approach to international affairs, while others impugn him for beating a retreat in American foreign policy and resolve. However, little has been said about the implications of the drastic changes the world have undergone for the U.S. The U.S. is wrestling with some of the hardest national security challenges in its history. From the Arab revolutions and intervention in the Arab world, to combating radical Islam and ISIS, to checking Iran’s nuclear ambitions and coping with the power of China and assertiveness of Russia, the Obama administration has been deliberating strategies often discombobulated by partisan politics and internal differences among policymakers. Lost in these deliberations are sober and impartial analysis and examination of the complex and nuanced changes affecting the world on the local, regional and international levels. This eight-part lecture series will examine critical challenges to U.S. national security in the context of their local and international dimensions, shedding light on important matters often misconceived in foreign diplomacy.
Eight Lectures
- Russia, United States and the Middle East: A Cold or Proxy War? -
- The Shi’a of the Gulf: An Oppressed or Seditious Group? -
- The Philippines' Abou Sayyaf and Indonesia’s Jama’a Islamiyah -
- Islam and Islamism in Bangladesh: The New Pakistan? -
- The Decline or Growth of ISIS Power: A Reassessment -
- The Future of the Iranian-Saudi Relationship: Détente or Confrontation? -
- The Refugees of the Middle East: A Demographic and Ideological Powder Keg? -
- The United States, ISIS and the Middle East: Retreat or Power Balancing? -
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| Course # W8M3 — Full 8 Weeks
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Mondays, January 11, 25; February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; March 7 2016 |
| Time: | 11:15 - 12:45 PM |
| Fee: | $68 / member; $98 / non-member |
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Register Now
China and the Middle East: The Stealthy Path to Hegemony?
Chinese foreign policy towards the Middle East has
recently raised American and Israeli concerns alike.
Chinese openness to foreign investments and
international companies has helped lead a great
transformation in Chinese society. This economic
transformation and China’s burgeoning middle class
have created additional energy needs, which has led
to a shift in Chinese foreign policy towards the
Middle East. Acting in the capacity of an emerging
global power, China has forged enormous
transactional deals and heavily invested in the
economies of the Middle East countries. Significantly,
China has thus far been careful not to affect American
national interest in the region. However, China’s low
profile, yet massive, investment in the Middle East is
inadvertently or intentionally deepening Chinese
influence in the region. This lecture examines the
growing influence of the Chinese in the Middle East
and probes its intent and ramifications for the United
States and Israel’s national security.
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
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| Course # W1S2 — One Time Event
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| Place: | Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Saturday, February 20 2016 |
| Time: | 1 - 2:30 PM |
| Fee: | $25 / member; $35 / non-member |
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Register Now
