Osher Lifelong Learning Institute - UC San Diego

International Relations
Tuesday 1:00 p.m.
May 7
Professor Ibrahim Al-Marashi
The View from Tehran: How Iran’s History
Shapes Its Foreign Policy
This lecture will examine how Iran’s history
influences its geopolitical outlook. Iranian popular
historic memory ranges from an Iran that was a
superpower during antiquity, to repeated foreign
intervention and invasions, ranging from the
Anglo-American-Soviet occupation during World
War II to the Iraqi invasion in 1980. This historical
memory, ranging from superpower status to
victimhood, provides a powerful narrative for
the Iranians. Examining this aspect is important
in understanding how Iran responds to the
international debate about its nuclear program,
perceiving it as another example of foreign powers
trying to intervene in Iranian affairs.
Ibrahim Al-Marashi is assistant professor of Middle
East history at CSU San Marcos. His research
deals with the modern history of Iraq. He is an
Iraqi-American who lived at various times in Saudi
Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, and Turkey. He
earned his Ph.D. at University of Oxford.
May 14
Professor Barry Naughton
China’s Economy and the Need for Economic
Reform
China’s economy is now the second largest
in the world. Sustaining China’s economy will
require changing its economic growth model and
reinvigorating economic reform. Raising household
income to promote increased consumption,
increasing government contributions to the
social security fund, land ownership reform and
an affordable housing policy for the growing
urbanized society– all are required. This lecture will
discuss each of these areas of reform and the need
for coordinated governmental action.
Barry Naughton is Sokwanlok Chair of Chinese
International Affairs and a professor of Chinese
Economy at the UCSD School of International
Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS). His work
focuses on issues relating to industry, trade,
finance, and China’s transition to a market
economy. Recent research emphasizes regional
economic growth in China and the relationship
between foreign trade, investment and regional
growth. He was awarded his M.A. and Ph.D. from
Yale University.
May 28
Professor James Coyle, Ph.D
New Turkey: Friend or Foe?
This lecture will explore U.S.-Turkey relationships
and prospects for Turkey as a dominant geopolitical
force in the Middle East. Turkey has
long been an indispensable U.S. ally. Since Prime
Minister Recep Erdogan’s party swept to power in
2002, however, the two countries have been at
odds on many matters: from the 2003 invasion of
Iraq to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Turkey seeks
to gain influence among its regional neighbors as
its economy transforms into one of the strongest in
the world.
In his 24 years with the U.S. government, James
Coyle held a number of positions including
first secretary for political-military affairs at the
U.S. Embassy in Ankara; director of Middle East
Studies at the U.S. Army War College, and senior
analyst for Palestinian Affairs. He is currently the
director of Chapman University’s Center for Global
Education, and is a visiting professor at Pepperdine
University. He was awarded his Ph.D. from George
Washington University.
19