Thanassis Cambanis

Professional

2011 – Present                  THE CENTURY FOUNDATION, Foreign policy fellow

Research and write about Arab politics, US foreign policy toward Middle East for progressive non-partisan New York-based think tank.
Manage Syria conflict analysis team which produces weekly content.
Principal investigator for Arab politics and security project, preparing two edited volumes of original research about political change and security cooperation in Arab world.

Oct. 2000 – Present           THE BOSTON GLOBE, Journalist

Internationalist, 2010 to present. Monthly foreign affairs column for Ideas section.

Foreign correspondent, 2003 to 2007. Stationed in Middle East as Iraq bureau chief and then regional Middle East bureau chief. Covered US invasion of Iraq, rise of new Iraqi political order, civil war and sectarian mobilization. Covered Arab regional potlicis, Lebanon-Israel war, Hamas, Islamist political movements.

2007 – Present                  FREELANCE WRITER

Contributor to The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, Foreign Affairs, The New Republic, The National Interest, others.

Books

2018 (expected)                 ARAB REGIONAL SECURITY COOPERATION (edited volume; co-editor)
TCF Press, imprint of Brookings Press

Edited volume on regional security architecture and confidence-building measures to reduce conflict in the Arab region. Volume will include 15 to 20 contributions. Contributing one essay.

2017 (expected)                 ARAB POLITICS AFTER THE UPRISINGS (edited volume; lead co-editor)
TCF Press, imprint of Brookings Press

Edited volume exploring Arab politics in the wake of the 2011 uprisings. As lead co-editor, have recruited 22 contributors to the volume under a shared research question. Contributing two essays.

2015                                  ONCE UPON A REVOLUTION: An Egyptian Story
Simon & Schuster

Non-fiction narrative book about the efforts of Egyptian revolutionaries to remake their nation’s politics after Mubarak’s fall.

2010                                  A PRIVILEGE TO DIE: Inside Hezbollah’s Legions and Their Endless War Against Israel
Free Press, Simon & Schuster

Non-fiction narrative book on Hezbollah’s rank-and-file followers.

 

Teaching

2009 – 2012      ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs

Taught graduate students in security policy and media concentrations. Paired student researchers with policy clients in “Capstone Courses.” Advised independent study.

2010 – 2012      ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, New School Graduate Program in International Affairs

Taught graduate lecture course on “Negotiating With ‘Terrorists.’”

2008 – 2009      FERRIS PROFESSOR OF JOURNALISM, Princeton University

Visiting fellow at the Council for the Humanities. Taught weekly undergraduate seminar “Writing About War.”

Education & Languages

May 2000      PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs

Master in Public Affairs, International Relations, with Distinction. Graduate Fellowship provided full tuition and living expenses grant for two years of study.

May 1996      UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

Bachelor of Arts, double major History and Creative Writing. Highest Honors, Phi Beta Kappa. Editor-in-chief of award-winning campus paper, The Daily Tar Heel.

LANGUAGES: Fluent Greek and French. Intermediate Arabic (ongoing study of Modern Standard Arabic and colloquial Levantine). Functional Spanish.

Honors & Fellowships

2013-14                             RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, CAMES, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT

Conducted research as associated at AUB’s Center for Arab and Middle East Studies.

2009 – 2010      NEW IDEAS FUND FELLOW

Fellowship from New Ideas Fund in Washington, D.C. for research project into American policy toward engagement with terrorist-designated organizations.

Dec. 2007 – Present      WOMEN’S REFUGEE COMMISSION, International Rescue Committee, New York

Member of Media Advisory Board, which supports organization’s communications strategy.

2006 – Present      COLLEGE CAMPUS TALKS, PANELS

Gave talks on Middle East politics at Princeton University Woodrow Wilson School, New York University Global Affairs program, Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, Georgetown Policy School. Panelist at 2008 Young Arab Leaders conference in New York.

1992-1996      DUKE POWER FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

Full tuition and living expenses for any four-year college or university in the Carolinas.

2006, 2003      PUBLISHER’S EXCELLENCE AWARD, The Boston Globe

For coverage of Iraq invasion in 2003, Lebanon war in 2006.