Wesleyan International Relations Association 2012 Conference - The Cold War of the Middle East: Iran-Saudi Arabian Relations

We will explore the issues underlying relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as the impact of tensions on the region.  

The conference will be held October 5-6, and will consist of panels and speakers, as well as a concert by the Middle Eastern band Zikrayat on the afternoon of the 5th.  

Speakers include:
● Greg Gause: Professor at the University of Vermont and author of International Relations of the Persian Gulf.
● Trita Parsi: President and founder of the National Iranian American Council and Middle East foreign policy expert. He is also the author of Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Iran, Israel and the United States.
● Marvin Zonis: Emeritus professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, member of the Board of Advisers for the Comptroller General of the United States at the GAO, the Board of Directors of CNA Financial, a Fellow of PWC-Diamond Advisory Services, and also a member of the Board of Directors of the Fondation Etats Unis, Paris.
● Walter Cutler: Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Congo, and Ambassador-Designate to Iran.
● William Beeman: Chair of the Anthropology Department at the University of Minnesota and author of The "Great Satan" vs. the "Mad Mullahs : How the United States and Iran Demonize Each Other and Language, Status and Power in Iran.
● Robin Wright: Award-winning journalist and author. She has reported from over 140 countries to The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, TIME, and many others.

We expect an audience of 200-300 from Wesleyan and the greater international relations community.  More information can be found at the conference's website, www.wirac.org.  We sincerely hope that you will be able to join us at the conference.