Betty Coe (’64) and Paul J. Cinquegrana Presidential Chair of Faculty Teaching Excellence and Research

Bernie Kaussler received his BA (Hons) in International Relations from the University of Sussex in Britain and earned a Master in Middle East Politics and a PhD in International Relations from the University of St Andrews, analyzing EU human rights diplomacy towards Iran. Dr Kaussler’s research interests are Conflict Resolution and Diplomacy, International Security, US Foreign Policy and Middle East Security and Politics (with a focus on Iran). In January 2020, he was selected as the inaugural recipient of JMU's Cinquegrana Presidential Chair of Faculty Teaching Excellence and Research.

His work has been published in International Studies Perspectives, Orient, Informal Logic, British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Iranian Studies, White House Studies, Diplomacy & Statecraft, Journal for Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, The World Today, The National Interest, Foreign Policy in Focus and Jane’s Intelligence Review. He has also published the following books:

Bernd Kaussler, Lars Kristiansen and Jeffrey Delbert, Rhetoric and Governance under Trump: Proclamations from the Bullshit Pulpit (Lexington Books, 2020). 

Bernd Kaussler and Glenn Hastedt, US Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East: The Realpolitik of Deceit (London, Routledge, 2017).

Bernd Kaussler, Iran's Nuclear Diplomacy: Power Politics and Conflict Resolution (London, Routledge, 2014).

Dr. Kaussler has extensive media experience and is available for interviews on U.S. foreign policy and current affairs in the Middle East.

Dr. Kaussler's teaching areas include: US Foreign Policy, International Security, Middle East security, Global Politics, US - Middle East relations and Hacking for Diplomacy. (Courses offered: POSC 370, POSC 200, POSC 430, POSC 363 and INTA 489)

He speaks with a distinct European accent and is a connoisseur of the Middle Eastern cuisine.