A Scholarly Journey Developed by US Experiences

 By Leila Nicolas, PhD

The release of my latest book, "Global and Regional Strategies in the Middle East: In Pursuit of Hegemony," (Routledge, August 2024), marks a defining moment in my academic journey—one deeply influenced by my experiences as an alumna of two transformative US exchange programs: The SUSI (Study of the US Institutes) in 2016 and Fulbright in 2021.

While I have previously published several books in Arabic and English, this work represents a culmination of insights, blending regional expertise with the critical analytical tools I gained in the United States. 

This book goes further—it dissects the mechanisms of hegemony with sharper precision, thanks to the methodological rigor and interdisciplinary perspectives I encountered in the US. 

The SUSI program at Bard College (New York) was my first experience in the US. I still remember the academic debates and professional visits, which broadened my understanding of US policy-making and "grand Strategy in context," a tool that later became central to my research.  

Years later, the Fulbright Program at Fordham University elevated my work to new heights. The generosity of the US Department of State, SUSI organizers, Bard College, and Fordham University (New York) can not be paralleled.

What I took from the US experiences is that the "American Dream" was never about material wealth—it was about freedoms—freedom to think boldly, research fearlessly, and write without constraints. 

In the US, I was taught that academia thrives only when it is free from dogma, can name uncomfortable truths, and ask tough questions. 

All these were reflected in my new book, which discusses global and regional strategies, proxy wars, and the fight of all against all—which stems from that very liberty.  

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Leila Nicolas is a professor at Lebanese University and a US author and geopolitical analyst with several published works in Arabic and English. An alumna of SUSI (2016) and Fulbright (2021), her research focuses on competition between great powers and MENA politics.