Course

This course explores the complex dynamics of war and peace in the Persian Gulf region, focusing on the historical, political, economic, and strategic factors that have shaped conflict and cooperation among states in this critical area. Covering the period from the mid 20th century to the present, the course examines key events such as the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf Wars, the U.S. military presence, regional rivalries (notably between Iran and Saudi Arabia), and the role of international actors and institutions.

Faculty Bio

Dariush Zahedi is the Founding Director of the AMENA Center for Entrepreneurship & Development at UC Berkeley. He has published three books on the political economy of the Middle East and has written numerous articles that have appeared the New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and the International Journal of Middle East Studies, among others.

This is an In-Person, Livestreamed + Recorded Course

• Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365 (3rd floor), at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
• Classes will also stream live, and be video recorded
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and ends on Wednesday, Oct. 22
• Classes meet for 6 weeks, 2 hours per session (10–noon)
• All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy in Member Dashboards through Dec. 31

Member Praise for Dariush Zahedi

He is the BEST prof! Very engaging, presented a lot of material with humor. Great course. A+.

Professor Zahedi was outstanding in every respect.

Dariush was so well prepared and respected his students' ability to process the material. I learned more in this class about the Middle East than I have in any other class I've taken. His knowledge was truly incredible and the readings he provided were spot-on. 

Faculty Q&A

• Read an interview with Dariush Zahedi from our archive.