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• Virtual Distinguished Speakers Series: "Coups, Chaos & Conflict: How Cold War Interventions Led to the 2026 Iran War" with Ibrahim Al-Marashi

  • When
    March 03, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  
  

  The San Diego World Affairs Council Presents

  
  

  "Coups, Chaos & Conflict: How Cold War Interventions Led to the 2026 Iran War"
  

  featuring:

  Ibrahim Al-Marashi

  Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026

  12:00pm - 1:30pm

  
  

  Sponsored with Support from: 

  

  
  

  
  

  About the Program

  Historians may well mark the last day of February 2026, as the day the world crossed a line from which it will be exceptionally difficult to reverse course, when the US and Israel launched a wide-scale military operation against Iran. However, this war aimed at regime change is not the first American military engagement with Iran; rather, it is embedded in a history that began during World War II, which can be characterized as the beginning of American "hybrid warfare" in Iran, establishing a “playbook” for Cold War coups. Some argue the Cold War began when Truman objected to Soviet troops that remained in Iran after 1945. The 1953 Anglo-American coup that reinstalled the Shah served as a precedent for the 1954 overthrow of Arbenz in Guatemala, the first for oil, the second for bananas, creating the term “Banana Republic.” The US remained in Iran, helping Iranian pilots fly the F-14s, the aircraft of Top Gun fame, present on Iranian soil, contributing to the nationalist sentiment that led to the 1979 revolution. The US engaged in military operations against the Islamic Republic, from the failed 1980 rescue attempt of the American embassy hostages to the 1988 downing of an Iranian Airbus as the Cold War came to an end. The method of "hybrid war" demonstrates the long history of this practice before it entered the political lexicon and its application to Russia and its “Gerasimov Doctrine,” combining traditional military force with cyberattacks, disinformation, and economic pressure. This form of American “Cold Hybrid War” continues into the 21st century, with the so-called 12-Day War of July 2025, the January 2026 raid in Venezuela, and the February 2026 War with Iran. 

  
  

  About Ibrahim Al-Marashi

  Ibrahim al-Marashi is an Associate Professor of History at California State University, advisory board member of SDSU’s ISCOR program, visiting faculty at The American College of the Mediterranean, in Aix-en-Provence, the Department of International Relations at Central European University, in Vienna, and teaches corporate intelligence at International University of Monaco. His publications include Iraq’s Armed Forces: An Analytical History (2008), The Modern History of Iraq (2017), and A Concise History of the Middle East (2024).

  *Free to attend. Zoom link to be sent after registration.*

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• Affiliate Event - "Future Wars: How Will Advanced Technology Impact 21st-Century Warfare?" with SDSU's Center for War & Society

  • When
    March 26, 2026
  •  
    2:00 PM - 6:45 PM
  • Location
    San Diego State University - Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center

  
  

  Two Events. One Day. One Big Conversation.

  On Thursday, March 26, our partners at the Center for War and Society at SDSU are hosting an extraordinary afternoon and evening exploring the future of conflict, technology, and the pursuit of peace.

   1. Future Wars: Technology, Power, and the Pursuit of Peace (2:00–3:30 p.m.)
  A timely discussion on how emerging technologies are reshaping global power dynamics and what that means for security and stability.

  
  

  
  

  2. Making War Humane: Past, Present, and Future (5:30 p.m. lecture)
  A powerful reflection on the evolution of humanitarian law and the moral complexities of modern warfare.

  
  

  In a moment when global security challenges are rapidly evolving, conversations like these matter. Whether you are engaged in policy, international affairs, humanitarian work, or simply care about the direction of global conflict and peacebuilding, this is a day worth marking on your calendar.

  
  

  This event is free to the public, but pre-registration is required. Please note - you must register via SDSU's platform. You can attend both events, or just one! 

  To register for the 2:00pm event go here (not on the SDWAC website). 

  AND/OR

  To register for the 5:30pm event go here (not on the SDWAC website). 

  
  

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• Distinguished Speakers Series: "Subnational Diplomacy in this Global Moment: San Diego’s International Engagement Strategy” with Ben Moore

  • When
    May 09, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    8980 Villa La Jolla Dr
  • Spaces left
    98

  Register

  
  

  The San Diego World Affairs Council Presents

  The Distinguished Speakers Series

  
  

  
  

  ___________________________________

  
  

  Location of Event:

  UCSD Division of Extended Studies

  8980 Villa La Jolla Drive

  
  ___________________________________

  
  

   About this Program:

  This program, presented by Ben Moore, Chief Global Affairs Officer for the City of San Diego, will explore how cities are increasingly shaping global outcomes through subnational diplomacy. Ben will highlight San Diego’s international engagement strategy and Mayor Todd Gloria’s global priorities, including elevating the region’s international profile, expanding economic development, and strengthening cross-border collaboration—particularly as Mayor Gloria prepares to assume the presidency of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

  The lecture will examine San Diego’s unique position at the U.S.–Mexico border and its partnership with Tijuana and the broader Cali–Baja region as a model of place-based diplomacy. Topics will include economic cooperation, infrastructure, workforce development, and environmental resilience, illustrating how cities can advance shared prosperity while addressing transboundary challenges.

  Situating San Diego within the broader rise of subnational diplomacy, Ben will discuss how municipalities are stepping into leadership roles on issues such as climate action, migration, and inclusive growth—often moving faster and more pragmatically than national governments. The session will conclude with reflections on what San Diego’s approach offers other cities seeking to engage globally, and how city-led diplomacy provides a practical pathway for navigating today’s complex global moment.

    About the Speaker:

  

  Ben Moore

  Chief Global Affairs Officer

  Office of the Mayor | City of San Diego

  Ben Moore serves as Chief Global Affairs Officer for the City of San Diego, where he supports the Mayor’s international engagement priorities, including: elevating San Diego’s global status, expanding economic development and embracing global initiatives.  Ben recently completed an 18-year career as a Senior Supervisory Foreign Affairs Officer with the U.S. Department of State, culminating in his selection to launch and lead State’s pioneering subnational diplomacy program in San Diego.  Prior to this, Ben served as Division Chief covering all U.S. foreign assistance in the Middle East.  Ben also served as the Political Unit Chief in the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs, as well as a Stabilization Operations Officer in the Bureau for Conflict and Stabilization Operations where he supported the Syrian opposition from roles in Turkey, Jordan and Washington, DC.  Ben has worked in State Department offices in Los Angeles and New York City; for the United Nations in Jordan and Haiti; and with NGOs in the West Bank & Gaza, Zambia and Burma, primarily focused on relief projects, peacebuilding, and conflict analysis.  Ben is a Boren Fellow for Arabic study and holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles.

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