Draft:Benjamin Radd
American lecturer in law and politics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benjamin Radd is an American lecturer in law, politics, and international studies at UCLA. His work focuses on political developments in the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy, and he is affiliated with several research centers within the UCLA International Institute.[1][2]
 | Review waiting, please be patient.
This may take 8 weeks or more, since drafts are reviewed in no specific order. There are 2,915 pending submissions waiting for review.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Reviewer tools
|
Benjamin Radd | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Lecturer |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Stanford University (JD) |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Law, politics, international studies |
| Institutions | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Website | benjaminradd |
Early life and education
Radd was born in Shiraz, Iran, and left the country with his family as a refugee following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. After settling in the United States, he continued his education, earning a law degree from Stanford University before beginning a PhD in political science at UCLA. He has also served as a graduate fellow at UCLA’s Center for Middle East Development.[3]
Career
Middle East and Iran–Israel affairs
Radd has frequently commented on political developments in the Middle East across a range of U.S. and international news outlets. In an interview with CBS News, he analyzed Israel’s strike on Iran and the escalation that followed.[4] He later appeared on LiveNOW from Fox to discuss U.S. policy toward Iran and the prospects for renewed negotiations amid heightened tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.[5]
Radd has also provided analysis for ABC 10News San Diego, where he addressed rising tensions between Israel and Iran. He argued that Israel would not have carried out its attack without U.S. support and highlighted the role of political signaling in shaping government behavior.[6] In an interview with Sky News Australia, he discussed the Trump administration’s approach to Iran, suggesting that President Trump had already formed a view on the possibility of military intervention and explaining how political calculations shaped the administration’s handling of escalation.[7]
He was again interviewed by ABC 10News San Diego after a U.S. Navy F‑35 shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln, describing the incident as part of a broader pattern of escalating tensions and warning that even minor encounters carried the risk of sparking a wider confrontation.[8] In a separate segment for CBS Los Angeles, he commented on the continuing tensions between the United States and Iran, noting that President Trump’s threat of military intervention in response to the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on nationwide protests risked further escalation.[9]
Global security and international relations
Radd has participated in long‑form discussions on global security and international affairs. In a roundtable episode of The Diary of a CEO, he joined other experts to examine rising geopolitical tensions, nuclear risks, and U.S.–Iran relations.[10] He was also featured as a political scientist on the CNN program The Story Is, where he analyzed escalating U.S.–Iran tensions, Israeli military operations, and the implications of ongoing negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine.[11]
Radd has additionally commented on U.S.–Russia relations. In an interview with CBS News, he discussed the significance of the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska and the issues expected to be addressed during the meeting.[12] He also appeared in the documentary War Game, screened at the Sundance Film Festival, where he discussed crisis decision‑making and the risks posed by domestic extremism. Drawing on his experience of Iran’s 1979 revolution, he contributed to simulations exploring how U.S. institutions might respond to a breakdown of political order.[13]
U.S. domestic politics and elections
Radd has been quoted in U.S. media outlets for his analysis of foreign policy and domestic political dynamics. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he discussed President Trump’s diplomatic approach and its implications for global politics.[14] He has also been cited by Business Insider for his analysis of U.S. electoral politics, including JD Vance’s debate performance and the strategic challenges facing vice‑presidential candidates.[15]
Radd has likewise been quoted by TIME for his analysis of political violence in the United States. He noted that claims of a major rise in left‑wing violence were not supported by available data and emphasized the role of media amplification in shaping public perceptions.[16] He has also been quoted by The Straits Times for his analysis of President Trump’s political rhetoric and foreign‑policy signaling, arguing that Trump often tests the political environment before acting, using provocative statements that may remain rhetorical unless he perceives domestic or international support for escalation.[17]
Iranian diaspora and economic conditions in Iran
Radd has been interviewed by NBC Los Angeles about protests within the Iranian diaspora. He discussed the effects of hyperinflation and broader economic pressures inside Iran, explaining how the rapid devaluation of the currency has contributed to widespread unrest.[18] He has also been interviewed by CBS News regarding tensions within the Iranian community in Los Angeles. He noted that the political slogans displayed on a truck during an anti‑government rally echoed rhetoric associated with radical groups and helped explain the crowd’s reaction.[19]
Campus politics
He has also commented on campus politics and Middle Eastern affairs in interviews with NewsNation, discussing the UCLA protests and the challenges of balancing free expression with student safety.[20]