Dr. Michael Cairo is a Professor of Political Science and currently Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Transylvania University.   He primarily teaches courses in international relations and the politics of the Middle East. Cairo has previously taught at Virginia Commonwealth University, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, and Georgetown College.   His first book, The Gulf: The Bush Presidencies and the Middle East, published in November 2012, is the inaugural book in the University Press of Kentucky series on Conflict, Diplomacy, and Peace.  In The Gulf, Cairo reveals how, despite many similarities, George H.W. and George W. Bush pursued very different international strategies. He explores how the personality, beliefs, and leadership style of each man influenced contemporary U.S. foreign policy. Contrasting the presidents’ management of American wars in Iraq, approach to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and relationships with their Israeli counterparts, he offers valuable insights into two leaders who left indelible marks on U.S. international relations.   In his review of The Gulf, political scientist Michael Genovese stated, “In the end, this well-documented, elegantly written, forcefully argued book is both important and groundbreaking. This book will be of particularly high value to young scholars as a model of excellent scholarship that they may wish to follow and from which much can be learned.”

Cairo has also written numerous book chapters and book reviews focusing on American diplomacy.  He is currently working on a second book examining US-Israeli relations from the LBJ to the Obama administrations, focusing on the personal relationships between American presidents and Israeli prime ministers.