Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Helena Cobban is a British-American journalist, author, writer, researcher, and commentator specializing in Middle Eastern affairs, international relations, the international system, and transitional justice. Born in London in 1952, she has built a distinguished career contributing to major outlets such as The Christian Science Monitor, The Guardian, and Al-Hayat. Her work is known for critical views on U.S. and Israeli policies, advocating for peace and justice. Cobban founded Just World Books in 2007, a publishing house focused on international relations and peace activism where she serves as CEO, and she also leads Just World Educational, a non-profit promoting educational initiatives on global issues. She holds a non-resident senior fellow position at the Center for International Policy in Washington, D.C. Her professional journey includes extensive reporting from the Middle East during the 1970s and 1980s, covering the Lebanese Civil War and Palestinian issues. She has authored seven books, including 'The Palestinian Liberation Organisation: People, Power and Politics' (1984) and 'Sanctions: The Case of Iraq' (1996). After a period focused on her publishing ventures, she resumed active writing in 2019, maintaining a blog and contributing columns on global affairs. Known for bridging journalism, academia, and activism with a focus on non-violent conflict resolution, her dual British-American nationality reflects her transatlantic perspective as she continues to influence discourse on Middle Eastern politics from her base in the United States.