Juan Cole is an American academic and Professor of History at the University of Michigan. He has dedicated his career to understanding the modern Middle East and the Muslim world, and critically evaluating its relationship with North Atlantic states. His research spans topics from extremist groups to peace movements, covering regions such as Egypt, Iran, Iraq, the Gulf, and South Asia.

Cole is a prolific author, having written, edited, or translated 21 books and over 100 articles and chapters.