Brenda Shaffer
Energy & Foreign Policy Expert
Brenda Shaffer is a leading authority on the Caucasus, ethnic politics in Iran, and Caspian energy. Her book Energy Politics is used as a textbook in over 200 university courses around the globe.
About
Analyst. Advisor.
Professor. Author.
Brenda Shaffer is a seasoned analyst who specializes in global energy trends, markets, and policy. Informed by a combination of real-world experience and extensive academic research, she analyzes Caspian, Iranian, and European energy security, including critical energy infrastructure protection, as well as Azerbaijan, the South Caucasus, and ethnic politics in Iran.
She is a faculty member at the US Naval Postgraduate School’s Energy Academic Group and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center. Professor Shaffer frequently advises businesses, international organizations, and policymakers, and has authored seven books, most recently Operational Energy (2024) and Iran is More Than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran (2022).
Academic & Policy Role
- Faculty, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School – Energy Academic Group
- Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center
- Testified before the U.S. Congress and international political bodies
- Regular commentator on CNBC, Bloomberg TV, BBC, NPR, and the Wall Street Journal
- Formerly, Research Director, Harvard University’s Caspian Studies Program
- Formerly, Visiting Researcher, Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies
Publications
Books
Iran is More Than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran
A controversial but needed discussion of ethnicity inside Iran. When the people of the Iranian plateau — the Persians — and Persian expatriates bristle so easily at the discussion of non-Persian ethnic pride in Iran, outsiders should take note.
— Reuel Marc Gerecht, FDD
Energy Politics
…a timely, provocative, and pioneering exploration of an increasingly important topic.
— Graham Allison, Harvard University
Beyond the Resource Curse
…foursquarely addresses the question of what resources can do—or not do—for a country…a truly refreshing volume.
— Svante Cornell, Johns Hopkins University
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