Youssef Sawani is a researcher in politics and international relations with a focus on Arab affairs. A renowned Libya expert and author, Youssef Sawani has an interest in Libyan affairs, especially governance, foreign policy, security and economy.

He taught at the Political Science Department at the University of Tripoli for over a quarter of a century, where he was Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science and coordinator of its graduate studies program.

He is the editor of the Contemporary Arab Affairs journal published by the University of California Press for the Centre for Arab Unity Studies in Beirut, where he is the Director of Studies.

He has published many books, chapters, and articles in Arabic and English and appears as a guest on Arab and foreign TV channels.

He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK.