Volker Perthes, born in 1958, received his Doctorate from the University of Duisburg, Germany, in 1990, and his habilitation in 1999. He was assistant professor at the American University of Beirut (1991-1993), and he taught at the Universities of Duisburg, Muenster and Munich. He currently teaches as professor (Political Science/International Relations) at Humboldt University Berlin and Free University of Berlin.

Perthes has been with Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Berlin (previously Ebenhausen) since 1992. Perthes served as head of SWP Research Group Middle East and Africa for several years. Since October 2005, he is chairman of SWP and director of its institute. He serves as a member of several scientific boards such as the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS) and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA, UPI), among others.