Jon B. Alterman
Jon B. Alterman is a senior vice president, holds the Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and is director of the Middle East Program at CSIS. Prior to joining CSIS in 2002, he served as a member of the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. Department of State and as a special assistant to the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, and from 2009-2019 he served as a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel. In addition to his policy work, he often teaches Middle Eastern studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and the George Washington University. Earlier in his career, Alterman was a scholar at the U.S. Institute of Peace and at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a legislative aide to Senator Daniel P. Moynihan (D-NY) responsible for foreign policy and defense. From 1993 to 1997, Alterman was an award-winning teacher at Harvard University, where he received his Ph.D. in history. Alterman has lectured in more than 35 countries on five continents on subjects related to the Middle East and U.S. policy toward the region. He is the author or coauthor of four books on the Middle East and the editor of five more. In addition to his academic work, he is sought out as a consultant to business and government and is a frequent commentator in print, on radio, and on television. His opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and other major publications. He is a former international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he is now a life member. He received his A.B. from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs.
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Media Queries
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- Chief Communications Officer
- 202.775.3242
- aschwartz@csis.org
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- Media Relations Coordinator, External Relations
- 202.775.7317
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In the News
Saudi Arabia's oil giant boss speaks up for China, saying its massive production of solar panels and EVs helps affordability
Jon B. Alterman in Business Insider — April 23, 2024
China seeks greater global diplomatic role but avoids the Middle East, analysts say
Jon B. Alterman in South China Morning Post — April 20, 2024
India watching Iran-Israel conflict closely amid growing fears over trade and energy risks
Jon B. Alterman in South China Morning Post — April 19, 2024
Israel and Iran’s conflict enters a new, dangerous phase
Jon B. Alterman in Vox — April 19, 2024
Emboldened Iran Makes Dangerous Gamble on Open Confrontation
Jon B. Alterman in The Wall Street Journal — April 17, 2024
Israel-Iran Confrontation Forces Gulf Powers to Choose Sides
Jon B. Alterman in The Wall Street Journal — April 16, 2024
U.S. officials expect Israel’s response to Iran to be limited, according to NBC
Jon B. Alterman in CNBC — April 16, 2024
US braces for Iran’s response to Israel’s Damascus strike
Jon B. Alterman in The Hill — April 5, 2024
All Jon B. Alterman Content
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A Conversation with Jordanian Finance Minister Mohamad al-Ississ
Event — September 29, 2021
Covid-19 Splits the Middle East
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — April 27, 2021
Covid Hasn’t Crushed the Middle East . . . Yet
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — November 18, 2020
Coronavirus Crisis Update: US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea- “The Writing Was on the Wall.”
Podcast Episode by J. Stephen Morrison and Jon B. Alterman — November 17, 2020
Covid-19’s ‘Politics of Humiliation’: A Chance for the US to Lead—or to Lose Control
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — June 1, 2020
The Middle East’s Challenges Aren’t Just Combatting the Virus
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — April 28, 2020
Online Event: Crisis and Survival Amidst Covid-19 in Yemen
Event — April 27, 2020
CSIS Press Call: Global Disruptions from Covid-19
Event — April 24, 2020
Tarik Yousef: Economic Implication of Covid-19 in the Middle East
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Will Todman — April 7, 2020
Jon Alterman & McKinley Knoop: COVID-19 and Cascading Crises in the Middle East
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — March 25, 2020