Jon B. Alterman

Senior Vice President, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and Director, Middle East Program
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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Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: Sana’s Solar Revolution

Solar panels are giving Yemenis access to affordable power solutions, even as traditional electric grids are failing.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — March 17, 2020

CSIS Babel
Energy 360°

Energy and Geopolitics - the Oil Price War

CSIS’s Jon Alterman and Frank Verrastro join Energy 360 this week to update listeners on the fast-moving developments from OPEC, the oil markets, Saudi Arabia, and across the Middle East.

Podcast Episode by Frank A. Verrastro and Jon B. Alterman — March 16, 2020

CSIS Energy 360
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Hanin Ghaddar: Sectarianism in Lebanon

Jon and Hanin Ghaddar discuss sectarianism in Lebanon, the changing role of Hezbollah, and what’s next for a country mired in economic troubles.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — March 10, 2020

CSIS Babel

Syria's Tragedy, Our Lessons

The CSIS Middle East Program and Humanitarian Agenda are pleased to host David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, to address the ninth anniversary of the Syrian conflict.

Event — March 2, 2020

Babel: Translating the Middle East

China in the Middle East: Part Six

In the sixth and final episode of our podcast miniseries, China in the Middle East, Jon Alterman looks at the future of China in the Middle East with Nadège Rolland and Deborah Lehr.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — February 24, 2020

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

China in the Middle East: Part Five

In the fifth episode of our podcast miniseries, China in the Middle East, Jon Alterman looks at U.S.-Chinese cooperation and competition in the region with Robert Manning and Dawn Murphy.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — February 18, 2020

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

China in the Middle East: Part Four

In the fourth episode of our podcast miniseries, China in the Middle East, Jon Alterman explores the Middle East’s perspectives on China with Mohammed Sudairi and Ariane Tabatabai.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — February 10, 2020

CSIS Babel