Middle East Program
Providing fresh analysis of the drives of change in the Middle East
The CSIS Middle East Program provides fresh analysis of the drivers of change in the Middle East to decision makers and thought leaders in the United States and abroad.
The Middle East Program is a source for new ideas that go beyond the conventional wisdom, disseminated through written scholarship, events, and commentary in leading news outlets.
Follow us on Twitter @CSISMidEast and like us on Facebook.
Dr. Alterman serves as the director of the Middle East Program, a position he has held since 2002. Under his leadership, the Middle East Program has launched a biweekly podcast and numerous miniseries, convened events with many of the top thinkers in the field, and conducted innovative research on the Middle East including work on the Chinese influence, sustainability, and cultural shifts in the region.
Contact Information
- Daniel Sharp
- Associate Director and Associate Fellow, Middle East Program
- 202.775.3179
- DSharp@csis.org
Media Queries
- H. Andrew Schwartz
- Chief Communications Officer
- 202.775.3242
- aschwartz@csis.org
- Paige Montfort
- Media Relations Manager, External Relations
- 202.775.3173
- pmontfort@csis.org
Featured Analysis

Photo: VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP/Getty Images
What Did Saudi Arabia Just Do?
Dr. Jon Alterman, Ben Cahill, and Dr. Joseph Majkut note key questions arising from the recent decision by OPEC+ to decrease oil production and its impact on the United States’ relationship with Saudi Arabia.
Critical Questions by Jon B. Alterman , Joseph Majkut , and Ben Cahill — October 6, 2022

Rescuing Aid in Syria
Report by Natasha Hall — February 14, 2022

Sustainable States: Environment, Governance, and the Future of the Middle East
Report by Jon B. Alterman , Natasha Hall , and Will Todman — May 18, 2021

Babel: U.S. Power and Influence in the Middle East
Podcast Series by Jon B. Alterman

China Podcast Miniseries
Featured Projects
All content by Middle East Program
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A Mezze: Salmon Farming in the UAE
Podcast Episode — February 1, 2023

The Kurdish Roots of Iran’s Freedom Movement
Event by Jon B. Alterman , Jason Rezaian , Behrouz Boochani , and Tara Azizi — January 26, 2023

Hanna Notte: Russia in the Middle East After Ukraine
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Natasha Hall , and Daniel Sharp — January 24, 2023

Salmon Fishing in the UAE: How Salmon Farming Fits into the Emirates’ Food Security Plans
Newsletter by Lubna Yousef and Caleb Harper — January 24, 2023


The Arab World at an Inflection Point
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — January 17, 2023

Jihad Azour: The Middle East's Economic Outlook
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Natasha Hall , and Daniel Sharp — January 10, 2023


Khalid Albaih: The Information Bubble
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Lubna Yousef — December 27, 2022

Untying the Knot
Newsletter by Caleb Harper — December 22, 2022
