Middle East Program
Providing fresh analysis of the drivers 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 by:GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images
Saudi Arabia Steps Out
The recent China-brokered agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran represents a new era of Saudi diplomacy, shifting away from passive agreement with the United States and toward greater independent engagement in the region and beyond.
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — March 22, 2023

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

Powering Recovery: Reform, Reconstruction, and Renewables in Conflict-Affected States in the Arab World
Report by Will Todman , Jon B. Alterman , and Lubna Yousef — March 3, 2023

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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Five Factors Mean the Middle East Is Not Back to Normal
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — May 23, 2023
A U.S. Pivot Away from the Middle East: Fact or Fiction?
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — May 23, 2023
A Mezze: From Stable to Table—Egypt's Donkey Meat Controversy
Podcast Episode — May 23, 2023

Iran's "Cloudy" Accusations
Newsletter by Lubna Yousef — May 23, 2023
How Renewables Fight Corruption in Conflict-Affected States
Commentary by Will Todman — May 16, 2023
Hafsa Halawa: Egypt's Economic Turmoil
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Lubna Yousef — May 16, 2023

Local to Global: Tensions Course through Iraq’s Waterways
Commentary by Natasha Hall and Caleb Harper — May 12, 2023
Can Artists Shape Environmental Policy in the Middle East?
Blog Post by Will Todman — May 11, 2023
Food Security in the Middle East: A Conversation with HE Minister Mariam Almheiri of the UAE
Event by Jon B. Alterman , Caitlin Welsh , and HE Minister Mariam Almheiri — May 10, 2023
