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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Security Assistance in the Middle East: A Conversation
Event by Jon B. Alterman , Hicham Alaoui , Robert Springborg , Lindsay J. Benstead , and Alex Walsh — April 19, 2023
Ayham Kamel: The Gulf's Regional Diplomacy
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Daniel Sharp — April 18, 2023

Locked Out of Development: A Conversation with Dr. Steffen Hertog
Event by Jon B. Alterman and Steffen Hertog — April 17, 2023
A Mezze: Help Wanted, But Not Found
Podcast Episode — April 11, 2023

Ali Vaez: Iran's Regional Policy
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Natasha Hall , and Caleb Harper — April 4, 2023

A Mezze: Saudi Arabia's New Anime Journey
Podcast Episode — March 28, 2023

Powering Recovery in the Middle East: Realities on the Ground
Event by Jon B. Alterman , Matthew D. Steinhelfer , Christina Abi Haidar , Paul Noumba Um , and Will Todman — March 22, 2023
Saudi Arabia Steps Out
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — March 22, 2023
Help Wanted, But Not Found: Emiratization in the UAE
Newsletter by Lubna Yousef and Caleb Harper — March 22, 2023
Iraq 20 Years Later with Marsin Alshamary and Hamzeh Hadad
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Lubna Yousef — March 21, 2023
