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.

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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

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Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: Salmon Farming in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) doesn’t seem like the ideal place for a salmon farm, but aquaculture is becoming an increasingly large part of the UAE's food security strategy.

Podcast Episode — February 1, 2023

CSIS Babel

The Kurdish Roots of Iran’s Freedom Movement

The death of Mahsa Amini has brought Iranian Kurds’ long struggle for representation to the forefront. Join the Middle East Program as we discuss the history and future of Kurdish identity in Iran.

Event by Jon B. Alterman , Jason Rezaian , Behrouz Boochani , and Tara Azizi — January 26, 2023

Babel: Translating the Middle East

Hanna Notte: Russia in the Middle East After Ukraine

Jon Alterman speaks with Hanna Notte about Russia's interests in the Middle East and where they stand after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia's growing economic and defense relationship with Iran, and how Arab states view Russia's war in Ukraine.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Natasha Hall , and Daniel Sharp — January 24, 2023

CSIS Babel

The Arab World at an Inflection Point

CSIS expert Jon B. Alterman explains why the Arab world is once again at an inflection point as leaders make consequential decisions about their countries’ economies, governance style, respect for freedom of speech, and level of income inequality.

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — January 17, 2023

Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: Untying the Knot

To bring divorce rates down in Egypt, the government is intervening before couples tie the knot in the first place.

Podcast Episode — January 17, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Jihad Azour: The Middle East's Economic Outlook

Jon speaks with the Jihad Azour of the IMF about the Middle East's economic outlook and the political consequences of economic reforms.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Natasha Hall , and Daniel Sharp — January 10, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: Weed Whacking

As regional conflicts blaze, Lebanese and Israeli drug markets are feeling the heat: over the past two years, hashish prices have fallen 50 percent in Lebanon, while in Israel, prices are rising.

Podcast Episode — January 3, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Khalid Albaih: The Information Bubble

Jon Alterman speaks with Khalid Albaih about how he got his start in political cartoons and the role of the internet for debating political ideas and art.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Lubna Yousef — December 27, 2022

CSIS Babel

Untying the Knot

As divorce rates fall in the West—where more and more couples are avoiding marriage in the first place—the number of divorces in the Arab world has been steadily climbing for decades.

Newsletter by Caleb Harper and Mennah Abdelwahab — December 22, 2022