Title Link to Content Sub Header Text Programs
Afghanistan and Pakistan /programs/afghanistan-and-pakistan-studies
Arabian Peninsula /programs/arabian-peninsula
Black Sea Program /programs/black-sea Throughout history, the Greater Middle East has served as a strategic springboard to Europe and Central Asia. Today, the Black Sea region, in particular, finds itself at the heart of Iranian, Russian, and Chinese attempts to shape a new order in this part of the world, comprising cultural, political, commercial, and strategic elements. In the context of today's strategic competition, MEI's Black Sea Program explores interactions among countries in the extended Black Sea area—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine—with the Middle East, Russia, and China. This MEI program examines security, political, economic, and energy relationships, as well as trends that are likely to grow in strategic importance.
Climate and Water Program /programs/climate-and-water
Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues /programs/track-ii-dialogue Establishing spaces for current and former officials and experts to engage in problem-solving dialogues in which they discuss emerging political and security trends in the region, resolution of conflicts, and broader issues related to regional security.
Countering Terrorism & Extremism /programs/countering-terrorism-extremism MEI's Countering Terrorism and Extremism program seeks to generate a more locally-rooted understanding of the threats and challenges of today and tomorrow - grasping where they come from and why they come about, and most importantly, how to more effectively and sustainably defeat them.
Defense and Security /programs/defense-and-security MEI's Defense and Security program provides rigorous and multidisciplinary analysis of the current and emerging defense and security challenges and opportunities facing the United States and its regional partners. It also works to create a unique, credible, and independent platform for defense and security stakeholders from both the United States and the region to more closely interact, exchange views, and share experiences regarding various matters of national security.
Economics and Energy Program /programs/economics-and-energy-program The Program on Economics and Energy seeks to advance understanding of the impact of a global energy transition away from hydrocarbons for those traditional oil and gas exporters of the Middle East. The program also investigates the relationship between oil and gas exporters and importers across MENA, in the role of financial aid and investment, remittances, and labor markets.
Egypt and the Horn of Africa /programs/egypt-horn-of-africa
Iran Program /programs/iran-program
Lebanon Program /programs/lebanon-program Since 2019, Lebanon has suffered a grueling convergence of political, humanitarian, financial, and socio-economic crises. In parallel, citizens have risen up to demand accountability, reforms, and an end to corruption and incompetence. In such critical times, MEI’s dedicated Lebanon program seeks to inform and advance the policy conversation on Lebanon in the United States and globally. The program particularly focuses on investigating and promoting viable paths forward for Lebanon as it battles through one of the darkest periods in its 100-year modern history.
Middle East - Asia Project (MAP) /programs/middle-east-asia-project Content from this project is now archived as of March 2023. MAP explored the multidimensional relations between the Middle East and Asia through scholarly analysis of cross-regional economic, political, security, and social/cultural interactions and their implications. It worked to foster collaborative research on these issues through building an online community of experts and forging institutional partnerships.
North Africa and the Sahel /programs/north-africa-and-sahel The North Africa and Sahel Program studies this region’s evolving internal social, political, and economic dynamics and draws attention to its growing geopolitical significance. The program brings the voices and experiences of new and established actors to a global audience and provides a space to build closer ties and promote shared peace and prosperity.
Palestine /programs/program-palestine-and-palestinian-israeli-affairs
Strategic Foresight Initiative /programs/strategic-foresight-initiative MEI's Strategic Foresight Initiative examines key drivers and dynamics at work in the region, thinks strategically, creatively and rigorously about various scenarios, risks and opportunities, and uses methodologically sound approaches to help decision-makers chart a course forward.
Strategic Technologies and Cyber Security Program /programs/stcs The world is witnessing a tech cold war and decoupling between the U.S. and China, as new geopolitical fault lines emerge based on technology networks and the flow of information. This has critical implications for the Middle East as the region seeks to become an inflection point for the new digital order and a key arbiter in building the global digital architecture. MEI's Strategic Technologies and Cyber Security Program studies how emerging technologies are impacting the region, analyzes the rise of new tech powers, and seeks to open up opportunities for new tech cooperation between the U.S. and leading regional actors.
Syria Initiative /programs/syria-program MEI’s Syria Initiative seeks to provide insightful and grounded research and analysis on all things Syria in order to better inform a wide range of audiences and to help sustain and shape a more meaningful policy-oriented discussion. Drawing on the expertise of over a dozen renowned scholars, the Syria Program covers all aspects of Syria and its ongoing crises - from political, economic, legal, social, ethnic and religious dynamics, to conflict, insurgency and terrorism and the country’s history and possible futures.
Turkey /programs/turkey