Jon B. Alterman
Jon B. Alterman is a senior vice president, holds the Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and is director of the Middle East Program at CSIS. Prior to joining CSIS in 2002, he served as a member of the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. Department of State and as a special assistant to the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, and from 2009-2019 he served as a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel. In addition to his policy work, he often teaches Middle Eastern studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and the George Washington University. Earlier in his career, Alterman was a scholar at the U.S. Institute of Peace and at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a legislative aide to Senator Daniel P. Moynihan (D-NY) responsible for foreign policy and defense. From 1993 to 1997, Alterman was an award-winning teacher at Harvard University, where he received his Ph.D. in history.
Alterman has lectured in more than 35 countries on five continents on subjects related to the Middle East and U.S. policy toward the region. He is the author or coauthor of four books on the Middle East and the editor of five more. In addition to his academic work, he is sought out as a consultant to business and government and is a frequent commentator in print, on radio, and on television. His opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and other major publications. He is a former international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he is now a life member. He received his A.B. from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs.
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In the News
As Modi Preps for US Visit, Mideast Leaders Study India’s Nonalignment
Jon B. Alterman in Defense One — June 18, 2023
US plays nice despite Saudis flexing oil power
Jon B. Alterman in The Hill — June 12, 2023
Rise in Wrongful Detentions Abroad Sparks Effort to Bolster U.S. Hostage Policy
Jon B. Alterman in Wall Street Journal — June 1, 2023
Rise in Wrongful Detentions Abroad Sparks Effort to Bolster U.S. Hostage Policy
Jon B. Alterman in The Wall Street Journal — June 1, 2023
America’s new embassy in Beirut is vast
Jon B. Alterman in The Economist — May 18, 2023
Saudi Arabia's sports binge seeks economic dividend
Jon B. Alterman in Deutsche Welle — May 11, 2023
Saudi Arabia’s journey from troublemaker to diplomat
Jon B. Alterman in Financial Times — May 7, 2023
Why the US Military’s Messages Are Falling on Deaf Middle Eastern Ears
Jon B. Alterman in Defense one — April 25, 2023
All Jon B. Alterman Content
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Shirin Hakim: Iran’s Environmental Challenges
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Daniel Sharp — July 11, 2023
Dalia Hatuqa: Palestinian Politics
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — June 27, 2023
India's Model for the Middle East
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — June 20, 2023
Middle East Notes and Comments: India’s Model for the Middle East
Newsletter by Jon B. Alterman — June 20, 2023
Christoph Reuter: Syria’s War Economy
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Lubna Yousef , and Natasha Hall — June 13, 2023
Nicolas Pelham: Morocco's Missing King
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Natasha Hall , and Daniel Sharp — May 30, 2023
Middle East Notes and Comments: Five Factors Mean the Middle East Is Not Back to Normal
Newsletter by Jon B. Alterman — May 24, 2023
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
Hafsa Halawa: Egypt's Economic Turmoil
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Lubna Yousef — May 16, 2023