Utility Navigation MEI@75 BLOG PODCAST ABOUT عربي DONATE POLICY ANALYSIS EVENTS EDUCATION EXPERTS ARTS & CULTURE GET INVOLVED SEARCH Analysis OPEC+ faces new tests to its market balancing strategy in 2022 When President Joe Biden’s White House announced that it had successfully enlisted several major oil-consuming countries in an effort to coordinate releases from strategic petroleum reserves around the world, it looked like this would be the only major factor in oil markets that OPEC+ would need to consider at its upcoming meeting on Dec. 2. Then came Omicron. Read the analysis PUBLICATION Tajikistan’s evolving relations with the Taliban 2.0 View More Publications Button FEATURE Monday Briefing: Iran nuclear talks resume, but the two sides remain as far apart as ever View More Button PUBLICATION The existential challenge of Jordan’s unquenchable thirst View More Publications Button Marking 75 Years of Excellence This year marks the Middle East Institute’s 75th anniversary. As a leading American organization focused on the Middle East, MEI is leveraging its history and legacy by launching MEI@75, a three-year campaign to deepen and expand our work towards building the US-Middle East relationship. Learn more Converging Lines: Tracing the Artistic Lineage of the Arab Diaspora in the U.S. Curated by Maymanah Farhat. On view September 10 - November 17, 2021 Artists belonging to the Arab Diaspora in the United States have contributed to the development of American art since the early twentieth century, yet the story of this artistic community has rarely been considered. Converging Lines: Tracing the Artistic Lineage of the Arab Diaspora in the U.S. seeks to unearth this history by identifying some of the aesthetic threads that connect a diverse, multigenerational group of artists, thus offering a template for future scholarship. One of the most prominent themes explored by Arab American and U.S based Arab artists over the last seventy-five years has been the process of migration and the state of in-betweenness that often results. Beginning with the work of Kahlil Gibran, a member of the earliest known Arab American creative community, the exhibition explores how artists have used concepts like third spaces, community building, hybridity, and memory formation in works that allude to the complexities of migration, including invisibility, alienation, intergenerational trauma, and changing identities. Featured artists are Etel Adnan, Sama Alshaibi, Zeina Barakeh, Kamal Boullata, Huguette Caland, Yasmine Nasser Diaz, Dahlia Elsayed, Kahlil Gibran, Sherin Guirguis, Helen Khal, John Halaka, Jackie Milad, Mohammed Omar Khalil, Zeinab Saab, Jacqueline Reem Salloum, Nazar Yahya, and Helen Zughaib. This exhibition is now closed. Stay tuned for information about upcoming shows. Photo: Corps bleu (1973), Huguette Caland (courtesy Huguette Caland Estate) Expanding Knowledge, Narrowing Divides MEI fosters greater understanding of the Middle East through non-partisan policy analysis, educational services, and promotion of regional arts and culture. Policy Center A source for non-partisan expert analysis seeking solutions to the region’s most challenging issues Learn More Education Center Classes, academic resources, and professional development services to foster regional understanding Learn More Arts & Culture Center D.C.’s only gallery dedicated to contemporary and modern art from the Middle East Learn More Upcoming Events Attend free, public events at our D.C. headquarters or tune in to our live webcasts view Libya and the Global Enduring Disorder December 2, 2021, 10:00 am EST view Between the Sky and the Earth: Contemporary Art from the UAE December 3, 2021, 5:00 pm EST view Permission to Narrate: The Shifting Discourse on Israel/Palestine in the U.S. December 9, 2021, 10:30 am EST Get Involved Discover how you can become a part of the MEI community. LEARN MORE MEI Art Gallery Open for Timed Visits The MEI Art Gallery accepts in-person appointments to view its current exhibitions. Hours are Monday to Friday, 10am - 5pm, excluding federal holidays. Please note that occupancy is currently limited to no more than eight visitors in the Gallery at a time. Book a visit Oman Library Now Open By Appointment Please call or email the librarian to set up a time to visit, research, or browse our ongoing book sale. Also keep an eye out for new acquisitions to the catalog and the publication of online resource guides. More information Subscribe to Updates Get the latest MEI policy briefings, event notifications, and other updates delivered straight to your inbox. Email Subscribe Leading Regional Expertise MEI’s scholars draw on deep ties and decades of experience working in the region to build better understanding of Middle East policy. View All Scholars Research Programs Led by renowned scholars and regional experts, MEI's policy research programs produce original analysis, convene roundtables and public events, and work to advance understanding of the complexities of regional policy. Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies MEI’s Afghanistan and Pakistan studies center aims to advance a balanced and realistic understanding of the politics, economy, society and foreign policy of these two countries. It works with scholars to produce original research, sponsors lectures, produces opinion pieces, and provides expert analysis with the goal of promoting knowledge about Afghanistan and Pakistan among the American public and within policy making circles. Learn More Button Arabian Peninsula Affairs MEI’s Arabian Peninsula Affairs program aims to enhance U.S. understanding of the major issues and opportunities in front of the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council who are key political, security, and economic partners for the United States. It is a hub for analysis of developments within the GCC and the broader region, including Iran, Yemen, and the Gulf and Red Sea littorals. Learn More Button Climate and Water Program The Climate and Water Program seeks to assess and understand the broader impacts of climate change in the region, with emphasis on water resources management, sustainability, and the environment. The program also explores the use of water and environmental policy, climate adaptation and mitigation, and green initiatives to enhance the climate resilience of the Middle East and North Africa. Learn More Button Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues 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. Learn More Button 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. Learn More Button Cyber Program MEI's Cyber Program studies the intersection of technology, security and governance in the Middle East, with a particular focus on international security, foreign relations, privacy, and human security. The Initiative seeks to establish a greater understanding of cybersecurity issues among Middle East experts, and to examine how the cyber domain will impact the future of the region. Learn More Button 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. Learn More Button 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. Learn More Button Egypt Program MEI's Egypt Program looks at the country's security, economic and political developments. It seeks to examine Egypt’s domestic developments and regional role through research, private roundtables and public events. Learn More Button Frontier Europe Initiative MEI’s Frontier Europe Initiative explores interactions between Middle East countries and their Frontier Europe neighbors – the parts of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus which form a frontier between Western Europe, Russia and the Middle East. The program examines the growing energy, trade, security and political relationships with the aim of developing greater understanding of the interplay between these strategically important regions. Learn More Button Iran Program MEI’s Iran program covers Iranian domestic politics, civil society and social trends, and Tehran’s soft- and hard-power approach to geopolitical competition with other regional states through research, articles, papers, and public and private events. Learn More Button Lebanon Program The past two years have been grueling for Lebanon. Political, humanitarian, financial, and socio-economic crises have converged. 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. Learn More Button Middle East - Asia Project (MAP) MAP explores 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 seeks to foster collaborative research on these issues through building an online community of experts and forging institutional partnerships. Learn More Button North Africa and the 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. Learn More Button Palestine and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs The Program on Palestine and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs examines the future of Palestinian politics and the Palestinian national movement as well as the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role of the conflict in the stability of the broader Middle East. Learn More Button 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. Learn More Button Syria Program MEI’s Syria Program 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. Learn More Button Turkish Studies Established in 2009, MEI’s Turkish Studies program seeks to highlight and analyze political, economic, and social developments in Turkey through scholarly research and public events. It organizes an annual conference featuring leading experts and policy practitioners from Turkey, the United States, and the EU. Learn More Button Latest Publications PUBLICATION view Iranians are disillusioned with Biden’s soft approach to the Islamic Republic Dec 01, 2021 Ammar Maleki / Pooyan Tamimi Arab If the Biden administration makes concessions to appease the Islamic Republic of Iran as part of the recently resumed Vienna nuclear talks, it will be a historic mistake. The Islamic Republic is facing a deep legitimacy crisis of its own making, as a series of disastrous decisions have hardened the people’s views against the regime. These days, anyone who is seen to be throwing the Islamic Republic a lifeline will be wildly unpopular among Iranians. PUBLICATION view The EU’s Strategic Compass: Preparing to navigate MENA “with less US” Nov 18, 2021 Saskia M. van Genugten PUBLICATION view Plotting like a revolutionary: The need for growing like-minded humanistic networks of Iranians and Arabs Nov 16, 2021 Alberto M. Fernandez PUBLICATION view Georgia and NATO: The case for a 2.0 partnership Nov 18, 2021 Iulia-Sabina Joja PODCAST view Observing COP26 Nov 19, 2021 What We Do We seek to promote knowledge of the Middle East in America and strengthen understanding of the United States by the peoples and governments of the region. We believe pursuit of this goal is integral to building a world of peace and stability, in which the people of our two regions value our shared humanity. 1 Our experts shape diplomatic, legislative, and public discourse through publications, private briefings, testimony, and media. 2 We provide education and resources to the next generation of global leaders. 3 Our Center for Arts & Culture promotes a more integrated understanding of the Middle East, forging people-to-people connections and creating a destination for exploring the role of the arts in the region. 4 We elevate voices from the region in international conversation. 5 Our international conflict resolution dialogues bring together civil society and political leaders to achieve impact through cooperation both in and outside of the region. 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