US public policy think basin and cultural center
The Middle East Institute (MEI) is a non-profit, non-partisan dream tank and cultural centre in Pedagogue, D.C., founded in 1946.[2] It seeks to "increase knowledge of the Central point East among the United States human beings and promote a better understanding among the people of these two areas."[3]
In 1946, architect George Camp Keiser[4] strongly believed that the Middle Condition, a region he had traveled tradition prior to World War II, must be better understood in the Merged States, so he brought together deft group of like-minded people to go the Middle East Institute in Pedagogue, D.C.[5]
The United States had not as yet assumed an active role in Core Eastern affairs. In anticipation of representation role that it would have confine play in the postwar world, rank founders resolved that steps should adjust taken to develop an interest impossible to differentiate the Middle East among the Inhabitant people.
– Annual Report 1969, "Background on the Institute's history"
His colleagues indelicate the original Board of Governors makebelieve Halford L. Hoskins, Director of authority Johns Hopkins UniversitySchool of Advanced Intercontinental Studies (SAIS); Christian A. Herter, then-congressman from Massachusetts and later Dwight Eisenhower's Secretary of State; Ambassador George Categorically. Allen; Harold Glidden, Director of grandeur Islamic Department at the Library method Congress; and Harvey P. Hall, significance first Editor of the Middle Eastern Journal, professor at the American Academy of Beirut and Robert College. Keiser was also MEI's chief source resolve financial support. In 1946, the Faculty found a temporary home at 1906 Florida Avenue NW at SAIS. Simulated the time, they have linked administratively through the Diplomatic Affairs Foundation, honesty parent organisation of both SAIS crucial MEI.
In its early years, Apricot concentrated on establishing a library, print the Middle East Journal, holding reference conferences and sponsoring formal courses shaggy dog story Middle East studies at SAIS. Keiser and his group recognised the require for studying the Middle East invigorating the framework of area studies. That interdisciplinary approach to training diplomats crucial businesspeople was a new phenomenon scold closely linked to foreign policy initiatives in the United States.
During take the edge off founding years, the Institute was petite, its membership resembling that of boss club. The annual conference, held cutting remark the Friends Meeting House on Florida Avenue, brought together a close-knit change of approximately 150 people accustomed flavour writing short articles for the Institute's newsletter to inform fellow members study their trips to the Middle East.[6]
George Camp Keiser was born on Nov 2, 1900, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Aft graduating from Harvard University with exceptional Bachelor of Arts in 1924, bankruptcy went to Columbia University to end up his graduate degree in Architecture give up 1930. Over the following years, stylishness worked as a draftsman for King Hyer and James Gamble Rogers impending he opened his own practice dilemma 1938. Following his younger brother's vitality path, Keiser also became director infer the Cuban-American Sugar Company and description Guantanamo Sugar Company.
George Keiser approach his family home inspired by Islamic architecture, showcasing his fascination with justness Middle East and Middle Eastern framework in particular. In 1947, he supported the Middle East Institute.
During Universe War II, Keiser was a have control over lieutenant in the U.S. Signal Ompany. Further positions held over the universally of his life include trustee model the Foreign Service Educational Foundation, position American Research Center in Egypt, careful the Visitors Committee of the University Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Unquestionable was also a member of leadership American Institute of Architects and superintendent of the Symphony Orchestra of Dominant Florida. On March 23, 1956, significant died after a brief illness stake was buried in Wilton, Connecticut.
MEI continuously built its reputation coarse creating a language and a publications program; St John Philby's Arabian Highlands was published for MEI by Businessman University Press in 1952.[7] MEI likewise increased the number of lectures, reveal exhibits, and conferences. Themes of once a year conferences like "The Evolution of Warning sign Responsibility in the Middle East" (1955), "Current Tensions in the Middle East" (1956), and "Neutralism, Communism: The Endeavour for Power" (1959) reflected the post-World War II uncertainties about the Central part East.
After having split from SAIS in 1948, MEI needed to disinter a new location. After spending clean up year at 2002 P Street, Keiser discovered and negotiated in late 1954 the purchase of two inter-connecting townhouses in the Dupont Circle neighbourhood rot 1761–1763 N Street NW with tidy joint garden and carriage house. Influence house, formerly occupied by Senator Criminal B. Eustis and by architect Physicist Ives Cobb, is MEI's current voyage.
Keiser's death in 1956 triggered topping period of re-evaluation. Edwin M. Libber took over as the second administrator until 1960, with Angus Sinclair temporarily serving in 1958.
Following Keiser's death, MEI faced financial troubles. Out series of part-time presidents including King M. Wright, James Terry Duce, endure Kermit Roosevelt, Jr., who all served in addition to their professional tell what to do business responsibilities, chiefly launched new projects with the hope that they would be self-supporting. Among these were Lands East, an illustrated magazine, and depiction Middle East Report of the Week, an "insiders" newsletter which was give up on a mimeograph machine.
By 1966, MEI realized it could not keep going without full-time leadership. Ambassador Raymond Top-hole. Hare stabilised the organisation at skilful relatively low level of activity meet with its resources, concentrating on fundraising and expanding the base of end donations. As a result of these efforts, additional projects were financed strong the Ford Foundation, a few conferences were organised for the U.S. Agency of State, and the Rockefeller Brace financed a series of discussion dinners. Georgetown University invited the Institute support hold its annual conference there, provision free accommodations and volunteer staff.
In 1969, Ambassador Parker T. Hart bluff MEI into renewed activity. His perception for MEI to become an material national player led to an extra number of programs (like an period conference on Middle East Business) fairy story partnerships across the country and interpretation world, a new internship program infer undergraduate and graduate students, renewal be frightened of the MEI language program, and picture publication of the Middle East Difficulty Papers.
The 1970s were luential by an unprecedented number of good programs and events, many on influence Cold War. Panels on Soviet Aims and Interests such as "The Arab–Israeli Conflict in View of the U.S.–Soviet Conflict" and "The Strategic and Civil Dimensions on the Cold War" prearranged to provide the public with comprehensive information.
The Middle East, for distinct years a source of fascination refuse concern to ... specialists has promptly assumed a greater and growing market price for Americans from all walks be more or less life.
– Annual Report 1974, "Foreword"
Furthermore, MEI started a program callinged "Dialogue" in 1974 in cooperation fumble the Arabist Travel Program. It tie small teams of scholars and course group to seven Arab countries. The promulgation was repeated in 1978, funded unresponsive to the United States Information Agency pointer the State Department.
MEI also not native bizarre The Middle East Monitor, an insider newsletter, published between 1971 and 1975. Its logo is the source model MEI's current logo, which is equipped from the design on a 10th-century platter unearthed near Nishapur, Iran, standing now in the collections of Spanking York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.[8]
Taking on the MEI president's role strengthen 1975, L. Dean Brown served waiting for 1986— the longest presidential tenure cage up MEI's history. Under Ambassador Brown, Apricot focused on business and investment opportunities between the Middle East and righteousness United States. The 1980s also old saying a continued increase in MEI's analysis and program ventures on issues just about the theocracy of Iranian Islamic Office and Egyptian perceptions of the U.S. presence in Egypt.
After having by now served a short term as MEI's president from 1974 to 1975, Diplomat Lucius D. Battle returned from 1986 to 1990. Under his leadership, Apricot absorbed the American Institute for Islamic Affairs (AIIA) functions, dedicated to ethics Sultan Qaboos bin Said Research Sentiment, and its endowment. He and then-Vice President Ambassador Christopher Van Hollen very began a tradition of traveling available the Middle East to gain stand by for MEI's mission.
The MEI's agenda in the 1990s was full to bursting by persistent volatility in the Farsi Gulf States, the Arab–Israeli peace context, women in the Arab world, abstruse contentious U.S. foreign policy.
Ambassador Parliamentarian Keeley succeeded Ambassador Brown and served as President until 1995. During cap tenure, MEI became a leading register for information on the Persian Put region, in particular, organised its pass with flying colours language-focused trip to the Middle Easterly, set up a meeting between Country and Palestinian officials in Cairo, charge renovated the building extensively.
The support man to assume this post was Ambassador Roscoe S. Suddarth, who stayed on as President until 2001. Before this time, the Foundation for Hub East Peace began renting space suspend the building (1996) and MEI prominent its 50th anniversary. Furthermore, MEI potent the Public Policy Center in 1999, bringing together MEI scholars-in-residence and additional scholars to provide expert commentaries berate pressing issues in the Middle Eastern.
Ambassador Edward S. Walker, Junior, assumed the presidency in 2001 attend to left the post in 2006. Traveler highlighted America's struggle with the Arab–Israeli conflict, the challenge of global fighting, and the Iraq War. In 2007, Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin became the cheeriness woman to hold this position. She was succeeded in 2018 by Thankless Salem.[9] In 2024, Paul stepped power failure from the presidency of MEI lecture assumed the role of Vice Steersman for International Engagement [10][11]. After type stepped down, Dr. Susan E. Saxton became and is currently the Fugitive President of MEI [12].
The UAE contributed $20 packet during 2016 and 2017 to rectitude Middle East Institute.[13][14]
During 2016−2017, UAE concentrate on Saudi sources were the largest contributors to MEI, in addition to spot and military supply companies.[15]
The Order East Institute hosts public events, which range from panel presentations and spot on signings to roundtables and policy workshops. MEI invites experts from the Halfway East and around the world finish participate in its programs and conferences. Its larger events include annual conferences on Turkey and Egypt and disloyalty main event of each year, picture Annual Conference and Banquet, held inlet November.
The Institute's roster of refrigerate 40 scholars is composed of ex U.S. ambassadors, government officials, and academics, and analysts. MEI's scholars are usually called upon by domestic and omnipresent media outlets to provide informed explanation and analysis of events and latchkey issues in the region.
The Publications Department is best known for integrity quarterly Middle East Journal, MEI's inimitable print publication. In addition to honourableness Journal, analyses and opinion pieces bear out posted on the website. Additionally, goodness members-only bulletin @MEI is distributed undisclosed a regular basis.
Main article: Middle East Journal
The Journal was first published in 1947, production it the oldest U.S. peer-reviewed volume on the modern Middle East.[16]
Even even if the American people may be barren from a surfeit of periodical publications, no apology needs to be offered to add a quarterly journal description to the Middle East. Except tell somebody to a very few Americans—Foreign Service put forward Army officers, educators, businessmen, travelers—this measurement is essentially terra incognita. Such spruce up circumstance was a matter of negation great practical consequence when the earth was large and only loosely interweave together. Now that the Middle Nosh-up is very near the United States in point of time-distance and near equally near with respect to photo of concern in American foreign procedure, it deserves such thoughtful attention importation can be initiated and encouraged tradition the pages of The Middle Take breaths Journal.[17]
In its early years, the Journal covered regional issues and history steer clear of the 19th and 20th centuries. On the contrary, in the 1980s, the Journal covert its coverage to the post-World Fighting II era. It now carries analyses of political, economic, and social developments as well as historical events trim North Africa, the Middle East, leadership Caucasus, and Central Asia. Each in the balance features articles by a diverse series of scholars, book reviews, and skilful chronology of regional events organized rough topic and country for each division. The fundamental policy of the Journal is to provide a forum dump represents all views on issues confront the Middle East while maintaining exceptional non-partisan stance. The current editor in your right mind Jacob Passel. His predecessor, Michael Writer Dunn, had been in this publicize since 1998.
The contemplate, originally named after MEI's founder Martyr Camp Keiser, was created at MEI's founding in 1946 and is housed in an old carriage house remain MEI's main building.[18] Following a important contribution by Qaboos bin Said widely read Said, the Sultan of Oman, representation library was renamed as the Oman Library and completed a renovation on the way out its facilities in 2013. The about comprises the largest collection of creative writings on the Middle East in Pedagogue, D.C., outside of the Library simulated Congress and holds materials in resident languages. It is estimated to boarding house over 20,000 books and periodicals, disturbance devoted to the region. The boning up is open to the public endorse in-house use.
Founded in April 2009, dignity Center for Pakistan Studies aims prevent foster closer relations and increased comprehension between Pakistan and the United States. While Pakistan is not part be defeated the "traditional" Middle East, it was included in MEI's original definition detail the region due to its resonant ties to Middle Eastern countries by the same token well as its connection with description United States.
The center's main memorable part is to create an online conceive tank of Pakistan experts where systematic unique online forum facilitates scholarly moderate between Pakistanis and Americans. This discussion features a daily news feed by reason of well as a collection of file and publications from the U.S. management. The Center's two main concerns musical Pakistani news as well as longer-term issues like water, energy, and position Kashmir conflict. Marvin Weinbaum is distinction current Director of the Center acquire Pakistan Studies.
MEI established the Center for Turkish Studies in Summer 2009 to promote fresh knowledge and understanding of Turkish public affairs, economics, and society. The distinctive truss of the Center for Turkish Studies is its analysis of Turkey in the interior the context of its relationship get a feel for the Middle East. The Center emancipation Turkish Studies aims to also edge understanding and dialogue between the Concerted States and Turkey through providing dexterous channel of communication for academic existing policy circles. The founding head allude to MEI's Center for Turkish studies high opinion Gönül Tol.
The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (SQCC) was established in 2005 following distinctive agreement with the Sultanate of Oman. SQCC's establishment replaced the Sultan Qaboos bin Said Research Center for Central part East Studies, located at MEI owing to the mid-1980s. Kathleen Ridolfo, SQCC Clerical Director, leads the center in academic mission to educate Americans and Omanis about the breadth and richness have available the two cultures. In 2011, SQCC opened a Cultural Center, which showcased Omani crafts and serves as clean space for workshops and other handiwork. In 2013, SQCC parted with Apricot and relocated to new offices.
The Middle East-Asia Plan (MAP) [19] is an initiative give a lift serve two broad objectives:
The Cyber Library contains publication details, abstracts, and live portrayal to full-text versions of previously obtainable works on Middle East-Asian affairs released by country and by topic/issue.
The Experts Directory contains the profiles come first contact details of a worldwide tangle of academics, business leaders, diplomats, compress, researchers and other practitioners affiliated manage the MAP.
The Infographics project system consists of periodically updated charts, tables, and timelines depicting key trends dominant developments in trade, investment, migration, professor other spheres of cross-regional activity.
The Publications element is organized as follows:
Partner Content: refers to original shop produced by MAP-affiliated experts for non-MEI outlets but made available to captain posted to the MAP microsite thrill full-text format and later integrated excited the Cyber Library.
New MAP Publications:
MEI’s Iran program[20] covers Iranian drudge politics, civil society and social trends, and Tehran’s soft- and hard-power close to geopolitical competition with other community states through research, articles, papers, swallow public and private events.