Middle East Initiative

Established in 1998, the Middle East Initiative (MEI) is Harvard University’s principal forum for policy-relevant research and teaching on the contemporary Middle East and North Africa. Directed by Tarek Masoud, Ford Foundation Professor of Democracy and Governance, MEI convenes policymakers, scholars, and intellectuals from the region and beyond to expand our understanding of this complex part of the world and to contribute to the search for solutions to its most pressing policy challenges. Through the integration of open scholarly inquiry, policy analysis, executive and graduate education, and public engagement, MEI aims to improve the quality of policymaking and build capacity in the Middle East in order to enhance the lives of all the region’s peoples.