Washington, DC, May 27, 2025 — The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ariel I. Ahram as the new Editor of The Middle East Journal (MEJ), MEI’s flagship print publication and the oldest scholarly journal in North America dedicated to the study of the modern Middle East.
Dr. Ahram, a professor at Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs, brings a distinguished record of scholarship and public engagement to the role. He is the author of several acclaimed books on regional conflict, governance, and security, and he has served as the principal investigator for the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Ending Proxy Wars in the Middle East initiative. His appointment signals a new era for the Journal as it renews its focus on contemporary policy issues while maintaining its commitment to academic excellence.
Dr. Ahram’s hiring reflects an important inflection point in MEJ’s history. While retaining its standards for rigorous, insightful research and analysis, MEJ will increasingly emphasize the current affairs of the Middle East, the history that underlies its contemporary dynamics, and the policies of regional states and external powers such as the United States. It will focus on the underlying causes and potential solutions to the region’s pressing challenges.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Ahram to MEI as Editor of The Middle East Journal,” said MEI President Amb. (ret.) Stuart E. Jones. “He possesses exactly the right mix of expertise, creativity, and policy acumen required to transform the Journal into a vital resource, broadening its impact, deepening its relevance, and elevating its role in today’s policy and academic conversations.”
“A new Middle East requires a new Middle East Journal,” said Dr. Kenneth Pollack, Vice President for Policy. “With Ariel at the helm and this new editorial direction, the Journal will continue to meet the highest standards of quality while offering vital insights for policymakers, analysts, and engaged readers. We are deeply grateful to our longtime subscribers for their support and look forward to continuing this journey with them.”
About the Journal
The Middle East Journal is the oldest peer-reviewed publication in North America dedicated to the study of the modern Middle East. Integral to MEI since its founding, MEJ provides a platform for rigorous empirical research, insightful commentary, and policy analysis of the region’s contemporary challenges—from North Africa and the Levant to the Gulf, Iran, and Afghanistan. Its mission is to inform practitioners, scholars, and the general public on the dynamics shaping the modern Middle East.
To subscribe to The Middle East Journal, visit www.mei.edu/mej. Subscriptions are also included with MEI Membership. Learn more at www.mei.edu/membership.
About Dr. Ariel Ahram
Ariel I. Ahram is a professor at the Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs in Arlington, VA. He is the author of War and Conflict in the Middle East and North Africa (Polity, 2020), Break All the Borders (Oxford, 2019), and Proxy Warriors (Stanford, 2011). He earned his BA from Brandeis University and both his MA in Arab Studies and PhD in Government from Georgetown University.
About MEI
Founded in 1946, the Middle East Institute is America’s leading nonpartisan policy and cultural institute focused on the Middle East. Based in Washington, DC, MEI works at the intersection of policy, education, and culture. Its experts provide cutting-edge analysis, while its Arts and Culture Center promotes understanding through the arts. MEI’s Policy Center includes former diplomats and defense officials providing trusted insights to address the region’s challenges and advance US interests.
