Middle East Institute

In June 2020, the Middle East Institute (MEI) launched a new program – The Strategic Foresight Initiative. I’m thrilled to announce that MEI has engaged me to lead the development and oversee execution of this important new program.

MEI is one of the oldest and most respected think tanks in the United States. Founded in 1946, they’re about inspiring dialogue and empowering change through their work in policy analysis, educational and professional development services, and by serving as a hub for engaging with the region's arts and culture.

The new Strategic Foresight Initiative is examining key drivers and dynamics at work in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. I’m working with MEI’s top leadership and all its scholars to develop projects and publications that look strategically, creatively, and rigorously at a range of scenarios, risks, and opportunities. The aim is to help decision makers in the U.S. and MENA chart their courses forward.

Dr. Paul Salem, MEI’s President said, “The Strategic Foresight Initiative is about taking a long-term view of the Middle East, to help policy makers and other leaders think through what could emerge in the region, and what they need to do to prepare for – and maybe to help create – the future.”

I was honored when I asked Paul for a comment about working with me and he said this:

“Steven Kenney and Foresight Vector are key partners in helping our leadership team understand how to add a new dimension to our Institute. He is helping us think through how to make a meaningful and powerful link between foresight and real world policy choices for US and Middle Eastern decision makers.”

See the press release from MEI about the Strategic Foresight Initiative, and stay tuned here and on MEI’s website for updates on our efforts and the impact we’re creating together.