About Ethan D. Chorin
Welcome! This is a blog about the politics and culture of the Modern Middle East and Red Sea states.
I’ve spent more than 20 years living in and working across the Middle East and Africa (in Yemen, Libya, the Gulf, East Africa) as a US diplomat (posted to Libya, the UAE and DC), government advisor, and government affairs executive. Here you’ll find:
Weekly essays on current political developments, and discussions and reinterpretations of past events (I typically post on Tuesdays)
Reviews of books, papers, podcasts and films on Middle East-related topics that I find particularly relevant and/or interesting.
Soon, a podcast, in which i’ll be interviewing both well known and lesser known figures in Middle East politics, literature, diplomacy and culture.
My hope is that this publication will help those with limited exposure to the region — or who simply want to learn more — understand what’s going on behind the headlines — and in many cases not appearing in the the headlines at all.