In this roundtable conversation, Crown Center fellows and faculty discussed important developments and trends occurring in the Middle East that often slip through the cracks of mainstream media in the United States. Topics included Western-based social media influencers visiting the region; transnational literature in the Gulf; how large investment projects are bringing countries together; and the possible formation of an Arab NATO to balance Iran's network of influence.

Panelists:
Mohammad Ataie is a junior research fellow at the Crown Center.
Nader Habibi is the Henry J. Leir Professor of the Economics of the Middle East at the Crown Center.
Raihan Ismail is the Goldman Faculty Leave Fellow at the Crown Center.
Mona Kareem is a junior research fellow at the Crown Center.

Moderator:
David Siddhartha Patel is a senior fellow at the Crown Center.

Opening remarks:
Gary Samore is the Crown Family Director at the Crown Center

This panel discussion was recorded on September 7, 2022.