The Carnegie Middle East Center (CMEC) is a think tank and research center dealing with public policy in the Middle East. It was established in Beirut, Lebanon in November 2006 by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The center is part of the network of Carnegie regional centers, including the Carnegie Moscow Center the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center for Global Policy in Beijing, and Carnegie Europe, located in Brussels.
In 2009 and 2015, the University of Pennsylvania’s Global “Go-To Think Tanks” annual report listed the Carnegie Middle East Center as the number one think tank in the Middle East and North Africa.
Background
The center's scope of work includes political and economic developments in the Arab World, Turkey and Iran. It includes participation by senior local researchers, visiting experts, and students at various levels. It collaborates with many research centers within the Middle East and elsewhere. This approach provides policy makers, practitioners and activists with informed analysis and recommendations. It aims to reach a number of constituencies, including policy makers, practitioners, academics and journalists; as well as international organizations, civil society actors and ordinary citizens in Middle Eastern countries who may benefit from the Center’s work.
Maha Yahya is acting director. Former directors of the Center include Lina Khatib and Paul Salem.