About the Expert
Expert Bio
Steven A. Cook is Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies and director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy. Cook is the author of False Dawn: Protest, Democracy, and Violence in the New Middle East; The Struggle for Egypt: From Nasser to Tahrir Square, which won the 2012 gold medal from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and Ruling but Not Governing: The Military and Political Development in Egypt, Algeria, and Turkey. Oxford University Press is publishing his next book, The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East.
Cook is a columnist at Foreign Policy magazine. He has also published widely in international affairs journals, opinion magazines, and newspapers, and is a frequent commentator on radio and television. His work can also be found on CFR.org.
Prior to joining CFR, Cook was a research fellow at the Brookings Institution (2001–02) and a Soref research fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (1995–96).
Cook holds a BA in international studies from Vassar College, an MA in international relations from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and an MA and a PhD in political science from the University of Pennsylvania. He speaks Arabic and Turkish and reads French.
Affiliations:
- Foreign Policy, columnist
- International Capital Strategies, senior advisor
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Current Projects
Project
September 1, 2020 Present
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The stunning assault by Gaza militants on Israel will trigger massive retaliation from Israeli forces and likely have region-wide security repercussions.
In Brief by Steven A. Cook October 7, 2023
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Half a century later, Egypt regards its brief war with Israel as an important military milestone that initially bolstered its leaders, though in recent years, Egypt has weakened under repressive, ineffective rule.
In Brief by Steven A. Cook October 3, 2023
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with Steven A. Cook via The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune September 28, 2023
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with Steven A. Cook via Foreign Policy September 4, 2023
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The Israeli parliament’s new legislation limiting Supreme Court oversight of government policies has raised alarm over deepening societal divisions and potential democratic backsliding.
In Brief by Steven A. Cook July 26, 2023 Middle East Program
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with Steven A. Cook via Foreign Policy July 26, 2023
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with Steven A. Cook and Sinan Ciddi via Foreign Policy May 17, 2023
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Turkey’s presidential runoff election set for May 28 appears to favor longtime incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with little chance that he will ease up on his authoritarian ways.
In Brief by Steven A. Cook May 15, 2023 Middle East Program
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with Steven A. Cook via Foreign Policy April 14, 2023
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On the two-decade anniversary of the U.S. invasion, Iraq is weakly governed, leaving it prone to instability and meddling by neighbors—especially Iran.
Article by Steven A. Cook March 17, 2023 Middle East Program
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with Steven A. Cook via Foreign Policy February 6, 2023
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with Steven A. Cook via Foreign Policy January 18, 2023
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with Steven A. Cook via Foreign Policy December 13, 2022
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with Steven A. Cook via Foreign Policy November 30, 2022
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with Steven A. Cook via Foreign Policy September 11, 2022
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The reopening of diplomatic ties with Israel is the latest move in Turkey’s regional rapprochement. With it, Ankara aims to bolster national security and its wavering economy.
In Brief by Steven A. Cook August 23, 2022 Middle East Program