Welcome to the Middle East Institute
The Middle East Institute (MEI), which was founded in 2007, is an autonomous research institute within the National University of Singapore (NUS). From its vantage point in Singapore, a crossroads of the world, MEI exists to advance understanding of the Middle East, and to deepen engagements between the Middle East and Asia. We do this through research, and aim to provide reasoned views to scholars, students, policymakers, businesses and the public through publications, lectures, consultations and outreach. We host speakers and visitors from and on the Middle East, and serve as a concourse for exchanging ideas and information on the Middle East in Singapore, Asia and the world.
The Middle East is also known as West Asia. West Asia, South Asia and East Asia meet in Southeast Asia. They were principals and partners in the historic maritime Silk Roads, intermeshed in webs of trade, religion, kinship, friendship and mutual recognition. Southeast Asia is profoundly shaped by this lasting engagement. We stand at the cusp of its historic revitalisation today, and feel a sense of responsibility to help inform its future course. West Asians have always had homes elsewhere in Asia. We want to make that a reality again today.
Chairman
Bilahari Kausikan is Chairman of the Middle East Institute (NUS). He has spent his entire career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his 37 years in the ministry, he served in a variety of appointments at home and abroad, including as ambassador to the Russian Federation, permanent representative to the United Nations in New York and as the permanent secretary to the ministry. Mr Kausikan studied at the Raffles Institution, the University of Singapore and Columbia University in New York.
Members
Deputy President (Research and Technology), National University of Singapore
Director, Greenship Holdings Ltd
Deputy Secretary/Asia-Pacific Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Singapore
High Commissioner (Non-Resident) High Commission of the Republic of Singapore – Ghana, Non-Resident Representative to the Palestinian National Authority
Director, Greenship Holdings Ltd
Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Home Affairs
Director, Greenship Holdings Ltd
Council Member, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, National Youth Council
Banking and Investment Professional
Chief Executive Officer, F J Benjamin Holdings Limited
Jonah Blank
Dr Jonah Blank is a political scientist and anthropologist who is currently based in Singapore, with one foot in the world of academia and the other in that of public policy. From 1999-2011 he served as Policy Director for South and Southeast Asia of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He began his professional life as Finance Editor of the Asahi Evening News in Tokyo, earned his doctorate in social anthropology and has focused his career on the broad intersection of human capital, public policy, international security, economy and social development.
Misha Anthony Monteiro-Benson
Dr Blank has taught graduate courses at Harvard University (where he earned his PhD and Masters, after earning his Bachelor’s from Yale), Georgetown University, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is the author of the books Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity Among the Daudi Bohras and Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God: Retracing the Ramayana through India.
Misha Anthony Monteiro-Benson
Dr Blank has taught graduate courses at Harvard University (where he earned his PhD and Masters, after earning his Bachelor’s from Yale), Georgetown University, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is the author of the books Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity Among the Daudi Bohras and Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God: Retracing the Ramayana through India.
Misha Anthony Monteiro-Benson
Dr Blank has taught graduate courses at Harvard University (where he earned his PhD and Masters, after earning his Bachelor’s from Yale), Georgetown University, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is the author of the books Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity Among the Daudi Bohras and Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God: Retracing the Ramayana through India.
Misha Anthony Monteiro-Benson
Dr Blank has taught graduate courses at Harvard University (where he earned his PhD and Masters, after earning his Bachelor’s from Yale), Georgetown University, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is the author of the books Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity Among the Daudi Bohras and Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God: Retracing the Ramayana through India.
Misha Anthony Monteiro-Benson
Dr Jonah Blank is a political scientist and anthropologist who is currently based in Singapore, with one foot in the world of academia and the other in that of public policy. From 1999-2011 he served as Policy Director for South and Southeast Asia of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He began his professional life as Finance Editor of the Asahi Evening News in Tokyo, earned his doctorate in social anthropology and has focused his career on the broad intersection of human capital, public policy, international security, economy and social development.
Dr Blank has taught graduate courses at Harvard University (where he earned his PhD and Masters, after earning his Bachelor’s from Yale), Georgetown University, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is the author of the books Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity Among the Daudi Bohras and Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God: Retracing the Ramayana through India.
Misha Anthony Monteiro-Benson
Dr Jonah Blank is a political scientist and anthropologist who is currently based in Singapore, with one foot in the world of academia and the other in that of public policy. From 1999-2011 he served as Policy Director for South and Southeast Asia of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He began his professional life as Finance Editor of the Asahi Evening News in Tokyo, earned his doctorate in social anthropology and has focused his career on the broad intersection of human capital, public policy, international security, economy and social development.
Dr Blank has taught graduate courses at Harvard University (where he earned his PhD and Masters, after earning his Bachelor’s from Yale), Georgetown University, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is the author of the books Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity Among the Daudi Bohras and Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God: Retracing the Ramayana through India.
Jonah Blank
Dr Jonah Blank is a political scientist and anthropologist who is currently based in Singapore, with one foot in the world of academia and the other in that of public policy. From 1999-2011 he served as Policy Director for South and Southeast Asia of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He began his professional life as Finance Editor of the Asahi Evening News in Tokyo, earned his doctorate in social anthropology and has focused his career on the broad intersection of human capital, public policy, international security, economy and social development.
Jonah Blank
Dr Jonah Blank is a political scientist and anthropologist who is currently based in Singapore, with one foot in the world of academia and the other in that of public policy. From 1999-2011 he served as Policy Director for South and Southeast Asia of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He began his professional life as Finance Editor of the Asahi Evening News in Tokyo, earned his doctorate in social anthropology and has focused his career on the broad intersection of human capital, public policy, international security, economy and social development.
Jonah Blank
Dr Jonah Blank is a political scientist and anthropologist who is currently based in Singapore, with one foot in the world of academia and the other in that of public policy. From 1999-2011 he served as Policy Director for South and Southeast Asia of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He began his professional life as Finance Editor of the Asahi Evening News in Tokyo, earned his doctorate in social anthropology and has focused his career on the broad intersection of human capital, public policy, international security, economy and social development.
Jonah Blank
Dr Jonah Blank is a political scientist and anthropologist who is currently based in Singapore, with one foot in the world of academia and the other in that of public policy. From 1999-2011 he served as Policy Director for South and Southeast Asia of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He began his professional life as Finance Editor of the Asahi Evening News in Tokyo, earned his doctorate in social anthropology and has focused his career on the broad intersection of human capital, public policy, international security, economy and social development.