What is this?

This blog will be a home for some occasional writing and analysis, about the Middle East and hopefully things further afield as well. If it’s too long for Twitter and too niche for my day job, it will find its way here.

The name alludes to the state of the world: sources of everything seem a bit unsettled, from power to economic growth to information. And at times it will refer to me too, as I post here to work out my own thoughts. Comments, questions and angry disagreements are welcomed.

Who is Gregg Carlstrom?

I'm a Middle East correspondent for The Economist, based in the Gulf and covering the wider region.

I have covered the Middle East for the past 15 years, reporting on many of its big events firsthand, from revolutionary Egypt in 2011 to Israel and Gaza in the weeks and months after October 7th. Before Dubai, I was based in Beirut and Cairo.

Prior to The Economist, I was an Israel/Palestine correspondent for The Times. My work has also been published in a wide range of other outlets, including Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic, Newsweek, Politico, New York, The National, PRI, World Politics Review, Columbia Journalism Review and elsewhere.

I am a regular guest on TV and radio networks, including the BBC, CNN and Sky News.

My first book, “How Long Will Israel Survive? The Threat From Within”, was published in 2017. It steps away from the conflict with the Palestinians to look at Israel's internal problems: how a once-unified population now fights internecine battles—over religion and state, war and peace, race and identity—contesting the very notion of a "Jewish and democratic" state.

I grew up in New York and graduated from Northwestern University in 2007.