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Non-Resident Fellow
Dr. Ethan Chorin is a Founding Partner of Perim Associates. A former U.S. diplomat posted to Libya from 2004-2006, Chorin was Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sr. Manager for Government Relations and Communications at Dubai Ports World. As a Foreign Service Officer, Chorin was posted to Libya, Washington D.C., and the United Arab Emirates. He has been an e-business developer at Shell Oil, a Director at the Berkeley Research Group, and a Senior Fellow at CSIS. He was a member of the Obama Campaign’s 2008 Foreign Policy Advisory Group, covering Libya and Iran. Chorin is the author of two books, Exit the Colonel: The Hidden History of the Libyan Revolution (PublicAffairs, 2012) and Translating Libya (Darf, 2015), and a monograph on Dubai’s relationship with Djibouti (DSG, 2010).
A two-time Fulbright fellow (Jordan, Yemen), Chorin received a Meritorious Honor Award from the U.S. Department of State for his support to U.S. business in Libya, and a Sinclaire Award for language achievement in Farsi. Chorin’s work on Libya, the Gulf, Iran, and Africa has written for numerous publications, including The Financial Times, The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Forbes, Foreign Policy, Forbes, Prospect and Words Without Borders. Chorin has been a regular commentator on Libya for the BBC.
Chorin has been Nonresident Fellow at the Dubai School of Government, Social Enterprise Fellow at Yale University School of Management, a Director at the Berkeley Research Group and is currently a non-resident Research Associate at the School of African and Oriental Studies in London (SOAS). Chorin holds a Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley in Agricultural and Resource Economics (2000), an MIPS from Stanford University (1993) and a BA from Yale (1991), cum laude, with distinction in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures. He speaks French, Arabic and Farsi.
I recently gave ten one-hour lectures at the University of Zambia (UNZA) in bountiful summer-ripe Lusaka. The lecture series was planned in collaboration with the Center for Urban Planning and
In today’s episode of Charter Cities, we’re honored to welcome Lant Pritchett, a distinguished economist and a thought leader in development economics. Our deep-dive conversation will focus on the critical topic of growth diagnostics, exploring the complex challenges policymakers face in developing nations. Lant will illuminate the importance of identifying impactful actions for growth, emphasizing the need for rigorous debate and evidence-based decision-making. We’ll also scrutinize the limitations of traditional development metrics like the “dollar a day” measure and consider alternative, more effective approaches. We’ll also investigate innovative solutions like charter cities as a mechanism for fostering sustainable growth by addressing institutional challenges.
On today’s Charter Cities podcast episode, host Jeffrey Mason is joined by colleagues Heba Elhanafy and Matthew McCartney to unpack the New Africa’s Bad Urban Laws project. This initiative dissects laws in African cities hindering growth and community well-being. Additionally, Jeffrey reminds listeners of the upcoming Africa’s New City Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. The team dives deep, discussing the reasons for and effects of detrimental urban laws, using instances like Zambia’s land ownership as an example. Tune in for an insightful discussion on urban policies in Africa.
CCI is excited to announce a series of two webinars as part of our efforts to contribute to the global conversation on the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid urbanization
Urban infrastructure in major cities is inadequate to support pedestrian mobility. In Zambia, for example, the majority of citizens rely on walking for their daily travel, but unfortunately, sidewalks are often inaccessible or non-existent, and urban expansion makes travel time longer. To help address this issue, CCI, in collaboration with key stakeholders, conducted a participatory research project called ‘Walking the Un-walkable’. The project aimed to map and address walkability in Lusaka, identifying the challenges pedestrians face while walking and highlighting opportunities for improvement. The findings and recommendations were mapped using methods including participatory policy-making, transect walking/mapping, co-design, and validation workshops. This report outlines the findings identified in the walks and the verification workshop conducted with key stakeholders. With cities like Lusaka continuing to grow rapidly, it is crucial to understand how infrastructure and urban form can effectively meet the needs of urban residents.
Coming up on today’s episode of Charter Cities, we have a very special guest joining host Mark Lutter: Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of community building and the importance of creating meaningful connections within cities and online communities. We explore the challenges and successes of building communities in different contexts, from crypto communities to health tribes. With insights from Vitalik’s own experiences and observations, we discuss the value of diversity, the impact of infrastructure on small towns, and the need for community filters. Stay tuned for an enriching conversation on the power of communities in shaping our lives and the future of cities.
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