About

A scholar, consultant, analyst, and educator, Dr. Emily Blout has a deep and nuanced understanding of US politics and foreign policy, the political, cultural, and economic dynamics of Iran and the Middle East, and the challenges and opportunities of communication technology in politics and conflict. She has published a book and multiple articles and reports on these topics, and has been featured in various media outlets as a subject matter expert. 

Today, much of Dr. Blout’s time is dedicated to thought leadership and consulting. Her clients include political campaigns, intelligence and law enforcement groups, and large tech companies.  She also works remotely as a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the International Institute for Counter Terrorism (ICT), where she conducts research and briefings on the sources, methods, and impacts of terrorism, especially in relation to the online environment.  

This work is informed by years of experience working on foreign policy and national security issues in Washington. Her background includes advising and serving as spokesperson for a senior member of Congress, working in the Europe and NATO policy shop at the Pentagon, and serving as a research analyst at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the US National Defense University. 

Blout is an accomplished academic and professor. She holds a PhD from the University of St. Andrews. She presently teaches courses at Georgetown University on the intersection of politics and technology, including social media, the internet,  cyber, and artificial intelligence (AI). She previously served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Media Studies at the University of Virginia.  ​

Blout’s research can be found in multiple double-blind peer reviewed outlets, including Conflict and Terrorism Studies,  British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, the Communication Review, the SAIS Review of International Affairs, and the Iranian American Bar Association’s Legal Review.

Her new book, Media and Power in Modern Iran, looks at the role of media in the construction of regime power and insecurity from 1942-2019. It has won praise throughout the academy, with Houchang Chehabi recently calling it "a masterful study," and Ali Ansari deeming it "required reading for anyone interested in the history and politics of media in Iran." 

Blout is a contributing writer for the Atlantic Council, the Quincy Institute, The Liberal Patriot, and IranWire. She has published commentary in Politico, the Hill, the Conversation, and the Huffington Post. She has been cited by the New York Times, the Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, Reuters, and the Los Angeles Times. Guest appearances and interviews include Democracy Now and ABC News. 

Dr. Blout offers discreet consultation and analysis services. Her clientele includes law enforcement and intelligence agencies, technology companies, and political campaigns. 

For inquiries, contact Emily directly at emilyblout@gmail.com. 

For media requests and time sensitive issues, contact her on WhatsApp or email.  

Download excerpts of Blout's book and select research publications on academia.edu. Follow her on X @emilyblout.