Melani McAlister

Melani McAlister Professor of American Studies and International Affairs at George Washington University. She specializes in the multiple "global visions" produced by and for Americans. In her writing and teaching, she focuses on the ways in which cultural and political history intersect, and on the role of religion and culture in shaping US "interests" in other parts of the world. Her own interests include nationalism and transnationalism; cultural theory; religion and culture; the rhetoric...See more

Melani McAlister Professor of American Studies and International Affairs at George Washington University. She specializes in the multiple "global visions" produced by and for Americans. In her writing and teaching, she focuses on the ways in which cultural and political history intersect, and on the role of religion and culture in shaping US "interests" in other parts of the world. Her own interests include nationalism and transnationalism; cultural theory; religion and culture; the rhetoric of foreign policy; and cultural and media history (including television, film, print, and digital). McAlister received her PhD in American Civilization from Brown University and her BA in International Affairs from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She has written for the Washington Post, New York Times, the Atlantic, and The Nation, among other, and she has spoken frequently to media outlets about US-Middle East relations and US evangelical life and culture. See less