Nathan Lean (born 1980) is an American writer, journalist, scholar, author, and analyst specializing in Islamophobia, Middle East politics, counter-extremism, and U.S. foreign policy. He gained prominence with his 2012 book 'The Islamophobia Industry: How the Right Manufactures Fear of Muslims,' which critiques networks of conservative activists, media figures, and organizations for promoting anti-Muslim narratives in the United States for political and financial purposes. Lean has authored additional books, including 'Selling Hate: Gab, the Alt-Right, Andrew Anglin, and the New Nazis' (2020), focusing on online extremism, and has contributed extensively to outlets such as The Guardian, The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, Al Jazeera, and The Huffington Post. He has held editorial roles, including as a contributing editor at New Lines Magazine, and has been involved in research and advocacy on recognizing radical Islamism and countering far-right extremism. His work often involves policy analysis and public commentary on terrorism, sectarian violence, and religious freedom. He has faced adversarial relationships, such as accusations of defaming pro-Israel activist Avi Goldwasser.