Babel: Translating the Middle East
250 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsBabel will take you beyond the headlines to discuss what’s really happening in the Middle East and North Africa. It features regional experts who explain what’s going on, provide context on pivotal developments, and highlight trends you may have missed. Jon Alterman, senior vice president, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts the podcast along with his colleagues from the Middle East Program. This podcast is made possible through the generous support of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed here should be understood to be solely of those of the speaker(s).
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Episodes
A Mezze: Bride of the Beqqa
August 01, 2023 18:52 - 3 minutes"The Bride of the Beqaa" captures the imagination of many Lebanese. The mountain city of Zahle overlooking the Beqaa plateau is famed for its beauty, pleasant climate, and quality arak. But for many years, Zahle was also famous for having 24/7 electricity without relying on neighborhood generators. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Jason Rezaian: The Rise of Hostage Taking
July 25, 2023 19:49 - 26 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon Alterman welcomes Jason Rezaian back to the podcast. Jason is a former hostage and alongside Jon, he is the co-executive director of the CSIS Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention. They speak about the growing phenomenon of hostile governments and groups imprisoning Americans to gain leverage against the United States, why it’s becoming more common, and what the United States can do both to respond when an American is detained and to deter wrongful detent...
A Mezze: Saudis Take to the Streets
July 18, 2023 14:49 - 2 minutesThrough new urban planning projects, Saudi Arabia is encouraging its citizens to join a quiet revolution of walking. While many Saudi cities have improved their mobility index, the government still faces many challenges. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Shirin Hakim: Iran’s Environmental Challenges
July 11, 2023 20:22 - 30 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Dr. Shirin Hakim, head of the Environment, Climate Security, and Public Health unit at the Center for Middle East and Global Order. They talk about Iran’s worsening environmental issues, the Iranian government’s decades-long mismanagement and overexploitation of its natural resources, and how Western sanctions play into the Iranian regime’s environmental strategy. Dr. Hakim closes the interview with thoughts on how U.S. policymakers should weigh environment...
A Mezze: The Kurdistan Region of Iraq
July 04, 2023 17:45 - 3 minutesAs power outages become more frequent in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is working to attract private investors in its renewable energy sector to access the full potential of the sun. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program. Will Todman, "Powering Recovery: Reform, Reconstruction, and Renewables in Conflict-Affected States in the Arab World," CSIS, March 3, 2023.
Dalia Hatuqa: Palestinian Politics
June 27, 2023 19:20 - 33 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Dalia Hatuqa, a Ramallah-based journalist who has published widely in leading outlets around the world. They talk about the state of politics in the West Bank and Gaza; how the West and Arab states are engaging with the issue of Palestinian self-determination; and Palestinians’ rising frustration with their government, the Israeli government, and the international community. Later in the episode, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Danny Sha...
Analysis: LGBTQ+ Advocacy in the Middle East Backfires
June 20, 2023 19:00 - 6 minutesIn a new episode of Babel, we talk to Will Todman about how even well-intentioned Western LGBTQ+ advocacy in the Middle East can have negative consequences for local LGBTQ+ communities. Will Todman, "LGBTQ+ Advocacy in the Middle East Backfires," CSIS, December 16, 2022.
Christoph Reuter: Syria’s War Economy.
June 13, 2023 20:41 - 32 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Christoph Reuter of Der Spiegel magazine, an award winning journalist and conflict reporter. They talk about Captagon, criminal networks, and Syria's war economy. Later, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Lubna Yousef, and they explore the intersection between criminal networks and war zones. Transcript, "Christoph Reuter: Syria's War Economy," CSIS, June 13, 2023. Jon Alterman and Natasha Hall, "Accountability in Syria," CSIS, ...
A Mezze: Iran's "Cloudy" Accusations
June 06, 2023 20:59 - 3 minutesIn mid-2022, Iranian authorities accused Israel and the United Arab Emirates of stealing their rain. But Iran’s increasingly dire water shortages make it harder to blame others for the Iranian government’s poor water management. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Nicolas Pelham: Morocco's Missing King
May 30, 2023 21:17 - 33 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Nicolas Pelham of The Economist and author of a recent article in 1843 magazine entitled "The Mystery of Morocco's Missing King." They talk about the Moroccan monarchy, King Mohammed VI’s unusual friendship with a German kickboxer, and what it means for the future of Morocco. Later, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Danny Sharp, as they compare the different ruling strategies of Arab kings. Nicolas Pelham, "MBS: despot in the de...
A Mezze: From Stable to Table—Egypt's Donkey Meat Controversy
May 23, 2023 20:39 - 2 minutesAs Egypt's economic crisis continues, a new proposition of introducing donkey meat to Egypt's cuisine causes public uproar amidst soaring food prices. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Hafsa Halawa: Egypt's Economic Turmoil
May 16, 2023 20:33 - 40 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Hafsa Halawa of the Middle East Institute and author of a new paper entitled "Gulf Investment in Egypt, A Balance of Mutual Need." They talk about Egypt’s economic crisis, the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, Egypt's military's economic involvement, and the changing face of Gulf financial support. Later, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Lubna Yousef, as they examine United States - Egypt policy and what an Egypt cri...
A Mezze: Power Plays
May 09, 2023 20:37 - 2 minutesSuffering from a debilitating electricity and water shortage crisis, some communities in Libya resort to "power plays" and acts of intimidation to ensure their access to basic services. A New Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Killian Clarke: Egypt's Counterrevolution and the Return to Tyranny
May 02, 2023 22:13 - 33 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Prof. Killian Clarke of Georgetown's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service about his forthcoming book tentatively entitled The Return of Tyranny: How Counterrevolutions Emerge and Succeed. They talk about the counterrevolution in Egypt, the complex relationship between the military, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the public, and lessons learned from counterrevolutions around the world. Later, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Lu...
A Mezze: An Uphill Battle
April 25, 2023 20:29 - 3 minutesGCC countries are beginning to tackle their obesity problem, but structural and cultural challenges to improving fitness abound. A New Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Ayham Kamel: The Gulf's Regional Diplomacy
April 18, 2023 21:42 - 36 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Ayham Kamel of the Eurasia Group. They talk about the current diplomatic landscape in the Gulf, how Gulf leaders perceive their security interests, their views on the U.S. staying in power in the region, and how they are responding to the U.S. retrenchment from the Middle East. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Danny Sharp, discussing how Gulf countries are finding opportunities in a reduced U.S. presence and how they are pu...
A Mezze: Help Wanted, But Not Found
April 11, 2023 20:48 - 3 minutesWhat started as a job advertisement for a sandwich maker in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) quickly landed one firm in hot water last December. As the UAE pushes for companies in the private sector to hire more Emiratis, they're finding that there are some jobs that Emiratis may not want. A new Mezze from the Middle East Program.
Ali Vaez: Iran's Regional Policy
April 04, 2023 21:17 - 38 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group. They talk about the Saudi-Iranian agreement to resume diplomatic ties, how it fits into Iran’s wider foreign policy strategy around the region, and the prospects for a broader détente between Iran and its Arab neighbors in the Gulf. Vaez suggests that a regional nuclear agreement between Iran and Arab states in the Gulf might be a more viable path forward than an agreement between Iran and the West. Then,...
A Mezze: Saudi Arabia's New Anime Journey
March 28, 2023 22:17 - 3 minutesImported entertainment options have flourished under MBS, helping erode the Saudi state’s ability to shape public culture. But now, Saudi state-owned firms are using the growing popularity of anime to shape their own narrative, at home and abroad. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Iraq 20 Years Later with Marsin Alshamary and Hamzeh Hadad
March 21, 2023 21:25 - 44 minutesIn a special episode of Babel to mark the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war, Jon sits down with two Iraqi guests to talk about the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion. Dr. Marsin Alshamary is a research fellow with the Middle East Initiative at Harvard's Belfer Center, and Hamzeh Hadad is an adjunct fellow with the Center for New American Security. Alshamary and Hadad talk about how the war in Iraq has shaped both Iraqi politics and their own lives, their experiences as members...
A Mezze: Going Green with Envy
March 14, 2023 22:04 - 3 minutesIn Lebanon, neighboring communities are looking to connect and build off one another's initiatives, but a dysfunctional environment makes capitalizing on that opportunity a challenge for international donors and Lebanese communities alike. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program. This Mezze episode was adapted from a vignette in the Middle East Program's latest report, Powering Recovery: Reform, Reconstruction, and Renewables in Conflict-Affected States in the Middle East, written by Wi...
Will Todman: Powering Recovery
March 07, 2023 21:53 - 40 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with the Middle East Program's Will Todman to break down Will's new report, Powering Recovery: Reform, Reconstruction and Renewables in Conflict-Affected States in the Arab World. They talk about how governments and politicians in conflict-affected states can actually benefit from broken electrical systems, what the United States and international donors miss when they ignore those dynamics, and how renewable energy can offer a better pathway forward fo...
A Mezze: From Beijing to Jerusalem
February 28, 2023 23:03 - 3 minutesBefore the pandemic, Chinese tourism to Israel was growing the fastest out of any country. As Chinese tourists begin to return to the market, Israel may continue to be a popular destination.
Natasha Hall: The Aftermath of Earthquakes in Syria
February 21, 2023 22:03 - 29 minutesThis week, in a special episode of Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Middle East Program senior fellow Natasha Hall about the aftermath of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. They talk about the aid response, how governments are instrumentalizing the aid response to advance their own goals, and the challenges in delivering aid to areas of northwest Syria controlled by rebel groups. Natasha draws on her earlier study, “Rescuing Aid in Syria,” to argue that the United States and other don...
A Mezze: On the Hook
February 14, 2023 22:30 - 3 minutesEgypt's fish farmers have been struggling for years now. Media reports and industry groups blame due climate change and Cairo's pollution of Egypt's waterways but farmers say the real culprit lies beneath the surface: the Egyptian military has become the largest player in the market, crowding out smaller farmers in the process.
Bilahari Kausikan: The Middle East in a Multipolar World
February 07, 2023 22:26 - 42 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Bilahari Kausikan, a Singaporean diplomat with a 37-year career in Singapore's ministry of foreign affairs, serving most recently as Ambassador-at-Large. In his conversation with Jon, Dr. Kausikan suggests that U.S.-China competition may not be as binary as it may seem, explores the ways in which a complex international system gives regional states greater agency on the world stage, examines how U.S. engagement with the Middle East is changing as priorities...
A Mezze: Salmon Farming in the UAE
February 01, 2023 14:37 - 4 minutesThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) doesn’t seem like the ideal place for a salmon farm, but aquaculture is becoming an increasingly large part of the UAE's food security strategy. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Hanna Notte: Russia in the Middle East After Ukraine
January 24, 2023 19:43 - 33 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Hanna Notte, a senior research associate with the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. They talk about Russia's interests in the Middle East and where they stand after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia's growing economic and defense relationship with Iran, and how Arab states view Russia's war in Ukraine. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Danny Sharp, discussing the implications for U.S. policy in the region and what U...
A Mezze: Untying the Knot
January 17, 2023 21:55 - 4 minutes“Every two minutes, an Egyptian couple files for divorce — that's how long it takes to heat up pita bread," joked one host on Egyptian TV last year. In an effort to bring that number down, the Egyptian government is trying to take action before couples tie the knot in the first place.
Jihad Azour: The Middle East's Economic Outlook
January 10, 2023 21:12 - 45 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Jihad Azour, the director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They talk about the Middle East's economic outlook, the impacts of COVID and the Ukraine war on local economies, and the political consequences of economic reforms. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Danny Sharp, discussing popular attitudes to IMF-supported reforms and the potential consequences of greater Gulf state in...
A Mezze: Weed Whacking
January 03, 2023 21:29 - 3 minutesAs regional conflicts blaze, Lebanese and Israeli drug markets are feeling the heat: over the past two years, hashish prices have fallen 50 percent in Lebanon, while in Israel, prices are rising.
Khalid Albaih: The Information Bubble
December 27, 2022 11:00 - 38 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Khalid Albaih, a Sudanese cultural producer, artist, and political cartoonist. They talk about how Albaih got his start as a political cartoonist, how he went viral during the Arab Spring and what he was trying to do, and why he's rethinking his role on the internet today. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Lubna Yousef about the vast amount of information available online today and the "information bubbles" that many of us find ourse...
A Mezze: Blame it on the Bitcoin
December 20, 2022 22:12 - 3 minutesLibya's electricity grid has been struggling for years, but the government thinks it has found a new culprit: illegal bitcoin mining farms it says are popping up across the country.
C. Raja Mohan: India's Middle East Strategy
December 13, 2022 21:51 - 35 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with C. Raja Mohan, a senior fellow at the Asia Policy Institute who has been writing about Indian foreign policy for decades. They talk about India's strategy in the Middle East and how it's changed under Prime Minister Modi, how Indian policymakers think about the region, and potential areas for cooperation between India and its regional partners. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Lubna Yousef about how the region sees India and what a ...
A Mezze: Patching Jordan's Water Leaks
December 06, 2022 22:14 - 3 minutesIn the Jordan Valley, influential tribal members and landowners have steady access to water, while individual consumers and small farmers struggle. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program, adapted from a vignette in our report, "Sustainable States: Environment, Governance, and the Future of the Middle East."
Tamar Hermann: Israel's Rightward Shift
November 29, 2022 21:27 - 41 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Tamar Hermann, a senior fellow with the Israel Democracy Institute who has been analyzing Israeli polling data for decades. They talk about the rightward shift of young Jewish Israelis, changing attitudes toward Arab citizens of Israel, and the rising politics of grievances there. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Danny Sharp about the link between public opinion and decision-making around the region. Tamar Hermann, "Only Half of ...
A Mezze: Toons That Teach
November 22, 2022 22:54 - 2 minutesIncreasingly, a range of dialects have appeared on television and in movies. Arab children’s television, however, has proven surprisingly immune to the trend. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Helen Lackner: Yemen in Conflict
November 15, 2022 20:53 - 38 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Helen Lackner, the author of the new book, Yemen: Poverty and Conflict, who has spent five decades covering Yemen. They talk about how conflict has been endemic in Yemen for hundreds of years, how the current conflict fits into that history, and what a post-conflict Yemen could look like. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Caleb Harper about U.S. goals in Yemen and other conflict-affected countries in the Middle East. Helen...
A Mezze: Syrians Need Not Apply
November 08, 2022 21:36 - 3 minutesAmid a worsening economic crisis, Lebanon is facing yet another shortage: a lack of foreign workers to work as maids and nannies in Lebanese homes. Despite a high unemployment rate among Syrians living in Lebanon, they aren't likely to be part of the solution. A New Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
COP 27 Preview: Electrifying the Middle East with Ali al-Saffar
November 01, 2022 21:09 - 37 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Ali al-Saffar, the Middle East and North Africa program manager at the International Energy Agency (IEA). They talk about the state of electric grids in the Middle East; renewable electricity and the energy transition; and why some Middle Eastern countries have too little electricity, why some have too much, and why that matters. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Lubna Yousef about subsidies and reform in the region. Jon Alterman, "...
A Mezze: Meat Market
October 25, 2022 20:55 - 2 minutesMany countries have large trade deficits with oil producers in the Middle East, but Brazil is deep in surplus: it isn’t hungry for oil imports, but the region's consumers are hungry for its meat. A New Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Mahsa Alimardani: Protest, Social Media, and Censorship in Iran
October 18, 2022 20:55 - 44 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Mahsa Alimardani, a scholar at the University of Oxford and a senior researcher with Article19. They talk about the recent protests in Iran and how both protestors and the regime have used social media, the cat and mouse game of online access and censorship in Iran, and what Western social media companies can be doing to better moderate their platforms. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Lubna Yousef about the intersection of protest ...
A Mezze: Honey, I Froze the Kids
October 11, 2022 21:06 - 3 minutesIsrael's generous subsidies for in-vitro-fertilization (IVF) have earned it the highest per capita rate of IVF procedures in the world, but that generosity may soon literally overflow with a decades-long buildup of frozen embryos.
Sami Atallah: Lebanon's Freefall
October 04, 2022 18:32 - 34 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Sami Atallah, the founding director of The Policy Initiative in Beirut. They talk about Lebanon's three year old financial crisis, its struggle with political accountability, and where change might come from. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Caleb Harper about how donors and the international community are thinking about Lebanon. Sami Atallah et al., “When elections don’t matter? How new parliamentarians can improve the politics of...
A Mezze: Volunteer Trash Collectors
September 27, 2022 21:02 - 2 minutesTunisia’s revolution in 2011 improved many things, but the odors of Tunis was not one of them. This Mezze was adapted from the Middle East Program's report, "Sustainable States: Environment, Governance, and the Future of the Middle East."
Marc Owen Jones: Real News, Fake News, and No News
September 20, 2022 19:58 - 35 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Marc Owen Jones, an assistant professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Hamad bin Khalifa University in Qatar. He is the author of the recently released book, Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East. They talk about governments' longstanding efforts to shape the news environment in Middle Eastern states, and how the rise of social media creates new opportunities and threats for governments and citizens alike. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natas...
A Mezze: It Takes a Village to Protect a River
September 13, 2022 20:38 - 3 minutesTo protect water resources in Lebanon, it takes more than just government action. This Mezze is adapted from a short vignette in our Sustainable States: Environment, Governance, and the Future of the Middle East. A New Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Olivia Lazard: Climate in the Middle East
September 06, 2022 20:59 - 41 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Olivia Lazard, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe focusing on the geopolitics of climate and the transitions ushered by climate change. They talk about the political and social impacts of climate change in the Middle East, what states in the region are already doing to mitigate the effects of climate change, and the bigger, transformative policy changes that are still needed. Then, Jon breaks down how international actors and governments in the region ar...
A Mezze: Deus ex Trafica
August 30, 2022 23:32 - 2 minutesIn Saudi Arabia, religious leaders warn that there's a new sin to add to the list: flashing your emergency lights to warn other drivers of upcoming speed cameras. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.
Marsin Alshamary: Iraq's Political Crisis
August 23, 2022 19:41 - 37 minutesThis week on Babel, Jon speaks with Marsin Alshamary, a research fellow with the Middle East Initiative at Harvard’s Belfer Center. We talk about the ongoing crisis happening outside of Iraq’s parliament, why the current intra-Shi’a conflict is unique and how it echoes similar crises before, and where Iran and the United States stand. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Lubna Yousef about what a lighter U.S touch in Iraq might look like moving forward. Marsin Alshamary ...