Babel: Translating the Middle East
Babel 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, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy 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).
26
Mohammad Ali Shabani: Iran After October 7
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Mohammad Ali Shabani about Iran’s regional strategy and the choices Iran has after a year of rising regional tensions.
44 min
27
Analysis: Israel Hits Iran
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the unprecedented back-and-forth between Israel and Iran.
5 min
28
Amjad Iraqi: The Future of Palestinians in Israel
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Amjad Iraqi about how Palestinian citizens of Israel have been experiencing the Gaza war, and the future of Palestinian communities in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.
41 min
29
Analysis: Israel's Trajectory
Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about how the deaths of Yahya Sinwar and Hassan Nasrallah have impacted Israel’s trajectory.
5 min
30
Lina Khatib: War Spreads to Lebanon
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Lina Khatib about the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, its regional impacts, and the emerging vacuum in Lebanese politics,
34 min
31
Analysis: Israel's Ground Invasion into Lebanon
Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about Israel's ground invasion into Lebanon and the likelihood of escalation.
6 min
32
Peter Schwartzstein: Climate Violence in the Mi...
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Peter Schwartzstein about his new book, the outlook for climate adaptation in the Middle East, and environmental peacebuilding.
36 min
33
Analysis: Israel-Hezbollah Escalation
Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about why the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah is occurring and possible off-ramps for the violence.
5 min
34
Hussein Ibish: Popular Mobilization Since Octob...
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Hussein Ibish abut popular mobilization across the Middle East since October 7th, and what it indicates about regional politics.
39 min
35
Analysis: The Hostage Crisis in Gaza
Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman about the tactics and implications of the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza.
7 min
36
Isabelle Werenfels: North Africa's Relationship...
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Isabelle Werenfels about the ways in which relations between Europe and North Africa are changing.
37 min
37
A Mezze: A Fishy Business in Port Said
Egyptians traditionally celebrate Sham Enessim by eating faseekh, a fermented mullet. In Port Said, where seafood is generally an affordable staple protein, the price hikes hit especially hard.
1 min
38
Michelle Nunn: The Challenges of Gaza's Humanit...
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Michelle Nunn about the unique challenges of Gaza's humanitarian crisis by contextualizing it among other global crises.
35 min
39
Analysis: The Aftermath of Haniyeh's Assassination
Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about how Ismail Haniyeh's assassination escalates regional tensions and impacts the Israel-Hamas war.
5 min
40
Analysis: Netanyahu's U.S. Visit
Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the implications of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit on U.S. foreign policy in the region.
4 min
41
Hasan Alhasan: The Strategies of Gulf States
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Hasan Alhasan about Gulf states’ foreign policies and their underlying strategies.
43 min
42
Analysis: Iran's Presidential Election
Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about Iran's presidential election and its impact on regional politics.
5 min
43
Karim Haggag: Egypt's Balancing Act
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Ambassador Karim Haggag about Egypt's complicated relationships with Israel and Hamas and Egypt's likely role in Gaza's "day after."
41 min
44
A Mezze: The Voice Inside AI's Head Speaks English
As Arabic-speaking nations race for AI supremacy, they are starting behind the pack.
2 min
45
Karim Elgendy: Climate Diplomacy in the Middle ...
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Karim Elgendy about the geopolitics of climate change, the challenges hindering climate diplomacy, and the factors driving energy production in the region.
31 min
46
Analysis: Lebanon's Dangerous Campaign against ...
The Lebanese government set a dangerous precedent for the region by developing a plan to deport Syrian refugees who were not registered with the United Nations.
6 min
47
Jonathan Rynhold: Israel's Divided Politics
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Jonathan Rynhold about how Israeli public opinion has evolved since October 7th, the divisions within Israeli politics, and Israeli attitudes towards President Biden.
39 min
48
Analysis: Environmental Politics in Postrevolut...
Amid chronic political instability, Tunisian institutions lack the legitimacy necessary to implement policies. Environmental policies have taken a particularly hard hit.
3 min
49
Sanam Vakil: Iran's Trajectory after Raisi
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Sanam Vakil about the fallout from President Raisi’s death, how Gulf states are likely to react, and the feasibility of U.S. policy options going forward.
37 min
50
Analysis: The Impacts of Raisi's Death
Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman about the impacts of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi's death in a helicopter crash, and how it will affect Iran's foreign and domestic policy.
4 min