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, 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).
26
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
27
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
28
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
29
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
30
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
31
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
32
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
33
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
34
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
35
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
36
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
37
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
38
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
39
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
40
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
41
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
42
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
43
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
44
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
45
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
46
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
47
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
48
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
49
Nicholas Blanford: Hezbollah’s Struggle Against...
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Nicholas Blanford, a Beirut-based security consultant, the author of two books on Lebanon, and a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
30 min
50
A Mezze: The Bonds of Marriage between Syria an...
Unknowingly, a Syrian widow became one of dozens of women to fall victim to Iraqi marriage exploitation in the past year alone.
2 min