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).
176
Surveying Arab Youth
Jon Alterman talks to Sunil John about the results from the annual Arab Youth Survey.
29 min
177
A Mezze: Dying for Power
A short mezze episode from the Middle East Program at CSIS.
3 min
178
Iran and the New U.S. Administration
Jon Alterman talks to Sanam Vakil about both the U.S. and the Iranian elections.
30 min
179
A Mezze: Reading the Signs in Istanbul
A short mezze episode from the Middle East Program at CSIS.
4 min
180
How the Middle East Views the U.S. Election
Jon Alterman talks to Hassan Barari about how the Middle East views the 2020 U.S. Election.
26 min
181
A Mezze: Seoul Music
A short mezze episode from the Middle East Program at CSIS.
3 min
182
The Rise of Iraq's Shi'ite Militias
Jon Alterman talks to Hassan Hassan about Hisham al-Hashimi’s research on Shi'ite militias in Iraq.
24 min
183
A Mezze: Cyber-Sheikh
A short mezze episode from the Middle East Program at CSIS.
3 min
184
Russia in the Middle East: Part Six
The sixth and final part of a podcast miniseries on Russia's presence in the Middle East, hosted by Jon Alterman.
26 min
185
Russia in the Middle East: Part Five
Part five of a new miniseries on Russia's presence in the Middle East.
25 min
186
Russia in the Middle East: Part Four
Part four of a podcast miniseries on Russia's presence in the Middle East, hosted by Jon Alterman.
22 min
187
Russia in the Middle East: Part Three
Part three of a podcast miniseries on Russia's presence in the Middle East, hosted by Jon Alterman.
24 min
188
Russia in the Middle East: Part Two
Part two of a podcast miniseries on Russia's presence in the Middle East, hosted by Jon Alterman.
21 min
189
Russia in the Middle East: Part One
Part one of a new miniseries on Russia's presence in the Middle East.
23 min
190
Lebanon's Latest Explosion
Nora Boustany talks with Jon about living in Lebanon during and after the Civil War and provides perspective on Lebanon’s current collapse.
27 min
191
Why Women Join the Islamic State
Azadeh Moaveni joins Jon Alterman to discuss her new book, Guest House for Young Widows.
28 min
192
The History of Saudi-Iranian Competition
Kim Ghattas joins Jon to discuss her new book, Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East.
34 min
193
A Mezze: Blessed Bling
As demand for religious jewelry booms in the Middle East, fake gemstones are flooding the market.
4 min
194
The Changing World of Arab Television
On this week's episode of Babel, Fadi Ismail joins Jon to discuss Arab television and how it's changing.
26 min
195
A Mezze: Bad Love
Egyptian talk shows are increasingly telling women to “love themselves,” but not everyone is on board with this new messaging.
3 min
196
Jordan's Economy During Covid-19
On this week's episode of Babel, Minister Mohamad al-Ississ joins Jon to talk about Jordan's economy before, during, and after Covid-19.
26 min
197
A Mezze: Fodder for Debate
Saudi Arabia’s dairy industry is stirring debate around food security, depleting aquifers, and fodder imports.
4 min
198
The Internationalization of Libya
This week on Babel, Jon is joined by Frederic Wehrey, senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
26 min
199
A Mezze: Cut from Whole Cloth
Middle Eastern governments are struggling to combat purchases of military uniforms by malign actors attempting to impersonate soldiers.
3 min
200
The Climate-Security Nexus with Marwa Daoudy
Marwa Daoudy, assistant professor at Georgetown University, joins Jon to talk about the climate-security nexus in Syria.
24 min