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).
1
Analysis: Will Trump’s Houthi Deal Stick?
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman about the core drivers behind the recent U.S.-Houthi deal.
6 min
2
Dina Esfandiary: Will Iran Make a Deal with Trump?
Jon Alterman speaks with Dina Esfandiary about why the United States and Iran are negotiating again.
42 min
3
Analysis: Trump’s Novel Middle East Diplomacy
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman about the promise and risks of Trump's approach to Middle East diplomacy.
6 min
4
Craig Larkin: The Politics of Memory, From Mosu...
Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Craig Larkin about different approaches taken to reconstruction and reconciliation after violence in the Middle East.
40 min
5
Analysis: Iran, Deal or No Deal?
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman about why the U.S.-Iran talks are happening now and what must be done to ensure their success.
6 min
6
Dahlia Scheindlin: Israel’s Political Turmoil
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s staying power.
33 min
7
Analysis: Trump Takes on the Houthis
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman about the dilemmas facing U.S. policymakers in dealing with the Houthis.
6 min
8
Nicolas Pelham: Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syria’s Future
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Nicolas Pelham about his written profile of Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa.
46 min
9
Renad Mansour and Sanam Vakil: Iranian Networks...
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Renad Mansour and Sanam Vakil about the resilience of Iranian networks.
46 min
10
Analysis: Trump’s Middle East Strategy
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman about the state of U.S. Middle East policy and its possible future trajectories.
6 min
11
Max Bergmann: Does Europe Matter in the Middle ...
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Max Bergmann about the Middle East issues that unite and divide European countries.
28 min
12
Analysis: Are U.S.-Russia Talks a Win for the S...
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about what Saudi Arabia gains by hosting the U.S.-Russia talks.
4 min
13
Alessandro Accorsi: Disinformation Warfare in t...
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Alessandro Accorsi about disinformation in the Middle East.
43 min
14
Analysis: Netanyahu Comes to Washington
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the current state of U.S.-Israel relations.
4 min
15
Sinem Adar: Turkey's Syria Challenge
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Sinem Adar about Turkey's evolving interests in Syria and their connection to Turkey’s wider foreign policy agenda.
37 min
16
Analysis: Gaza Peace?
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about where the Gaza conflict stands after 15 months of warfare.
7 min
17
eL Seed: Arabic Calligraffiti
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with eL Seed about the cultural and political forces that shaped his artistic evolution and art’s role in spurring social change.
32 min
18
Analysis: Syria’s Bid for Sanctions Relief
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the prospects for the diplomatic efforts of Syria's new government.
8 min
19
Special: Syria's Post-Assad Scramble
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Will Todman and Natasha Hall on the sudden collapse of the Assad regime and what will replace it.
27 min
20
Max Gallien: Black Markets of the Maghreb
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Max Gallien about the political, social, and economic functions of smuggling economies in North Africa.
34 min
21
Analysis: The Regional Fallout of Syria's Unrest
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the regional and geostrategic implications of a possibly new phase in Syria’s 13-year civil war.
9 min
22
Arwa Damon: Gaza's Wounds
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Arwa Damon about her current humanitarian work in Gaza and two decades of experience reporting from war zones.
38 min
23
Analysis: Saudi Arabia's Economic Plans Stumble
Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about NEOM and Saudi Arabia’s economic future.
4 min
24
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
25
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