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).
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All content © 2019 Center for Strategic and International Studies
Babel: Translating the Middle East
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50 Subscribers
Reviews
The Dog's Tux
5 out of 5 stars
great format, even better content
I've been listening to Babel for a few months and I have so enjoyed each and every episode I've heard so far. The episodes present topics in unique style. The effectiveness lies in the great analysis. The variety of topics and guest speakers have kept me coming back for more each week. I find it way more digestible than long for article or hour event recording. Keep up the great work.
RJG179
5 out of 5 stars
Exceptional
I enjoy most CSIS podcasts, and I feel compelled to give Babble high marks across the board. The host is exceptional in both his level of subject matter expertise and his presentation of it. I appreciate having a high quality podcast from CSIS on this important region.
FormerArabist
5 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended
As someone who studied the Middle East at university and wanted to keep up with it, I find Babel extremely useful. They cover a wide range of issues and often have guests I’d never heard of. Highly recommended for anyone with a professional, academic, or personal interest in the region.
pink1ove
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Love this podcast! Great insight, great conversation.
itcouldbewho
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent
A++++ show
Sevro60
5 out of 5 stars
Rich window into the ME
The highest quality of guests and discussion about a broad range to Middle East topics. I especially enjoy the short "A Mezze" episodes which provide a taste of the region that makes me want to be there (usually).
katandbrandon
5 out of 5 stars
Great show ! Give it a listen
Great guests. Well produced. A well rounded show. There are not many shows like this !
Edy Semaan
5 out of 5 stars
Fresh perspective on classic matters
This is one of the best podcasts on the Middle East. Whether you're a beginner or an expert in the field, this is both a great introduction and a pleasant and insightful content. It's the perfect go-to podcast for English speakers focusing on the region. Great guests from the region and on-point commentary on recent and emerging topics. One of my personal favorite episodes so far is the one with satirist Karl Sharro, a.k.a. @KarlreMarks, where the ME team explores the state, charactersitics, and history of satire in Arab countries and more. Always interesting and refreshing topics!
1990gary
5 out of 5 stars
Great podcast
Great podcast and very informative!
Whitfield2795
5 out of 5 stars
Very informative
I always enjoy these topics that are discussed in Babel, and the speakers are very interesting. Please continue to do more!
Popsgfhcluusjddj
5 out of 5 stars
Great listen!
Informative and engaging content from sharp individuals. Definitely a high-quality listen for those interested in Middle-Eastern current events.
Podcast information
- Amount of episodes
- 175
- Subscribers
- 50
- Verified
- No
- Website
- Explicit content
- No
- Episode type
- episodic
- Podcast link
- https://podvine.com/link/..
- Last upload date
- March 28, 2023
- Last fetch date
- March 31, 2023 6:12 PM
- Upload range
- WEEKLY
- Author
- Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Copyright
- All content © 2019 Center for Strategic and International Studies
susbcribers
- A Mezze: Saudi Arabia's New Anime JourneyImported 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.0 comments0
- Iraq 20 Years Later with Marsin Alshamary and Hamzeh HadadIn 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 of the diaspora who travel extensively to Iraq, the lingering effects of the Saddam Hussein era, and the future of Iraqi politics. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Lubna Yousef, discussing the different ways in which diaspora communities interact with both their home countries and their host countries. Marsin Alshamary and Hamzeh Hadad, “The Collective Neglect of Southern Iraq: Missed Opportunities for Development and Good Governance,” International Peacekeeping, February 16, 2023. Hamzeh Hadad, “Climate of opportunity: Iraq’s new government as regional conciliator,” European Council on Foreign Relations, November 4, 2022. Marsin Alshamary, “Authoritarian Nostalgia Among Iraqi Youth,” War on the Rocks, July 25, 2018. Transcript, "Iraq 20 Years Later," CSIS, March 21, 2023.0 comments0
- Babel: Translating the Middle East Mar 14 · 3m A Mezze: Going Green with EnvyIn 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 Will Todman.0 comments0
- Will Todman: Powering RecoveryThis 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 for donors and conflict-affected societies in the region. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Lubna Yousef and Caleb Harper, diving into Lubna's chapter on Libya and her experience on the ground before and after the revolution, and what key lessons donors should take away from Will's report. Transcript, "Powering Recovery," CSIS, March 7, 2023.0 comments0
- Natasha Hall: The Aftermath of Earthquakes in SyriaThis 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 donor governments need to rethink their aid response in Syria, better monitor where aid is going, and prepare for additional acute crises. Transcript, "The Aftermath of Earthquakes in Syria," CSIS, February 21, 2023.0 comments0
- A Mezze: On the HookEgypt'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.0 comments0
- Bilahari Kausikan: The Middle East in a Multipolar WorldThis 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 shift to Asia, and proposes what lessons the Middle East can take from similar shifts in U.S. policy in Southeast Asia post-Vietnam. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Caleb Harper, discussing how states in the region are balancing efforts to be seen as more independent global actors with their existing relations with the United States. Bilahari Kausikan, "China's Strategic Dilemma," Asia Sentinel, March 22, 2022. Jon Alterman, "The Arab World at an Inflection Point," CSIS, January 17, 2023. "U.S. Power and Influence in the Middle East," Babel Miniseries, March 7, 2022. Transcript, "The Middle East in a Multipolar World," CSIS, February 7, 2023.0 comments0
- Babel: Translating the Middle East Feb 1 · 4m A Mezze: Salmon Farming in the UAEThe 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.0 comments0
- Hanna Notte: Russia in the Middle East After UkraineThis 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.S. decision-makers should do about it. Hanna Notte, “Don’t Expect Any More Russian Help on the Iran Nuclear Deal,” War on the Rocks, November 3, 2022. Hanna Notte, “The Impact of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion in the Middle East and North Africa,” Congressional Testimony, Before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism, 117th Congress, May 18, 2022. Jon Alterman, "The Middle East's Indifference to Ukraine is a Warning," Defense One, May 12, 2022. Hanna Notte, “Will Western-Russian Confrontation Shake the Middle East?” War on the Rocks, March 29, 2022. Transcript, "Russia in the Middle East After Ukraine," CSIS, January 24, 2023.0 comments0
- A Mezze: Untying the Knot“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.0 comments0
- Jihad Azour: The Middle East's Economic OutlookThis 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 investment in the region. Transcript, "The Middle East's Economic Outlook," CSIS, January 10, 2023.0 comments0
- Khalid Albaih: The Information BubbleThis 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 ourselves trapped in. "The Future is Unwritten: Khalid AlBaih, Khartoon!" UN75: Artists for Tomorrow. Khalid Albaih, "Arab Spring Cartoon: Citizen Journalism from Syria to Sudan," Al Jazeera, March 26, 2021. Transcript, "The Information Bubble," CSIS, December 27, 2022.0 comments0
- C. Raja Mohan: India's Middle East StrategyThis 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 more active India in the Middle East would mean for the United States. “Lessons on navigating the evolving geopolitics in the Middle East,” The Indian Express, July 19, 2022. C Raja Mohan, “India in the Middle East: From Rigid Ideology to Flexible Pragmatism,” Reichman University, March 24, 2022. C Raja Mohan, “New India Finds an Old Role in a Changing Middle East,” Foreign Policy, October 29, 2021. Transcript, "India's Middle East Strategy," CSIS, December 13, 2022.0 comments0
- A Mezze: Patching Jordan's Water LeaksIn 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."0 comments0
- Tamar Hermann: Israel's Rightward ShiftThis 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 Israelis Intend to Repeat Their 2021 Vote," Israel Democracy Institute, August 31, 2022. Tamar Hermann, "Majority Think Low Chances Next Election will End Gridlock," Israel Democracy Institute, July 5, 2022. Tamar Hermann et al., "The Israeli Democracy Index 2021," Israel Democracy Institute, 2022. Transcript, "Israel's Rightward Shift" CSIS, November 28, 2022.0 comments0
- Helen Lackner: Yemen in ConflictThis 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 Lackner, Yemen: Poverty and Conflict (Oxfordshire: Routledge, 2022). Jon Alterman and Peter Salisbury, "Yemen's Civil War," Babel, July 27, 2021. Transcript, "Yemen in Conflict," CSIS, November 15, 2022.0 comments0
- Babel: Translating the Middle East Nov 8 · 3m A Mezze: Syrians Need Not ApplyAmid 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.0 comments0
- COP 27 Preview: Electrifying the Middle East with Ali al-SaffarThis 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, "The Middle East's Coming Centrality," CSIS, September 20, 2022. Ali al-Saffar and Brent Wanner, "How producers in the Middle East and North Africa can free up more natural gas for exports," IEA, May 25, 2022. Ali al-Saffar and Matthew Van der Beeuren, "The case for energy transitions in major oil- and gas-producing countries," IEA, November 18, 2020. Transcript, "COP 27 Preview: Electrifying the Middle East," CSIS, November 1, 2022.0 comments0
- Mahsa Alimardani: Protest, Social Media, and Censorship in IranThis 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 movements and social media around the Middle East. Mahsa Alimardani, Kendra Albert, and Afsaneh Rigot, "Big Tech Should Support the Iranian People, Not the Regime," The New York Times, September 30, 2022. Mahsa Alimardani, "How Instagram is Failing Protestors in Iran," Slate, June 2, 2022. Jon Alterman and Jason Rezaian, "What We Get Wrong About Iran," CSIS, February 1, 2022. Jon Alterman and Karim Sadjadpour, "Iran's Future," CSIS, July 13, 2021. Transcript, "Protest, Social Media, and Censorship in Iran," CSIS, October 18, 2022.0 comments0
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All content © 2019 Center for Strategic and International Studies
