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PODCAST

Babel: Translating the Middle East

Center for Strategic and International Studies

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

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All Episodes

28:50

Restoring Iraq's Marshes

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2021/01/26

In this week's episode of Babel, Jon Alterman talks with Dr. Azzam Alwash, an engineer working to restore Iraq's wetlands and the founder of Nature Iraq. Dr. Alwash talks about why wetlands are important and how he and others work to convince Iraq's government to take action. Then, Jon, Natasha Hall, and McKinley Knoop discuss the relationship between climate change, governance, and trust. Azzam Alwash, “Iraq’s Climate Crisis Requires Bold Cooperation,” The Century Foundation, December 14,

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2:39

A Mezze: Ba'athist Blues

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2021/01/19

The disorder of today’s Iraq leads many Iraqis to miss the old Iraq, in which life was predictable and the state provided for its citizens. Over the past several years, Iraqi support for Saddam Hussein has surged.

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35:15

The Arab Spring Ten Years On

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2021/01/12

In our latest episode of Babel, Jon Alterman was joined by Issandr El Amrani, regional director for the Middle East/North Africa region at the Open Society Foundation. Issandr talked to Jon about how political trends across the Middle East have unfolded in the ten years since the Arab Spring. He also gives his thoughts on what trends people should be watching going forward. Then, Jon, Natasha Hall, and Danny Sharp explore the Arab Spring's legacy ten years on. Oz Katerji, "Betrayed by Their

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2:31

A Mezze: Drivers of Change

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2021/01/05

As more and more women across the Middle East enter the auto industry, the fuel for change is being driven in unexpected directions.

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27:23

Rising Temperatures in the Middle East

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/12/29

Jon Alterman talks with Elfatih Eltahir, professor of hydrology and climate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, about climate change and rising temperatures across the Middle East. Professor Eltahir explains what 'wet bulb' temperature means, and why governments should plan future cities away from the coast in order to cope with extreme heat. Then, Jon, Will Todman, and McKinley Knoop discuss climate change mitigation efforts in the Middle East. Suchul Kang, Jeremy Pal, Elfatih Eltahir,

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2:38

A Mezze: Secondhand in Demand

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/12/22

Egyptian vendors are reselling leftover and expired foods to Egypt's poor at heavily discounted prices.

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32:42

Satire and Comedy in the Arab World

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/12/15

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman is joined by Karl Sharro, an architect, satirist, and commentator on the Middle East who blogs and tweets as @KarlreMarks. Karl talks about how he developed his style of comedy and the role satire has played in the Arab World. Then, Natasha, Will, and Jon talk about what satire can tell us about the Middle East. Karl Sharro, "Explaining Lebanon's Problems in One Minute," Karl Sharro Youtube, October 2, 2020. Ahmed Albasheer, "Muhasasa," Albasheer Show Youtube,

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2:17

A Mezze: Delivering the Goods

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/12/08

Across the Middle East, ride sharing apps are helping address the region's addressing problems.

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29:33

Surveying Arab Youth

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/12/01

This week on Babel, Jon is joined by Sunil John, founder of Asda’a BCW and president for the Middle East and North Africa for BCW, where he runs the annual Arab Youth Survey. Sunil and John talk about the results of this year's survey. They also talk about how his team develops the survey and how it has changed over the last decade. Then, Natasha, McKinley, and Jon discuss their own experiences developing trust in research. Asda'a BCW, "Top 10 Findings of the Arab Youth Survey," Arab Youth Survey,

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3:18

A Mezze: Dying for Power

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/11/24

Amidst a tangle of political banners, martyrs’ portraits, and crisscrossing power lines in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, the image of a boy gazes down. Sixteen-year-old Muhammad Okasha is celebrated in death, but unlike the fighters whose images otherwise line the streets, he did not die for the Palestinian cause. Hailed as an “electricity martyr,” he died struggling to bring power to his home. Song Credit: "Uncertain Ground" from Duck Lake.

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30:35

Iran and the New U.S. Administration

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/11/17

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman talks with Sanam Vakil, deputy director of the Middle East North Africa Programme at Chatham House, where she leads the Future Dynamics in the Gulf project and the Iran Forum. Sanam and Jon talk about how Iran is thinking about the Biden presidency. They also talk about the upcoming election in Iran and what that could mean for Iran's strategy towards the United States. Then, Jon, Natasha, and Will discuss the Biden administration's likely approach to Iran. Sanam

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4:19

A Mezze: Reading the Signs in Istanbul

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/11/10

In July 2019, Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu denounced the excessive use of Arabic on the city’s storefronts. Song Credits: "Bir Demet Yasemen" from Turku, Nomads of the Silk Road; the track Gambrel via Blue Dot Sessions; and the end music is from Syrian street musicians Munzer Sheikh Alkar and Jemal Shber in Istanbul.

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26:34

How the Middle East Views the U.S. Election

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/11/03

This week on Babel, Jon is joined by Hassan Barari, a professor of international politics at the University of Jordan who is currently on leave teaching at Qatar University. Jon and Hassan talk about how the Middle East has viewed past U.S. administrations and the current one. They also talk about what a Biden administration might mean for the future of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Then, Jon, Will, and Danny discuss anti-Americanism in the Middle East. Jon Alterman, "Pivoting to Asia

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3:51

A Mezze: Seoul Music

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/10/27

Some treat diplomacy in the Middle East like political theater—but for South Korea, it’s more of a musical. Music Credits: Highride & Club Felix from the album Radio Pink via Blue Dot Studios.

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24:07

The Rise of Iraq's Shi'ite Militias

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/10/20

This week Jon is joined by Hassan Hassan, director of the program on non-state actors in geopolitics at the Center for Global Policy and the editor-in-chief of its new online journal, Newlines Magazine. Hassan talks to Jon about his late colleague, Hisham al-Hashimi, and the research Hisham was conducting on the rise of Shi'ite militias in Iraq. Then, Natasha, Will, and Jon talk about the effects of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. Hassan Hassan, "How Iraq's Top ISIS Scholar Became a Target for

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3:46

A Mezze: Cyber-Sheikh

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/10/13

In years past, a Muslim would ask a religious scholar for a ruling, or fatwa. In Dubai today, a Muslim can ask these questions to a computer. Song Credits: "The Terrarium" by Sketchbook; "Stipple" by Marisala; "The Spills" by CloudBreaker.

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26:31

Russia in the Middle East: Part Six

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/10/06

In part six, Jon Alterman hears from guests from previous episodes who help him recap everything he's covered so far and look at what's next for Russia in the Middle East. Jon is rejoined by Elizabeth Tsurkov, fellow at the Center for Global Policy and at the Forum for Regional Thinking; Ambassador Mohamed Anis Salem, an Egyptian diplomat with 35 years of experience; Eugene Rumer, senior fellow and director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment; and Phil Gordon, senior fellow

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25:25

Russia in the Middle East: Part Five

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/09/29

In part five, Jon Alterman looks at how the Middle East views Russia. He starts with Russia's relationships with Israel and Iran, before moving on to how Arab states, particularly Egypt, view Russia. Jon talks with Elizabeth Tsurkov, fellow at the Center for Global Policy and at the Forum for Regional Thinking; Mohamed Anis Salem, an Egyptian diplomat with 35 years of experience; and Anna Borschevskaya, senior fellow at the Washington Institute. Song Credits: “Denzel Sprak” from CloudCover; “Coulis

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22:32

Russia in the Middle East: Part Four

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/09/22

In part four, Jon Alterman looks at U.S.-Russian cooperation and competition in the Middle East. He follows how U.S. policy in the Middle East has shaped Russian policy in the region, and how the U.S.-Russian relationship in the Middle East has evolved over the past three decades. During the episode, Jon talks with Anna Borschevskaya, senior fellow at the Washington Institute; Heather Conley, senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia, and the Artic and director of the Europe Program at CSIS; Phil

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24:33

Russia in the Middle East: Part Three

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/09/15

In part three, Jon Alterman looks at Russian security interests in the Middle East. He starts with an overview of Russia's military presence, and then looks at how Moscow's presence has evolved in Syria, and then spread into Libya. He talks with Olga Oliker, director of the Europe and Central Asia Program at the International Crisis Group; Alexey Khlebnikov, an expert at the Russian International Affairs Council; Wa'el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Foundation and a former State Department official; and

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284 results

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