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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

government news commentary

All Episodes

21:57

Russia in the Middle East: Part Two

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/09/08

In part two, Jon Alterman explores Russian economic interests in the Middle East. He covers Middle Eastern investments in Russia, the arms industry, and the recent battle over oil production between Russia and Saudi Arabia. He also talks with Carole Nakhle, founder and CEO of Crystol Energy, Nikolay Kozhanov, a consulting fellow at Chatham House, and Olga Oliker, director of the Europe and Eurasia Program at the International Crisis Group. Olga Oliker, "Putin's Future: Reading the tea leaves,"

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23:53

Russia in the Middle East: Part One

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/09/01

In the first episode of our new podcast miniseries, Russia in the Middle East, Jon Alterman gives an overview of Russian policy in the Middle East and how the Middle East fits into Russia’s worldview. He covers Russia's return to the Middle East and looks at how Russian foreign policy has changed since the fall of the Soviet Union. Jon also sits down with Dmitri Trenin, director of Carnegie's Moscow Center, and Celeste Wallander, president and CEO of the U.S.-Russia Foundation, for their insight

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27:02

Lebanon's Latest Explosion

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/08/25

This week Jon is joined by Nora Boustany, an award-winning former correspondent and a professor at the American University of Beirut. She draws on her own experiences living in Lebanon during and after the Civil War to provide perspective on Lebanon's current collapse. Then, Natasha and Jon are joined by the Middle East Program's new program manager and research associate, Danny Sharp, to discuss the impact of sectarianism on life in Lebanon. Natasha Hall, "Lebanon's political bosses are the real

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28:45

Why Women Join the Islamic State

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/08/11

Azadeh Moaveni joins Jon Alterman to discuss her new book, Guest House for Young Widows. Azadeh is a writer and journalist who serves as the gender project director at the International Crisis Group. She tells Jon about some of the women she encountered while writing the book and why they joined the Islamic State. Then, Natasha, Will, and McKinley discuss the deradicalization process for women returning to their home countries. Will Todman and Erol Yayboke, “Refugees Could Help Solve Lebanon’s

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34:19

The History of Saudi-Iranian Competition

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/07/28

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. Kim and Jon trace 40 years of competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran, starting with 1979 and ending with today. Then, the Middle East Program’s new senior fellow, Natasha Hall, joins Jon and McKinley for a discussion on the U.S. role in Saudi-Iranian competition. Jon Alterman, “Covid-19, the Iranians, and

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4:22

A Mezze: Blessed Bling

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/07/21

As demand for religious jewelry booms in the Middle East, fake gemstones are flooding the market.

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26:35

The Changing World of Arab Television

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/07/14

On this week's episode of Babel, Fadi Ismail joins Jon to discuss Arab television and how it's changing. Fadi Ismail is the founder and general manager of DKL studios in Dubai and has over 30 years of experience with Arab media. During their discussion, Fadi breaks down how and why he brought Turkish programming to the Arab world, what Arab audiences want, and what Arab youth are watching. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley discuss how audiences are changing in the Arab world. Jon Alterman, New Media,

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3:30

A Mezze: Bad Love

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/07/07

Egyptian talk shows are increasingly telling women to “love themselves,” but not everyone is on board with this new messaging.

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26:30

Jordan's Economy During Covid-19

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/06/30

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. Minister al-Ississ is the Kingdom of Jordan's minister of finance and was previously the minister of planning and international cooperation. During our discussion, the minister breaks down Jordan's recent economic history, the economic recovery plan, and efforts to formalize the informal sector. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley discuss the impact refugees have had on

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4:02

A Mezze: Fodder for Debate

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/06/23

Saudi Arabia’s dairy industry is stirring debate around food security, depleting aquifers, and fodder imports.

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26:44

The Internationalization of Libya

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/06/16

This week on Babel, Jon is joined by Frederic Wehrey, senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. During their discussion, Fred breaks down the conflict in Libya, explaining who is involved and why. Fred and Jon also talk about foreign fighters, drones, and what's next for Libya. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley discuss similarities and differences between the conflicts in Libya and Syria. Sandy Alkoutami and Frederic Wehrey, “China’s Balancing

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3:19

A Mezze: Cut from Whole Cloth

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/06/09

Middle Eastern governments are struggling to combat purchases of military uniforms by malign actors attempting to impersonate soldiers.

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24:38

The Climate-Security Nexus with Marwa Daoudy

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/06/02

This week on Babel, Marwa Daoudy, assistant professor at Georgetown University, joins Jon to talk about the climate-security nexus in Syria. Marwa and Jon discuss issues with past reforms in Syria, the relationship between climate change and human insecurity, and government corruption. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley discuss a report Will released earlier in May on cross-border aid in Syria. Episode Transcript: The Climate-Security Nexus with Marwa Daoudy, CSIS, June 2, 2020. Marwa Daoudy, The

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3:59

A Mezze: Speaking the Same Language

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/05/26

Syrians seem to be laying the groundwork for an enduring Russian presence in the country with an increase in Russian language education.

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28:24

Changing Gulf Economies During Covid-19

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/05/19

This week on Babel, Gregory Gause joined Jon to talk about how Gulf economies are changing during Covid-19. Greg is the head of the international affairs department at Texas A&M University and holds the John H. Lindsey '44 chair. Greg and Jon discuss Saudi Arabia's labor markets, economic reforms under MBS, and the future of the kingdom. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley, talk about initiatives to change how young people relate to both each other and the government in the Gulf. Jon Alterman, Ties that

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3:39

A Mezze: Wife Goes On

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/05/12

Lavish celebrations with cakes, wedding halls, and invitations are marking a new trend in Saudi Arabia—divorce parties.

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26:16

Disinformation During Covid-19

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/05/05

This week on Babel, Nabih Bulos, the Middle East bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times, joined Jon to talk about disinformation in the Middle East during Covid-19. Nabih and Jon discuss alternatives to state-run media, disinformation bots, and information lockdowns during Covid-19. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley talk about state-run news agencies in the Middle East. Jon Alterman, “The Middle East’s Challenges Aren’t Just Combatting the Virus,” CSIS, April 28, 2020. Jon Alterman, “Russian

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4:18

A Mezze: You've Got Mail

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/04/28

A lack of mail boxes, accurate addresses, and even agreed-upon street names has continued to make postal reform in the Middle East a source of frustration.

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23:53

COVID-19 in Iran

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/04/21

This week, Jon talks with Ariane Tabatabai, a Middle East fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund. They discuss the internal political backlash in Iran, tensions between the IRGC and the Rouhani-led government, and the role of the United States. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley talk about how the coronavirus is affecting Iran’s relationships with its regional neighbors. Jon Alterman, “COVID-19 and Cascading Crises in the Middle East” Center for Strategic and

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3:20

A Mezze: Moral Test

Babel: Translating the Middle East ·

2020/04/14

The UAE government is attempting to instill morals in its students from a young age, with mandatory lessons on ethics and Emirati culture that are tested with a standardized exam.

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284 results

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