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).
https://www.csis.org/podcasts/babel
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 3 days 2 hours 20 minutes
episode 1: A Mezze: Weed Whacking
As regional conflicts blaze, Lebanese and Israeli drug markets are feeling the heat: over the past two years, hashish prices have fallen 50 percent in Lebanon, while in Israel, prices are rising.
episode 2: Jihad Azour: The Middle East's Economic Outlook
Jon speaks with the Jihad Azour of the IMF about the Middle East's economic outlook and the political consequences of economic reforms.
episode 3: A Mezze: Untying the Knot
To bring divorce rates down in Egypt, the government is intervening before couples tie the knot in the first place.
episode 4: Hanna Notte: Russia in the Middle East After Ukraine
Jon Alterman speaks with Hanna Notte about Russia's foreign policy in the Middle East in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine last February.
episode 5: A Mezze: Salmon Farming in the UAE
The 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.
episode 6: Bilahari Kausikan: The Middle East in a Multipolar World
Jon speaks with Bilahari Kausikan about how states in the Middle East can navigate complexity in the U.S.-China competition.
episode 7: A Mezze: On the Hook
Egypt's fish farmers have been struggling for years now. Media and industry groups claim its due to climate change and Cairo's growing pollution, but farmers say the Egyptian military is to blame.
episode 7: Natasha Hall: The Aftermath of Earthquakes in Syria
This 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.
episode 9: A Mezze: From Beijing to Jerusalem
Before the pandemic, Chinese tourism to Israel was growing the fastest out of any country. As Chinese tourists begin to return to the market, Israel may continue to be a popular destination.
episode 10: Will Todman: Powering Recovery
Jon Alterman speaks with Will Todman about his new report on the relationship between electricity and politics in conflict-affected environments, and what donors should do differently.