Lubna Yousef

Research Associate, Middle East Program
Lubna Yousef

Lubna Yousef is the research associate for the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Prior to joining CSIS, she served as the disaster response and relief partnerships lead on Airbnb’s humanitarian team (now Airbnb.org) and was their resident Atlas Corps fellow before later moving on to be a strategist and manager on Airbnb's Olympic and Paralympic refugee team program. Before her time with Airbnb, Lubna worked on programming and evaluation for projects on women's political participation in local governance in Libya, migration trends in the Mediterranean, and anti-human trafficking measures and associated human rights abuses. She holds a MSc in international politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and an MA in conflict resolution and coexistence from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. Her research interests include identity and the politics of memory, gender studies, women in security, post-colonial thought, and the responsibility to protect in humanitarian crises and conflict.

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Iran's "Cloudy" Accusations

In mid-2022, Iranian authorities accused Israel and the United Arab Emirates of stealing their rain. This claim continued Iran’s long history of making wild accusations to deflect from government mismanagement.

Newsletter by Lubna Yousef — May 23, 2023

Babel: Translating the Middle East

Hafsa Halawa: Egypt's Economic Turmoil

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Hafsa Halawa of the Middle East Institute and author of a new paper entitled Gulf Investment in Egypt, A balance of mutual need. They talk about the economic crisis that has plagued Egypt, shedding light on the factors that have contributed to its tumultuous state.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Lubna Yousef — May 16, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Killian Clarke: Egypt's Counterrevolution and the Return to Tyranny

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Prof. Killian Clarke of Georgetown's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service about his forthcoming book tentatively entitled The Return of Tyranny: How Counterrevolutions Emerge and Succeed.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Natasha Hall , and Lubna Yousef — May 2, 2023

CSIS Babel

Libya’s Civil Society Crackdown Exacerbates Its Climate Woes

Libyan authorities are trying to silence independent voices in the run-up to planned elections, but the crackdown undermines the work of civil society more broadly. Lubna Yousef and Will Todman argue that this strategy is self-sabotaging.

Commentary by Lubna Yousef and Will Todman — May 2, 2023

Help Wanted, But Not Found: Emiratization in the UAE

As the UAE intensifies efforts to employ more nationals in the private sector, Emirati officials are finding that there are some jobs that Emiratis don’t want to take.  

Newsletter by Lubna Yousef and Caleb Harper — March 22, 2023

Babel: Translating the Middle East

Iraq 20 Years Later with Marsin Alshamary and Hamzeh Hadad

In a special episode of Babel to mark the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war, Jon sits down with Marsin Alshamary and Hamzeh Hadad to talk about the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion. 

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Lubna Yousef — March 21, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

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.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , Lubna Yousef , and Caleb Harper — March 7, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Khalid Albaih: The Information Bubble

Jon Alterman speaks with Khalid Albaih about how he got his start in political cartoons and the role of the internet for debating political ideas and art.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Lubna Yousef — December 27, 2022

CSIS Babel