CSIS Babel
Podcast

Babel: Translating the Middle East

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). Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Series by Jon B. Alterman Will Todman and Natasha Hall

Subscribe and Listen

All Babel: Translating the Middle East Podcast Episodes

Filter by

1 - 10 of 211 results
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Rula Hardal: Life as a Palestinian Citizen of Israel

Jon Alterman speaks with Rula Hardal about her life in both Israel and the West Bank, what reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians would look like, and the concessions that each side needs to make for a sustainable path forward.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman Will Todman and Leah Hickert — November 28, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Audio Brief: Israel Could Lose

The Israeli military is the most formidable fighting force in the Middle East, but it is possible that the army might lose the war in Gaza.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — November 21, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Khalil Sayegh: What We Get Wrong About Gaza

Jon Alterman speaks with Khalil Sayegh about people's misconceptions about Gaza, the spread of misinformation, and why grassroots peace efforts need to change after the conflict. 

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert — November 14, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: Chat GPMufti

A recent flurry of Islamic experimentation with artifical intelligence has been met with mixed results. 

Podcast Episode — November 8, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: Chat GPMufti

A recent flurry of Islamic experimentation with artifical intelligence has been met with mixed results. 

Podcast Episode by Martin Pimentel and Leah Hickert — November 8, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Neri Zilber: Inside Israeli Politics During Wartime

Jon Alterman speaks with Neri Zilber about the war in Gaza, how Israelis are thinking about what comes next, and what it means for the region.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert — October 31, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Analysis: Developments in the Israel-Hamas War

Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, about the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Leah Hickert — October 24, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Dalal Mawad: The Port of Beirut Explosion Through Women's Eyes

Jon Alterman speaks with Dalal Mawad about her now book, which uses women's stories to analyze the 2020 Port of Beirut explosion, its aftermath, and Lebanon's ongoing troubles.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman Will Todman and Leah Hickert — October 17, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: Fishing for Food Security

In August 2021, in the desert region of southern Algeria, a group of Sahrawi refugees were bustling inside a building studded with rectangular pools and filled with tons of tilapia—literally.

Podcast Episode by Leah Hickert and Martin Pimentel — October 10, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Khalid Ikram: Egypt's Economic Crisis

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman breaks down Egypt's economic crisis with Khalid Ikram, a veteran economist and consultant for over a dozen major international development organizations. They talk about the Egyptian military’s role in the economy and how Egyptian policymakers can alleviate the current crisis. 

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman Will Todman and Leah Hickert — October 3, 2023

CSIS Babel