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

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All Babel: Translating the Middle East Podcast Episodes

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Babel: Translating the Middle East

Analysis: The Hostage Crisis in Gaza

Last week, the Israeli military recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in Gaza. According to Israeli authorities, more than 60 living hostages, and the bodies of approximately 35 others taken captive during the Hamas-led attack on October 7th, are still in Gaza. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program and executive director of the CSIS Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention, about the tactics and implications of the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Leah Hickert — September 10, 2024

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Isabelle Werenfels: North Africa's Relationship with Europe

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Isabelle Werenfels about the ways in which relations between Europe and North Africa are changing.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Will Todman, and Leah Hickert — September 4, 2024

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Fishy Business in Port Said

Egyptians traditionally celebrate Sham Enessim, the country’s pharaonic spring holiday, by eating faseekh, a fermented mullet. But in the weeks prior to this year’s holiday, which fell on May 6, the price of seafood shot up 180 percent. In Port Said, where seafood is generally an affordable staple protein, the price hikes hit especially hard.
 

Podcast Episode by Salmah Elmasry — August 27, 2024

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Michelle Nunn: The Challenges of Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Michelle Nunn, the president and CEO of CARE. Michelle leads more than 8,000 people working around the world in crisis response, health and education access, gender equality, and climate change. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of Gaza's humanitarian crisis by contextualizing it among other global crises. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss how global attention on Gaza has affected the conflict and the humanitarian response, and whether sustained humanitarian engagement will translate into the “day after.”

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Natasha Hall, and Leah Hickert — August 20, 2024

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Analysis: The Aftermath of Haniyeh's Assassination

Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about how Ismail Haniyeh's assassination escalates regional tensions and impacts the Israel-Hamas war.  

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Leah Hickert — August 13, 2024

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Analysis: Netanyahu's U.S. Visit

Last week, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington D.C. to deliver a speech to a joint meeting of Congress. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the implications of Netanyahu’s visit on U.S. foreign policy in the region. 

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Leah Hickert — July 30, 2024

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Hasan Alhasan: The Strategies of Gulf States

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Hasan Alhasan, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies based in Manama, Bahrain. Prior to joining IISS, he served for five years on the staff of the Crown Prince of Bahrain as a senior analyst on foreign policy and national security. Together, they compare Gulf states’ foreign policies and their underlying strategies. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert to discuss how Gulf states handle shifts in U.S. strategies and what the Gulf expects from its Great Power partners.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Will Todman, and Leah Hickert — July 23, 2024

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Analysis: Iran's Presidential Election

Masoud Pezeshkian recently won the runoff election to replace Iran's late president, Ebrahim Raisi. This week, Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, about Pezeshkian and the election's impact on regional politics. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Leah Hickert — July 16, 2024

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Karim Haggag: Egypt's Balancing Act

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Ambassador Karim Haggag about Egypt's complicated relationships with Israel and Hamas and Egypt's likely role in Gaza's "day after."

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Natasha Hall, and Leah Hickert — July 9, 2024

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: The Voice Inside AI's Head Speaks English

On March 20, Saudi Arabia announced that it planned to invest $40 billion into AI development. This move comes on the heels of the UAE's creation of two large language models developed within the last year. However, as these Arabic-speaking nations race for AI supremacy, they are starting behind the pack.

Podcast Episode by Josh Phillips — July 3, 2024

CSIS Babel