Babel: Translating the Middle East

Latest Episodes:

Israel's New Government Jun 15, 2021

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This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Dahlia Scheindlin, a public opinion expert and international political consultant who has advised 8 Israeli elections. They discuss the deep divisions in Israeli society, where the new Israeli government can go from here, and how Israelis think about the changing nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Then, Jon, Natasha Hall, and Caleb Harper continue the discussion about Israel's diplomacy with the United States and the region.

Dahlia Scheindlin, “Netanyahu's Greatest Achievement Was Convincing Israel He Alone Transformed the State,” Time, June 8, 2021.
Dahlia Scheindlin, “The First Job for Israel’s New Government: Clean Up Bibi’s Mess,” The New York Times, June 3, 2021.
Dahlia Scheindlin, “An anti-Netanyahu coalition government would suggest Israelis are ready for change,” The Guardian, June 2, 2021.
Jon Alterman, "Three Political Crises Drove the Gaza Violence," Defense One, May 25, 2021.
Transcript, "Israel's New Government," CSIS, June 15.

A Mezze: Bright Skies, Bright Future Jun 08, 2021

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Entering Tunisia’s solar industry takes more than just a sunny disposition. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.

This vignette is taken from the CSIS Middle East Program’s report, “Sustainable States: Environment, Governance, and the Future of the Middle East," available on the CSIS website.

Rituals of Protest Jun 01, 2021

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman talks about Jordan with Dr. Jillian Schwedler, professor of political science at the City University of New York's Hunter College and a non-resident fellow at Brandeis University's Crown Center. Jon and Dr. Schwedler discuss the surprisingly long history of Jordanian protests, the ways Jordanian protests are a regular part of politics in the country, and who is and isn't allowed to protest. Then, Jon, Natasha Hall, and Danny Sharp continue the discussion about the nature of protest and political display in the Middle East.

Jillian Schwedler, “Jordan detained a prince. The government’s determined to squash political dissent,” Washington Post, April 5, 2021.
Jillian Schwedler, "Material Obstacles to Protest in the Urban Built Environment", Contention 8, 1 (2020): 70-92.
Will Todman, "The Collapse of Jordan's Social Safety Net," CSIS, December 17, 2019.
Episode Transcript, "Rituals of Protest" CSIS, June 1, 2021.

A Mezze: Chopped Liver May 25, 2021

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In Egypt, hot sauce might not be all that comes with your liver sandwich. This is a short mezze from the Middle East Program at CSIS.

Building Sustainable States May 18, 2021

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This week on Babel, McKinley Knoop interviews Jon Alterman, Natasha Hall, and Will Todman about the Middle East Program's new report, "Sustainable States: Environment, Governance, and the Future of the Middle East." They discuss the origins of the report, the crucial role of trust in public service provision and governance, and how the team conducted research during the Covid-19 pandemic. To end, Jon talks about why think tanks and security-minded policymakers in Washington should care about seemingly mundane topics, like public utilities and local governance.

Jon Alterman, Natasha Hall, and Will Todman, "Sustainable States: Environment, Governance, and the Future of the Middle East," CSIS, April 2021.
Jon Alterman, Natasha Hall, and Will Todman, "Sustainable States: On the Ground," CSIS, April 2021.
Wassim Chaabane, "Decentralized Waste Management in MENA Countries: Lessons from Tunisia," CSIS, May 6, 2021.
Mohammed Al-Saidi, "Virtue out of Necessity: Yemen’s Lessons on Resilience and Infrastructure Planning," CSIS, March 25, 2021.
Jessica Obeid, "Failure to Power: The Need for Decentralized Renewable Energy Models," CSIS, March 18, 2021.
Karim Elgendy, "Post-Oil Cities in the MENA Region: Lessons from Doha," CSIS, March 18, 2021.

A Mezze: Set in Stone May 11, 2021

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In the struggle for Tunisia's post-revolution future, the past has been getting a controversial new lease on life. Statues commemorating Tunisia's past leaders have not been left unscathed.

Journalism and Politics in Egypt May 04, 2021

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman talks with Khaled Dawoud, who was arrested amidst rising political tensions in Egypt in September 2019 and was released from prison two weeks ago. Upon his release, Khaled returned to his jobs as assistant editor of Al-Ahram Weekly and a professor of journalism at the American University in Cairo. Khaled talks about his time in prison, how he became involved in politics, and how his journalism career was shaped by his time in the United States. Then, Jon, Natasha Hall, and McKinley Knoop continue the conversation with a discussion about the relationship between journalism, politics, and activism.

Khaled Dawoud, "The stakes behind the story: How Egypt's media covered the Kashoggi case," Middle East Institute, October 26, 2018.
Jon Alterman, "Making Choices: The Future of the U.S.-Egyptian Relationship," CSIS, August 2016.
Khaled Dawoud, "Secular Parties in Egypt's Political Landscape," Middle East Institute, September 11, 2014.
Episode Transcript, "Journalism and Politics in Egypt," CSIS, May 4, 2021.

A Mezze: Moonstruck Apr 27, 2021

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Calculating the beginning and the end of Ramadan is an annual debate in the Middle East, and politics, sectarianism, and ethnicity are never far from the equation. This is a short mezze from the Middle East Program at CSIS.

Jordan's Royal Intrigue Apr 20, 2021

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman talks about Jordan with Dr. Bessma Momani, professor of political science at the University of Waterloo and one of Canada's leading experts on the Middle East. Dr. Momani and Jon explore the recent controversy over former Crown Prince Hamzeh and the government’s concerns over public discontent. Then, Jon, Natasha Hall, and Danny Sharp discuss Jordanians' relationship with the state.