Babel: Translating the Middle East

Latest Episodes:

Lebanon's Energy Sector Apr 06, 2021

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman talks with Jessica Obeid, energy consultant, a senior global advisor at the London-based consultancy Azure Strategy, and an academy associate with Chatham House's Energy, Environment, and Resources Programme. They talk about the Lebanese power sector and what its shortcomings tell us about broader fissures in Arab society. Then, Natasha Hall, Will Todman, and Jon continue the discussion about sectarianism and renewable energy, and discuss our new report.

Jessica Obeid, "Failure to Power: The Need for Decentralized Renewable Energy Models," CSIS, March 18, 2021.
Natasha Hall, "Lebanon's Political Bosses Are the Real Problem," CSIS, August 17, 2020.
Jessica Obeid, “Lebanon’s Power Sector: Making Reforms Work,” LCPS, June 2020.
Transcript, "Lebanon's Energy Sector," CSIS, April 6, 2021.

A Mezze: Borders Without Doctors Mar 30, 2021

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A short mezze episode from the Middle East Program at CSIS. The Egyptian government is trying to block doctors from leaving the country, but they aren't incentivizing doctors to stay, either.

Syria's Decade of Tragedy Mar 22, 2021

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To mark a decade since protests first began in Syria, we are bringing you the stories and experiences of five different Syrians, in their own words. Omar Alshogre is now a student at Georgetown University, and he was 15 when he attended his first protest in 2011 and was subsequently imprisoned for the first time. Zaina Erhaim is an award-winning journalist, communications expert, and trainer originally from Syria who is now working with journalists throughout the Arab world. Ibrahim is from Madiq Castle, and was forcibly displaced to northern Syria in 2019, where he now lives. Wafiqa was a teacher in a town close to Damascus but was forcibly displaced in 2016. She now lives and teaches in Idlib. Finally, Ibrahim is from Madaya, a small town near Damascus that was under siege for several years.

We are honored to bring you their voices, and thank you to Omar, Zaina, Ibrahim, Wafiqa, and Ibrahim for entrusting us with their stories.

Special thanks to Kinan Azmeh and Kevork Mourad for the use of their song “A Sad Morning, Every Morning” and to Abdul-Wahab Kayyali for the use of his song “يا فجر لما تطل.”

Voice overs were provided by Natasha Hall, Mahmoud Ghanem, and Humzah Khan. Many thanks to our team at WeEdit who helped us edit and produce this episode. Thanks to McKinley Knoop for scripting the episode, Will Todman for suggesting guests, and Danny Sharp for his promotional efforts.

A Mezze: Perils of the Sea Mar 16, 2021

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Yemen’s once flourishing fishing industry is now on the rocks as the country’s conflict has turned previously tranquil shores into a warzone.

UN Mediation in Libya Mar 09, 2021

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman talks with Stephanie Williams, formerly the acting special representative of the UN Secretary-General and the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya. They talk about why the conflict in Libya has lasted this long, the importance of facilitating a Libyan-Libyan resolution to the conflict, and her role as a mediator in the process. Then, Natasha Hall, Will Todman, and Jon discuss their own experiences with mediation elsewhere in the region.

NYTimes Editorial Board, "Can Libya Put Itself Back Together Again?" NYTimes, March 8, 2021.
Stephanie Turco Williams and Jeffrey Feltman, "Can a political breakthrough mend a broken Libya?" Brookings, February 17, 2021.
Brookings Event, "Nonstate armed actors and the US Global Fragility Strategy," Brookings, February 18, 2021.
Episode Transcript, "UN Mediation in Libya," CSIS, March 9, 2021.

A Mezze: Influence Peddlers Mar 02, 2021

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If social media influencers in the UAE want to capitalize on their fame, they have to acquire a license from the UAE government. This is a short mezze episode from the Middle East Program at CSIS.

Erdogan's Middle East Policy Feb 23, 2021

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman talks with Ambassador James Jeffrey, who recently finished serving as the Secretary of State's special representative for Syria engagement and as the special envoy to defeat ISIS. Ambassador Jeffrey talked about Turkey's Middle East policy, how to think about Turkey's versus Erdogan's views, and if Turkey has any allies in the Middle East. Then, Jon, Natasha Hall, and McKinley Knoop discussed the durability of Turkey's presence in the Middle East.

James Jeffrey, Merissa Khurma, Haleh Esfandiari, and Robin Wright, “On the Horizon 2021 | Middle East,” The Wilson Center, January 13, 2021.
Jared Szuba, “Outgoing Syria envoy reflects on Turkey, the Kurds and what everyone got wrong,” Al-Monitor, December 9, 2020.
Meliha Benli Altunışık, “The New Turn in Turkey’s Foreign Policy in the Middle East: Regional and Domestic Insecurities,” Foundation for European Progressive Studies, July 17, 2020.
Episode Transcript, "Erdogan's Middle East Policy," CSIS, February 23, 2021.

A Mezze: Home Grown Feb 16, 2021

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Traffickers bringing foreign tomatoes onto Iraq's black market are just one sign of Iraq's domestic produce and protectionism issues.

Saudi Arabia and the Labor Market Feb 09, 2021

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman talks with Dr. Hanaa Almoaibed, visiting research fellow at the London School of Economics Middle East Centre and research fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. Dr. Almoaibed talks about her research on how Saudi's youth view vocational schools, entrepreneurship, and Vision 2030. Then, Jon is joined by his colleagues Will Todman and Danny Sharp to discuss prestige in how it relates to employment.