Babel: Translating the Middle East

Latest Episodes:

Russia in the Middle East: Part Two Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

In part two, Jon Alterman explores Russian economic interests in the Middle East. He covers Middle Eastern investments in Russia, the arms industry, and the recent battle over oil production between Russia and Saudi Arabia. He also talks with Carole Nakhle, founder and CEO of Crystol Energy, Nikolay Kozhanov, a consulting fellow at Chatham House, and Olga Oliker, director of the Europe and Eurasia Program at the International Crisis Group.

Olga Oliker, "Putin's Future: Reading the tea leaves," Inkstick Media, January 21, 2020.
Nikolay Kozhanov,Russian Policy Across the Middle East: Methods and Motivations, Chatham House, February 21, 2018.
Carole Nakhle, "Russia's Energy Diplomacy in the Middle East," in Russia's return to the Middle East: building sandcastles?, European Union Institute for Security Studies, 2018.
Episode Transcript, "Russia in the Middle East: Part Two," CSIS, September 8, 2020.

Russia in the Middle East: Part One Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

In the first episode of our new podcast miniseries, Russia in the Middle East, Jon Alterman gives an overview of Russian policy in the Middle East and how the Middle East fits into Russia’s worldview. He covers Russia's return to the Middle East and looks at how Russian foreign policy has changed since the fall of the Soviet Union. Jon also sits down with Dmitri Trenin, director of Carnegie's Moscow Center, and Celeste Wallander, president and CEO of the U.S.-Russia Foundation, for their insight into Russia’s foreign policy decisions.

Song Credits: Episode one songs were “La-danza” by Olivier-Olsen and “Spring-in-Barcelona” by Ian-Post, both via Artlist.

Celeste Wallander, "Putin's Gamble: U.S.-Russian relations in an era of global change," Krasno UNC, November 14, 2019.
Jon Alterman, "Chinese and Russian Influence in the Middle East," House Testimony, May 9, 2019.
Dmitri Trenin, What is Russia Up To In The Middle East?, Polity Press, 2018.

Lebanon's Latest Explosion Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

This week Jon is joined by Nora Boustany, an award-winning former correspondent and a professor at the American University of Beirut. She draws on her own experiences living in Lebanon during and after the Civil War to provide perspective on Lebanon's current collapse. Then, Natasha and Jon are joined by the Middle East Program's new program manager and research associate, Danny Sharp, to discuss the impact of sectarianism on life in Lebanon.

Natasha Hall, "Lebanon's political bosses are the real problem," The Hill, August 16, 2020.
Jon Alterman, "Why the U.S. and Its Allies Should Keep Lebanon from Blowing Apart," The Hill, August 6, 2020.
Jon Alterman, "Sectarianism in Lebanon," Babel: Translating the Middle East, CSIS, March 10, 2020.
Nora Boustany, "Devalued Currency Terrorizes Beirut," Los Angeles Times, November 29, 1987.
Transcript, "Lebanon's Latest Explosion," CSIS,August 25, 2020.

Why Women Join the Islamic State Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

Azadeh Moaveni joins Jon Alterman to discuss her new book, Guest House for Young Widows. Azadeh is a writer and journalist who serves as the gender project director at the International Crisis Group. She tells Jon about some of the women she encountered while writing the book and why they joined the Islamic State. Then, Natasha, Will, and McKinley discuss the deradicalization process for women returning to their home countries.

Will Todman and Erol Yayboke, “Refugees Could Help Solve Lebanon’s Economic Crisis,” CSIS, July 10, 2020.
Will Todman, “Cross-Border Aid, Covid-19, and U.S. Decisions in Syria,” CSIS, May 8, 2020.
Azadeh Moaveni, Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS, Penguin Random House, September 8, 2019.
Transcript, “Why Women Join the Islamic State,” CSIS, August 11, 2020.

The History of Saudi-Iranian Competition Jul 28, 2020

Show notes

Kim Ghattas joins Jon to discuss her new book, Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East. Kim and Jon trace 40 years of competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran, starting with 1979 and ending with today. Then, the Middle East Program’s new senior fellow, Natasha Hall, joins Jon and McKinley for a discussion on the U.S. role in Saudi-Iranian competition.

Jon Alterman, “Covid-19, the Iranians, and Us,” CSIS, July 21, 2020.
Kim Ghattas, “The painful truth for Saudi Arabia: it needs the Iranian regime to survive,” The Guardian, January 29, 2020.
Kim Ghattas, “What Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder Tells Us About the Saudi-Iran Rivalry,” The Atlantic, October 2, 2019.
Episode transcript, “The History of Saudi-Iranian Competition,” CSIS, July 28, 2020.

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A Mezze: Blessed Bling Jul 21, 2020

Show notes

As demand for religious jewelry booms in the Middle East, fake gemstones are flooding the market.

The Changing World of Arab Television Jul 14, 2020

Show notes

On this week's episode of Babel, Fadi Ismail joins Jon to discuss Arab television and how it's changing. Fadi Ismail is the founder and general manager of DKL studios in Dubai and has over 30 years of experience with Arab media. During their discussion, Fadi breaks down how and why he brought Turkish programming to the Arab world, what Arab audiences want, and what Arab youth are watching. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley discuss how audiences are changing in the Arab world.

Jon Alterman, New Media, New Politics? From Satellite Television to the Internet in the Arab World, The Washington Institute, 1998
Ravale Mohydin, “Soap operas, fatwas and censorship: the Turkey-UAE battle for hearts and minds,” Middle East Monitor, June 1, 2020.
Nabih Bulos, “Game of Shows: In the Middle East, TV programs launched as weapons of war,” LA Times, December 9, 2019.
Episode Transcript, “Changing World of Arab Television,” July 14, 2020.

A Mezze: Bad Love Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

Egyptian talk shows are increasingly telling women to “love themselves,” but not everyone is on board with this new messaging.

Jordan's Economy During Covid-19 Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

On this week's episode of Babel, Minister Mohamad al-Ississ joins Jon to talk about Jordan's economy before, during, and after Covid-19. Minister al-Ississ is the Kingdom of Jordan's minister of finance and was previously the minister of planning and international cooperation. During our discussion, the minister breaks down Jordan's recent economic history, the economic recovery plan, and efforts to formalize the informal sector. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley discuss the impact refugees have had on Jordan.