Babel: Translating the Middle East

Latest Episodes:

China in the Middle East: Part Two Jan 28, 2020

Show notes

In the second episode of the podcast miniseries, China in the Middle East, Jon Alterman looks at China’s economic interests in the Middle East. Jon also sits down with Scott Kennedy, Doug Paal and Karen Young for their insights into the Belt and Road Initiative, changing export markets, and how economic interests influence regional security concerns.

China in the Middle East is a six-part miniseries that is part of our regular series podcast, Babel: Translating the Middle East. We release new episodes every Tuesday.

Karen Young, “US policy faces blind spots on China, Middle East,” Al-Monitor, June 11, 2019.

Scott Kennedy, “Building China’s One Belt, One Road,” CSIS, April 3, 2015.

Douglas Paal, “The US and China Take Their Rivalry into More Dangerous Waters After Collapse of Trade Talks,” South China Morning Post, May 30, 2019.

China in the Middle East: Part One Jan 21, 2020

Show notes

In the first episode of our new podcast miniseries, China in the Middle East, Jon Alterman gives an overview of Chinese policy in the Middle East and how the Middle East fits into China’s worldview. Jon also sits down with Doug Paal, Dean Cheng, Sulmaan Khan, and Evan Medeiros for their insight into China’s foreign policy decisions.

China in the Middle East is a six-part miniseries that is part of our regular series podcast, Babel: Translating the Middle East. We release new episodes every Tuesday.

Jon Alterman and John W. Garver, The Vital Triangle: China, the United States, and the Middle East, CSIS, May 20, 2008.

Dean Cheng, “What defines the Chinese outward cyber-posture?” ISPI, October 26, 2018.

Sulmaan Khan, Haunted by Chaos: China's Grand Strategy from Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping, Harvard University Press, 2018.

Evan Medeiros, China’s International Behavior: Activism, Opportunism, and Diversification, RAND Corporation, 2009.

Douglas H. Paal, “Will Xi Jinping’s Charm Offensive Win Over China’s Wary Neighbors,” South China Morning Post, December 11, 2017.

A Mezze: Santa Claus is Coming to Tehran Dec 17, 2019

Show notes

This December, Iranians of all faiths gather to admire Christmas trees and Santa figurines, despite governmental restrictions on Christians and other Western holidays.

A Mezze: Dodging a Bullet Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

Young people across the Arab World are resorting to extreme measures—like cutting off limbs, or faking being kidnapped—to avoid mandatory military service.

The Rise of Individualism in the Arab World Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

How and why are Arabs shifting their loyalty away from traditional networks? In the latest episode, Vivian Salama, White House correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, interviews Jon Alterman on his new report. He also introduces Babel's new 6-episode miniseries, "China in the Middle East," which will air in 2020.

Jon Alterman, Ties that Bind: Family, Tribe, Nation, and the Rise of Arab Individualism, CSIS, December 2, 2019
Sarah Dadouch, “Amid economic despair, young Lebanese see only two options: protest or leave,” The Washington Post, November 9, 2019.
Amy Chua, “Tribal World: Group Identity is All,” Foreign Policy, July/August 2018.

A Mezze: Fire Sale Nov 26, 2019

Show notes

Soaring fuel prices are leading Yemenis to chop down trees, and this is only adding to the humanitarian crisis.

Climate and Conflict in the Middle East Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

What is the relationship between the environment and conflict in the Middle East? Peter Schwartzstein, an environmental journalist based in the Middle East, joins host Jon Alterman this week to discuss how climate change concerns exacerbate conflict, and how regional leaders should respond. Then, Jon, Will, and Amber explore how environmental concerns factor into policy discussions on the Middle East.

Will Todman, “Iraq’s Explosive Plague,” CSIS, April 15, 2019.
Peter Schwartzstein, “Climate Change and Water Woes Drove ISIS Recruiting in Iraq,” National Geographic, November 14, 2017.
Peter Schwartzstein, “Death of the Nile,” BBC News, October 10, 2017.
Jon Alterman, Clear Gold: Water as a Strategic Resource in the Middle East, CSIS, December 13, 2010.

A Mezze: Cosmic Intervention Nov 14, 2019

Show notes

The Egyptian government seems to be using horoscopes as a new avenue for disseminating pro-regime messages.

Russian Disinformation in Syria Nov 06, 2019

Show notes

Russia is spreading disinformation in the Middle East, especially in Syria, in order to discredit its critics and advance its interests. This week Jon, Amber, and Will discuss the scope of the issue and its consequences. Then Elliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat, sits down with Jon to explain how his citizen journalist platform detects and counters disinformation.

Elliot Higgins, “Chemical Weapons and Absurdity: The Disinformation Campaign Against the White Helmets,” Bellingcat, December 2018.
Mark Katz, “When the Friend of My Friends Is Not My Friend,” The Atlantic Council, May 2019.
Mark Katz, “What Do They See in Him? How the Middle East Views Putin and Russia,” Russian Analytical Digest, May 3, 2018.
Suzanne Spaulding, “Democracy and Justice in the Age of Disinformation,” CSIS, May 1, 2019.