Babel: Translating the Middle East

Latest Episodes:

Danny Hajjar: Today's Arab Music Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with music journalist Danny Hajjar about the changing Arab music scene. They talk about the rise of Arab hip-hop, how increasing connectivity influences the way Arab artists produce and distribute music, and what the next big thing will be. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert, discussing soft power, censorship, and music.

Transcript, "Danny Hajjar: The Evolution of Arabic Music," CSIS, December 20, 2023.
The songs sampled in this episode can be found on the "Today's Arab Music Playlist" on Spotify.

Analysis: Human Rights in a Multipolar World Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

This week, Zeid Qiblawi speaks with Natasha Hall, senior fellow with the Middle East Program at CSIS, about the reversal of human rights norms in an increasingly multipolar world. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.

Natasha Hall, "Breaking Point: Human Rights in a Multipolar World," CSIS, November 30, 2023.

Renad Mansour and Farea Al-Muslimi: The Cost of Political Settlements in the MENA Region Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

This week on Babel, you will hear excerpts from Jon Alterman's recent discussion with Chatham House experts Renad Mansour and Farea al-Muslimi, alongside the CSIS Middle East Program's Natasha Hall. They discuss a recent Chatham House report, which argues that although political settlements have been resolving more conflicts in the region, these elite bargains are actually prioritizing stability over accountability, leaving citizens to pay the costs. Then, Jon, Natasha, Renad, and Farea discuss how this phenomenon has played out in Iraq, Lebanon, and Libya, and the potential way forward.

Transcript, "Renad Mansour and Farea Al-Muslimi: The Cost of Political Settlements in the MENA Region," CSIS, November 28, 2023.
Renad Mansour, Tim Eaton, and Lina Khatib, "Rethinking Political Settlements in the Middle East and North Africa," Chatham House, September 20, 2023.

Analysis: The Ripple Effect of Water Insecurity Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

The Middle East is experiencing a water crisis exacerbated by climate change, inefficient water use, and decades of resource mismanagement. Water insecurity not only aggravates pre-existing vulnerabilities; it also drives instability, conflict, and displacement. In this short episode of Babel, Leah Hickert speaks with Natasha Hall about why the region's business-as-usual approach to water is becoming more costly by the day.

Natasha Hall, "The Ripple Effects of Water Insecurity," CSIS, May 4, 2023.

Rula Hardal: Life as a Palestinian Citizen of Israel Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Palestinian-Israeli scholar and activist Rula Hardal about her life in both Israel and the West Bank, what reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians would look like, and the concessions that each side needs to make for a sustainable path forward. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert, discussing past moments of crisis in the Middle East, and why some become inflection points, while others don’t.

Transcript, "Rula Hardal: Life as a Palestinian Citizen of Israel," CSIS, November 28, 2023.

Audio Brief: Israel Could Lose Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

The Israeli military is the most formidable fighting force in the Middle East. And yet it is quite possible that the war in Gaza will be the first war in Israel’s history that the army has fought and lost. A new audio brief from the CSIS Middle East Program.

Jon Alterman, "Israel Could Lose," CSIS, November 7, 2023.
Jon Alterman, "'Israel Could Lose': Audio Brief with Jon Alterman," CSIS, November 10, 2023.
For more spoken word summaries from CSIS experts about their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries, please listen to the CSIS podcast Audio Briefs.

Khalil Sayegh: What We Get Wrong About Gaza Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Palestinian political analyst Khalil Sayegh about what people get wrong about Gaza, the spread of misinformation, and why grassroots peace efforts need to change in the aftermath of the conflict. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert, discussing the war's information landscape and the challenges of grassroots peacebuilding.

Transcript, "Khalil Sayegh: What We Get Wrong About Gaza," CSIS, November 14, 2023.
Jon Alterman, "Israel Could Lose," CSIS, November 7, 2023.

A Mezze: Chat GPMufti Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

A recent flurry of Islamic experimentation with artificial intelligence has been met with mixed results. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.

Neri Zilber: Inside Israeli Politics During Wartime Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Tel Aviv-based journalist and analyst Neri Zilber about the war in Gaza, how Israelis are thinking about what comes next, and what it means for the region. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert, discussing Arab states' reactions to the conflict and the circumstances in which they might assist in managing post-war Gaza.

Transcript, "Neri Zilber: Inside Israeli Politics During Wartime," CSIS, October 31, 2023.
Neri Zilber, "Fears Grow the Israel has 'No Plan' Agreed for Postwar Gaza," Financial Times, October 24, 2023.
Jon Alterman and Daniel Byman, "The World Can't Solve the Israel-Hamas War without Egypt," CSIS, October 25, 2023.
Neri Zilber, "As Biden Arrives, Israel's War Aims are Ambitious, but Incomplete," the Christian Science Monitor, October 17, 2023.

Analysis: Developments in the Israel-Hamas War Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Just over two weeks after Hamas invaded Israel, Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, about the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.

Transcript, "The Outlook for Israel's Military Campaign against Hamas," CSIS, October 23, 2023.
Jon Alterman, "President Biden Heads to Israel," CSIS, October 17, 2023.
Jon Alterman, "Hamas and Israel: The Current Situation and Looking Ahead," CSIS, October 11, 2023.

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