Babel: Translating the Middle East

Latest Episodes:

Dalal Mawad: The Port of Beirut Explosion Through Women's Eyes Oct 17, 2023

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Lebanese journalist Dalal Mawad about her new book, All She Lost. The book weaves together women’s stories as they grapple with the 2020 explosion at the Port of Beirut, its aftermath, and the underlying pathologies that have contributed to Lebanon’s troubles. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert, discussing the role of women and collective memory in political and social developments throughout the region.

Transcript, "Dalal Mawad: The Beirut Port Explosion Through Women's Eyes," CSIS, October 17, 2023.
Dalal Mawad, All She Lost: The Explosion in Lebanon, the Collapse of a Nation and the Women who Survive, Bloomsbury Publishing, August 3, 2023.

A Mezze: Fishing for Food Security Oct 10, 2023

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In the desert region of Tindouf in southern Algeria, the sun beats down on sandy expanses that are home to little more than a network of refugee camps. But in August 2021, a group of Sahrawi refugees were bustling inside a building studded with rectangular pools and filled with tons of tilapia—literally. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.

Khalid Ikram: Egypt's Economic Crisis Oct 03, 2023

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman breaks down Egypt's economic crisis with Khalid Ikram, a veteran economist and consultant for over a dozen major international development organizations. They talk about the Egyptian military’s role in the economy and how Egyptian policymakers can alleviate the current crisis. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert, discussing how other governments in the region handle their economies in comparison to Egypt.

Transcript, “Khalid Ikram: Egypt's Economic Crisis,” CSIS, October 3, 2023.

Viewpoint: Data Dead Zone Sep 26, 2023

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Conflict and instability hinder water data collection in the Middle East, thereby complicating water management strategies that could contribute to more equitable development and sustainable peace. A new Viewpoint from the CSIS Middle East Program.

Tarek Megerisi: Libya's Crises Sep 20, 2023

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Tarek Megerisi, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. They talk about the ongoing conflict in Libya and the interests of international actors in the country. Tarek also discusses the recent flooding that devastated the city of Darna, and how the last decade of conflict contributed to the degradation of key infrastructure in Libya. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert, discussing the ways natural disasters challenge governments in the region.

Tarek Megerisi, “The politics of catastrophe: Morocco, Libya, and how Europeans should respond,” European Council on Foreign Relations, September 13, 2023.
Transcript, “Tarek Megerisi: Libya’s Crises,” CSIS, August 8, 2023
Photo credit: SeeSaw Foto.

A Mezze: Tunisia's Hunger Games Sep 12, 2023

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Amid widespread shortages of basic products in Tunisia, grocery store owners have become like black marketeers in one manifestation of Tunisia’s growing food crisis. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad: Iraq Through Iraqis' Eyes Sep 05, 2023

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with award-winning Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad. During the conversation, Abdul-Ahad discusses the fallout from the war and U.S. occupation, his career reporting from Iraq, and the ways that working alongside leading journalists influenced his work. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert, discussing the legacies of sectarianism in Iraq and Lebanon.

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, A Stranger in Your Own City: Travels in the Middle East's Long War, Penguin Random House, 2023.
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, "Guns, cash, and frozen chicken: the militia boss doling out aid in Baghdad," The Guardian, March 20, 2023.
Transcript, "Ghaith Abdul-Ahad: Iraq Through Iraqis' Eyes," CSIS, August 22, 2023.
Photo credit: Rena Effendi.

A Mezze: Baaloul Verde Aug 29, 2023

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Baaloul is not like most towns in Lebanon for two reasons. First, its inhabitants do not use any of Lebanon’s most common languages; instead, the lingua franca is Spanish. Second, it has reliable electricity. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.

Haneen Sayed: Lebanon's Economic Crisis Aug 22, 2023

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This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Haneen Sayed, an international development expert and former lead specialist at the World Bank. During the conversation, Dr. Sayed discusses the roots of the economic crisis in Lebanon and how the international donor community can play a more constructive role. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Marty Pimentel, discussing the effect of sectarianism on Lebanon's political economy and the legacy of protest and civil war.

Haneen Sayed, "How Better Social Protection Can Strengthen Lebanon's Social Contract," Carnegie Middle East Center,June 14, 2023.
Jon Alterman and Jihad Azour, "The Middle East's Economic Outlook," CSIS, January 10, 2023.
Transcript, "Haneen Sayed: Lebanon's Economic Crisis," CSIS, August 22, 2023.

A Mezze: Keeping Iraq's Solar Community on Message Aug 15, 2023

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Amer al-Azaawy founded a small solar company in Baghdad. With little public awareness about the benefits of solar energy and no government support, he decided to take matters into his own hands. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program.