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," I...
Sep 08, 2020•22 min•Season 4Ep. 2
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...
Sep 01, 2020•24 min•Season 4Ep. 1
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 rea...
Aug 25, 2020•27 min•Season 3Ep. 24
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 E...
Aug 11, 2020•29 min•Season 3Ep. 23
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,” CSI...
Jul 28, 2020•34 min•Season 3Ep. 22
As demand for religious jewelry booms in the Middle East, fake gemstones are flooding the market.
Jul 21, 2020•4 min•Season 3Ep. 21
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...
Jul 14, 2020•27 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Egyptian talk shows are increasingly telling women to “love themselves,” but not everyone is on board with this new messaging.
Jul 07, 2020•4 min•Season 3Ep. 19
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...
Jun 30, 2020•27 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Saudi Arabia’s dairy industry is stirring debate around food security, depleting aquifers, and fodder imports.
Jun 23, 2020•4 min•Season 3Ep. 17
This week on Babel, Jon is joined by Frederic Wehrey, senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. During their discussion, Fred breaks down the conflict in Libya, explaining who is involved and why. Fred and Jon also talk about foreign fighters, drones, and what's next for Libya. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley discuss similarities and differences between the conflicts in Libya and Syria. Sandy Alkoutami and Frederic Wehrey, “China’s Balancing Act,” ...
Jun 16, 2020•27 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Middle Eastern governments are struggling to combat purchases of military uniforms by malign actors attempting to impersonate soldiers.
Jun 09, 2020•3 min•Season 3Ep. 15
This week on Babel, Marwa Daoudy, assistant professor at Georgetown University, joins Jon to talk about the climate-security nexus in Syria. Marwa and Jon discuss issues with past reforms in Syria, the relationship between climate change and human insecurity, and government corruption. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley discuss a report Will released earlier in May on cross-border aid in Syria. Episode Transcript: The Climate-Security Nexus with Marwa Daoudy, CSIS, June 2, 2020. Marwa Daoudy, The Ori...
Jun 02, 2020•25 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Syrians seem to be laying the groundwork for an enduring Russian presence in the country with an increase in Russian language education.
May 26, 2020•4 min•Season 3Ep. 13
This week on Babel, Gregory Gause joined Jon to talk about how Gulf economies are changing during Covid-19. Greg is the head of the international affairs department at Texas A&M University and holds the John H. Lindsey '44 chair. Greg and Jon discuss Saudi Arabia's labor markets, economic reforms under MBS, and the future of the kingdom. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley, talk about initiatives to change how young people relate to both each other and the government in the Gulf. Jon Alterman, Tie...
May 19, 2020•28 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Lavish celebrations with cakes, wedding halls, and invitations are marking a new trend in Saudi Arabia—divorce parties.
May 12, 2020•4 min•Season 3Ep. 11
This week on Babel, Nabih Bulos, the Middle East bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times, joined Jon to talk about disinformation in the Middle East during Covid-19. Nabih and Jon discuss alternatives to state-run media, disinformation bots, and information lockdowns during Covid-19. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley talk about state-run news agencies in the Middle East. Jon Alterman, “The Middle East’s Challenges Aren’t Just Combatting the Virus,” CSIS, April 28, 2020. Jon Alterman, “Russian Disinfo...
May 05, 2020•26 min•Season 3Ep. 10
A lack of mail boxes, accurate addresses, and even agreed-upon street names has continued to make postal reform in the Middle East a source of frustration.
Apr 28, 2020•4 min•Season 3Ep. 9
This week, Jon talks with Ariane Tabatabai, a Middle East fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund. They discuss the internal political backlash in Iran, tensions between the IRGC and the Rouhani-led government, and the role of the United States. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley talk about how the coronavirus is affecting Iran’s relationships with its regional neighbors. Jon Alterman, “COVID-19 and Cascading Crises in the Middle East” Center for Strategic and Intern...
Apr 21, 2020•24 min•Season 3Ep. 8
The UAE government is attempting to instill morals in its students from a young age, with mandatory lessons on ethics and Emirati culture that are tested with a standardized exam.
Apr 14, 2020•3 min•Season 3Ep. 7
This week, Jon talks with Tarik Yousef, a senior fellow in the global economy and development program at Brookings and director of the Brookings Doha Center. They discuss where countries in the region were several months ago, where they are now, and what that means for their futures. Then, Jon, Will, and McKinley talk about how the spread of COVID-19 will affect middle income countries in the Middle East. Jon Alterman, “How Will the Middle East Cope with COVID-19?” Center for Strategic and Inter...
Apr 07, 2020•22 min•Season 3Ep. 6
From dens of snakes attacking Iraqi villagers to a swarm of locusts descending on Baghdad, a changing climate has unleashed plagues of biblical proportions on Iraq in recent years.
Mar 31, 2020•4 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this special episode of Babel, McKinley Knoop interviews Jon Alterman about how COVID-19 is exacerbating a series of existing crises in the Middle East. The episode includes the current status of COVID-19 in the region, how states with various capabilities are reacting, and what could come next. Jon also explores potential areas for U.S. involvement in the region, and why it’s important that we pay attention.
Mar 25, 2020•13 min•Season 3Ep. 4
This week, Jon Alterman, Will Todman, and McKinley Knoop talk about who joins militant jihadi groups and why. Then, Jon talks with Elisabeth Kendall, an Oxford University-based scholar of Arabic literature who has focused on poetry among Yemeni jihadis. They discuss poetry in Yemen, what makes “good” jihadi poetry, and differences between al Qaeda and ISIS poetry. Jon B. Alterman, Religious Radicalism After the Arab Uprisings, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2015. Elisabeth Kenda...
Mar 24, 2020•27 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Solar panels are giving Yemenis access to affordable power solutions, even as traditional electric grids are failing.
Mar 17, 2020•3 min•Season 3Ep. 2
We start the second season of Babel: Translating the Middle East with a conversation with Hanin Ghaddar, a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute who focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant. Jon and Hanin discuss sectarianism in Lebanon, the changing role of Hezbollah, and what’s next for a country mired in economic troubles. Jon Alterman, “Iran is not one crisis, but three, for the US,” The Hill, January 10, 2020. Jon Alterman, “Lebanon’s Government Collapses,” CSIS, October 20, 201...
Mar 10, 2020•29 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In the sixth and final episode of our podcast miniseries, China in the Middle East, Jon Alterman looks at the future of China in the Middle East with Nadège Rolland and Deborah Lehr. They discuss the community of common destiny, political warfare, and opportunities for private company growth in the region. Jon explains why countries roll out the literal red carpet for foreign heads of state, and what that symbolism means for foreign powers acting in the region. China in the Middle East is a six-...
Feb 25, 2020•22 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In the fifth episode of our podcast miniseries, China in the Middle East, Jon Alterman looks at U.S.-Chinese cooperation and competition in the region with Robert Manning and Dawn Murphy. They discuss how the United States is changing its traditional role in the Middle East, and what that means for China’s role in the region. Jon also discusses how Somali pirates have brought China closer to multilateral military cooperation. China in the Middle East is a six-part miniseries that is part of our ...
Feb 18, 2020•20 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In the fourth episode of our podcast miniseries, China in the Middle East, Jon Alterman explores the Middle East’s perspectives on China with Mohammed Sudairi and Ariane Tabatabai. They talk about how the Middle East holds high hopes for China’s future role in the region and focus on Iran and the Gulf as examples. They also discuss the myth of Chinese workers speaking fluent Arabic and what Iranian storekeepers tell shoppers about bicycles made in China. China in the Middle East is a six-part mi...
Feb 11, 2020•17 min
In the third episode of our podcast miniseries, China in the Middle East, Jon Alterman explores China’s security interests in the Middle East. Jon also talks to Dean Cheng, Evan Medeiros, and Andrew Scobell about China’s current security capacity in the region, and how China is using a blend of military, economic, and technological capacities to advance China’s interest in stability and security in the region. China in the Middle East is a six-part miniseries that is part of our regular series p...
Feb 04, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 3
