Babel: Translating the Middle East

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Will Todman and Natasha Hall, senior fellows at the CSIS Middle East Program, for a special episode on the sudden collapse of the Assad regime and what will replace it. Together, they discuss the promise and peril of this historic moment, and the domestic and regional forces moving aggressively to shape Syria’s new direction. 

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Max Gallien, a political scientist specializing in informal and illegal economies and North African politics. He is a research fellow at the Institute of Development Studies and the International Centre for Tax and Development at the University of Sussex. Together, they discuss the political, social, and economic functions of smuggling economies in North Africa. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Martin Pimentel and Will Todman to discuss what factors lead Middle Eastern states to ignore, or even condone, smuggling by their citizens.Transcript, "Max Gallien: Black Markets of the Maghreb," CSIS, December 10, 2024.

Last weekend, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al Qaeda affiliate with a base in northwest Syria, launched a surprise offensive. The rebels captured Syria’s second-largest city, Aleppo, and headed toward Homs and Hama, two major population centers. The weekend’s battles mark the first significant shift of battle lines in Syria since 2020. With Russian and Syrian airstrikes on rebel strongholds picking up, Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the regional and geostrategic implications of a possibly new phase in Syria’s 13-year civil war.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Arwa Damon, a former CNN international correspondent and founder of the International Network for Aid, Relief, and Assistance (INARA). She talks with Jon from Gaza. Together, they discuss her two decades of work in war zones and the effects of war on the young children her charity supports. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Martin Pimentel and Natasha Hall to discuss the challenges of humanitarian work in war zones. Transcript, "Arwa Damon: Gaza’s Wounds," CSIS, November 26, 2024.

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 faces a significant roadblock with the abrupt departure of NEOM's CEO. This ambitious land development and tourism project, costing over half a trillion dollars, is grappling with budget challenges and local resistance. Experts delve into the intricacies of NEOM, highlighting its potential to transform the Saudi economy while examining the broader implications for the nation's economic diversification efforts. Will NEOM rise to meet expectations, or stumble under pressure?

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Mohammad Ali Shabani, editor of Amwaj.media, a London-based news site focusing on Iran, Iraq, and the Arabian Peninsula countries. Together, they discuss Iran’s regional strategy and the choices Iran has after a year of rising regional tensions. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Martin Pimentel and Will Todman to discuss what the new U.S. administration will mean for Iran, its conflict with Israel, and its relations with the United States. Transcript, "Mohammad Ali Shabani: Iran After October 7," CSIS, November 12, 2024.

Just over a week ago, Israel conducted multiple waves of airstrikes against military sites in Iran. These strikes were in response to Iran launching a barrage of ballistic missiles against Israel a few weeks prior, which marked the second direct Iranian missile attack on Israel this year. Asher Grant-Sasson speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the unprecedented back-and-forth between Israel and Iran, and its implications on regional geopolitics.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Amjad Iraqi, a senior editor at +972 Magazine and an associate fellow with Chatham House. He is also affiliated with Al-Shabaka, an online Palestinian policy network. Together, they discuss how Palestinian citizens of Israel have been experiencing the Gaza war, and the future of Palestinian communities in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss how virtual communities influence national political movements.Transcript, "Amjad Iraqi: The Future of Palestinians in Israel," CSIS, October 29, 2024.

Last week, Israeli forces killed Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and one of the main architects of the October 7th attack. Less than a month earlier, Israel assassinated Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah for the last three decades. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about how recent events have impacted Israel’s trajectory.   Jon Alterman, "What Does Yahya Sinwar’s Death Mean?" CSIS, October 17, 2024.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Lina Khatib, an associate fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, which she led for seven years and where they first met. Together, they discuss the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, its regional impacts, and the emerging vacuum in Lebanese politics. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert to discuss the challenges of creating a comprehensive U.S. strategy in the Middle East and the ways Great Power competition affects the region’s conflicts. Transcript, "Lina Khatib: War Spreads to Lebanon," CSIS, October 15, 2024.