Guest: Ehsani. We talk about the financial crisis that has been building for years and the structural problems in Lebanon’s economy and banking system that has been in place since the 1990’s. The Beirut explosion and widespread damage brought the broader crisis to a head and exposed how the system is broken. We also talk about the political issues, protests and external interference. There is a bonus question for patrons at the end of the interview on whether this is a push for regime change and which external forces are behind it. 

Ehsani is a Syrian American, born in Lebanon and raised in Aleppo. He has a solid background in finance. Find his analysis and discussion on Twitter at @ehsani22. He has also written for the Syria Comment blog under the pseudonym, “Ehsani”.  

FOLLOW Ehsani on Twitter at @EHSANI22  

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Recorded on August 18, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

1. Beirut faces rising poverty after blast, Al Jazeera English
2. Lebanon's economy: Plundered by politics and banking elites | Counting the Cost, Al Jazeera English