The legal, as well as de facto state of the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, which have long ago turned into functioning, if informal, urban settlements have been raising the world’s eyebrows ever since 1948. With our Research Lead Elias Dahrouge, we take a closer look at the problems the ever-growing Palestinian community in Lebanon faces, their roots, and the implications for the geopolitical intricacies of the wider region. 

We are happy to welcome you to another episode of the Expert Talks by Khayrion podcast series, and hope you stay tuned for our upcoming episodes!

Lebanon has been trapped in a state of protracted crisis for decades. Among its many structural challenges is the fact that it hosts the highest number of refugees per capita in the world, with Syrians constituting the largest group. In this episode, our Research Lead, Elias Dahrouge, takes an in-depth look at the refugee issue—unpacking its origins, examining the latest developments, and offering expert, on-the-ground insights into its political, social, and economic ramifications.

In this continuation of our podcast, What’s Up with Saudi Arabia?, our Senior Researchers Erzsébet N. Rózsa and László Csicsmann analyze the kingdom's foreign relations, from its closest allies to global powers to the intricate relations in the wider region. 

Before the current Red Sea Crisis, the issue of naval chokepoints has not been on the daily agenda of global media outlets. However, the Houthi attacks reshaped our understanding of maritime geopolitics. Our Senior Researchers Erzsébet N. Rózsa and László Csicsmann explain what naval chokepoints are and why they are crucial for the world economy, especially in light of the current turmoil in the Middle East. 

News streaming from Lebanon tend to be quite grim in the past years. Is Lebanon rapidly heading towards the title of a failed state, or is there still some hope to turn things around? Dr. Marek Čejka and Dr. Josef Kraus provide our listeners with expert insights into the country’s complex situation. 

Despite not being directly involved in the Gaza conflict, we have been hearing about Hizballah daily since October 7, 2023. It is usually briefly described as a militant/political movement; however, its structure and organization are a lot more complex. Dr. Marek Čejka and Dr. Josef Kraus explain what exactly Hizballah is, where it comes from, and where it is heading. 

Amidst all the recent turmoil in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is trying hard to stay out of the main headlines. What are the recent developments in the kingdom and their backgrounds? Khayrion’s Senior Researcher Erzsébet N. Rózsa explains in our latest podcast. 

To many, Baluchistan is a mysterious region with quite a bad reputation. Our researcher Hessam Habibi Doroh explains the historical, social, and economic background of the past decades’ turmoil in the area. An intriguing insight from a top-class expert who knows the region like the back of his hand. 

Afghanistan as a tourist destination? Certainly uncommon, but far from impossible. Our Senior Researcher Miklós Sárközy shares his insights about this compelling destination, including information about the major tourist attractions, as well as practical information about how to get there and around. 

An analysis of the background of the wide geopolitical contest in light of the recent upheaval in the Red Sea, presented by our senior researchers Erzsébet N. Rózsa and László Csicsmann.