Middle East Focus

Middle East Focus episodes:

• 04.04.2024

  Opposition Upset Victory in Turkey's Local Elections

  On this week's episode, Murat Somer - Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Istanbul’s Ozyegin University - and MEI Turkey Program Director Gonul Tol join MEI Editor-in-Chief Alistair Taylor to discuss the main opposition party’s surprising victory in...

  
• 03.26.2024

  Rethinking Democracy, Ep. 1: Why Does Democracy Flourish? With Francis Fukuyama and Paul Salem

  About the series: This is a critical year for the future of democracy. Half the world’s population will go to the polls in 2024, at a time when citizens in America and across the globe are losing faith in democratic...

  
• 03.11.2024

  The Evolving Conflict Between Hezbollah and Israel

  MEI's US-Lebanon Fellow Fadi Nicholas Nassar and Emile Hokayem - Director of Regional Security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies - discuss the changing and uncertain rules of engagement between Hezbollah and Israel, and the potential for war between...

  
• 03.06.2024

  Interview with Rashid Al Khalifa - Bahraini artist, collector and founder of RAK Art Foundation

  Director of MEI's Arts & Culture Program Lyne Sneige interviews HH Sheik Rashid Al Khalifa - artist, collector and founder of the RAK Art Foundation and a participating artist in MEI's current gallery exhibition "The Sea of Life: Modern and...

  
• 02.21.2024

  What’s next for Pakistan after election shock?

  On this week's episode Tamkinet Karim, Syed Mohammad Ali, and Alistair Taylor discuss the results of Pakistan’s Feb. 8 elections and where things might be headed moving forward. Over the past two years, Pakistan has gone through a particularly turbulent...

  
• 02.13.2024

  Iran’s 1979 revolution and its resonance today

  On this week's episode, MEI Iran Program Director Alex Vatanka, MEI Non-resident Scholar Andrew Scott Cooper, and MEI Editor-In-Chief Alistair Taylor discuss the Iranian Revolution of 1979. A seminal event in the history of the modern Middle East, the revolution...

  
• 02.04.2024

  Spotlight on US Syria policy

  On this week's episode, Director of MEI's Syria and Countering Terrorism & Extremism Programs Charles Lister and MEI Editor-In-Chief Alistair Taylor talk about US policy toward Syria. The deadly Jan. 28 drone attack on a US military outpost in northeastern...

  
• 01.29.2024

  The Gaza War's Regional Reverberations

  On this week's episode, President and CEO of the Middle East Institute Paul Salem and Director of MEI’s Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program Randa Slim speak to MEI's Editor-in-Chief Alistair Taylor about growing concerns over the potential for...

  
• 01.10.2024

  Antisemitism and Islamophobia in the US political discourse on Israel/Palestine

  Sahar Aziz and Mitchell Plitnick discuss their study "Presumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine Israel Discourse" with MEI's Palestine and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs Program Director Khaled Elgindy.

  
• 12.05.2023

  Themes of COP28

  MEI's Climate and Water Program discusses the top issues within the themes of COP28's agenda.  For more info on COP28 and climate issues in the MENA region, follow MEI's Spotlight on COP28.

  
• 12.05.2023

  Turkey at 100

  The year 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic. MEI Editor-in-chief Alistair Taylor and Turkey Program Director Gonul Tol discuss where things stand today: the political landscape in the aftermath of the May 2023 elections,...

  
• 11.15.2023

  Iran and the Israel-Hamas War

  On this week's episode, MEI's Editor in Chief Alistair Taylor talks to Iran Program Director Alex Vatanka about Iran and the Israel-Hamas war. As fighting rages in Gaza and the prospects for regional escalation continue to mount, Iran will remain...

  
• 09.19.2023

  Climate Financing

  Director of MEI’s Climate and Water Program Mohammed Mahmoud speaks to energy and sustainable infrastructure expert Lucia Fuselli on the role of climate financing - a critical component of initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bolstering climate resilience....

  
• 09.07.2023

  Prospects for Saudi Arabia-Israel Normalization

  On this week's episode, MEI's Editor-In-Chief Alistair Taylor discusses the Biden administration’s push to reach a normalization accord between Saudi Arabia and Israel with Martin Indyk, Sanam Vakil, and Bilal Saab.  While there are plenty of potential hurdles to reaching...

  
• 08.28.2023

  Little Amal Walks Across America

  MEI’s Senior Vice President Kate Seelye speaks with award-winning theater director and writer Amir Nizar Zuabi - Artistic Director of the 'Amal Walks Across America' tour.  They discuss the upcoming U.S. tour of Little Amal, an internationally celebrated 12-foot-tall puppet...

  
• 08.22.2023

  Ben Samuels | 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' Ep. 3

  Middle East Focus Presents: ‘Taking the Edge Off the Middle East’ with Brian Katulis A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEI VP for Policy...

  
• 07.21.2023

  France’s Foreign Policy towards Lebanon and its Discontents

  MEI U.S.-Lebanon Fellow Fadi Nicholas Nassar is joined by Karim Bitar for a discussion on French foreign policy towards Lebanon. The pair focus on the current state of affairs in Lebanon, historical trends in French policy towards the country and...

  
• 07.10.2023

  Perspectives from the Bonn Climate Change Conference Ahead of COP28

  This year's Bonn Climate Change Conference featured events and discussions focusing on climate issues such as adaptation, mitigation, the global stocktake, and climate loss and damage. Progress on these issues at the Bonn Conference is intended to translate into potential...

  
• 06.21.2023

  Itamar Rabinovich on “Middle Eastern Maze”

  Brookings’ Distinguished Fellow on Foreign Policy Itamar Rabinovich discusses his new book - “Middle Eastern Maze: Israel, the Arabs, and the Region” - as well as contemporary Israeli politics with MEI’s VP for Policy Brian Katulis.

  
• 06.12.2023

  Richard A. Clarke | 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' Ep. 2

  Middle East Focus Presents: ‘Taking the Edge Off the Middle East’ with Brian Katulis A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEI VP for Policy...

  
• 06.07.2023

  Art in Dialogue with Nature: An Exploration of Saudi Arabia’s New Valley of the Arts

  Wadi AlFann ('Valley of the Arts') is a new global cultural destination in Saudi Arabia, where monumental contemporary artworks are being commissioned for AlUla’s majestic desert landscape.   Curator Iwona Blazwick and participating Saudi artist Manal Al Dowayan speak with...

  
• 06.01.2023

  David Schenker | 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' Ep. 1

  Middle East Focus Presents: ‘Taking the Edge Off the Middle East’ with Brian Katulis A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEI VP for Policy...

  
• 05.17.2023

  Ending the use of child soldiers

  On this week's episode Alistair Taylor, MEI's editor-in-chief, is joined by Mick Mulroy and Eric Oehlerich, Senior Fellows with MEI’s Defense & Security Program and the Co-founders of the Lobo Institute and End Child Soldiering, to discuss efforts to stop the recruitment...

  
• 05.09.2023

  Turkey’s Critical Elections

  On this week's episode Alistair Taylor, MEI's editor-in-chief, is joined by Gönül Tol, the founding director of MEI's Turkey Program and the author of "Erdogan's War: A Strongman's Struggle at Home and in Syria," to discuss Turkey's critical upcoming elections....

  
• 05.02.2023

  Tunisia's new state institutions, legitimacy, and the future of the political transition

  Tunisian President Kais Saied has reformed the structure of the Tunisian government, creating worries that democracy is being eroded in the North African country. Amidst ongoing economic turmoil and a growing migration issue, many are wondering if it is still...

  
• 04.25.2023

  What Does the US-China Tech Cold War Mean for the Middle East?

  On this week's episode Alistair Taylor, MEI's editor-in-chief, is joined by Mohammed Soliman, director of MEI's Strategic Technologies and Cyber Security Program, to discuss the US-China tech Cold War and what it means for the Middle East. At the nexus...

  
• 04.18.2023

  Earth Day: Environmental Opportunities and Challenges in the Middle East

  April 22 marks the annual observation of Earth Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness on issues of environmental conservation and protection. Mohammed Mahmoud, director of MEI's Climate and Water Program is joined by Alicia Dauth to discuss recent global...

  
• 04.11.2023

  On Food and Sustainability: A conversation with Moza Al Matrooshi and Christian Sleiman

  Lyne Sneige, Director of the Arts & Culture Program at the Middle East Institute, speaks with artists Moza Al Matrooshi and Christian Sleiman about their works that are featured in MEI's current exhibition, Perceptible Rhythms/Alternative Temporalities. The conversation provides greater detail...

  
• 03.30.2023

  Water Resource Challenges in MENA

  Mohammed Mahmoud, Director of the Climate and Water Program at MEI, hosts a discussion on a variety of water resource challenges across the MENA region with Malak Altaeb, Megan Ferrando, Orestes Morfin, Youssef Wehbe, Zena Agha, and Andrei Covatariu. Questions...

  
• 03.10.2023

  Can the Lira be saved?

  MEI's US-Lebanon Fellow Fadi Nicholas Nassar speaks to Beirut-based international finance professional Mike Azar on Lebanon's financial crisis. What is the state of Lebanon's banking system, and how did it become so dysfunctional? What does Azar recommend to get Lebanon's...

  
• 02.28.2023

  The influence of Atmospheric Rivers in MENA

  Atmospheric rivers play an important role in the movement of water through the atmosphere and can release that water at magnitudes capable of producing extreme weather and flooding. But what are atmospheric rivers exactly? And how do they behave in...

  
• 02.24.2023

  Russia's Influence in MENA After a Year of War in Ukraine

  MEI Managing Editor Matthew Czekaj speaks with scholars Iulia-Sabina Joja, Alex Vatanka, Yörük Işık, Charles Lister, and Roger Kangas on Russia's current standing in the Middle East a year since re-invading Ukraine.    How has Russian aggression...

  
• 02.21.2023

  MEI's Arts and Culture Center joins DESIGNEAST in Dubai

  MEI's Arts and Culture Center joins DESIGNEAST at Al Serkal Avenue in Dubai   DESIGNEAST is a new platform launching in Dubai during Art Week from 26 February to 5 March, 2023 focused on providing opportunities for emerging designers...

  
• 02.13.2023

  Is There a Way Forward for Political Resolution in Yemen?

  Director of MEI's Arabian Peninsula Program Gerald Feierstein speaks to MEI Non-Resident Scholars Fatima Abo Alasrar & Ibrahim Jalal on a host of current events in Yemen. What have  been the takeaways from U.S. Special Envoy Timothy Lenderking's recent visit...

  
• 02.01.2023

  Justice, the Beirut Blast, and Lebanon's Continued Crisis

  MEI's U.S.-Lebanon Fellow Fadi Nicholas Nassar speaks to Ronnie Chatah - host of the Beirut Banyan and founder of WalkBeirut - about justice in the wake of the Beirut Blast. Why have family members of the blast's victims recently been...

  
• 01.24.2023

  EU Energy Security & the Maghreb

  North Africa and the Sahel Program Director Intissar Fakir speaks to Alberto Rizzi - pan-European fellow at the Rome Office of the European Council on Foreign Relations - about existing and future energy partnerships between the European Union and the...

  
• 01.03.2023

  MENA Music and More!

  On today's episode, Middle East Focus kicks off the new year with Danny Hajjar, whose newsletter Sa'alouni El Nas brings diverse music and perspectives from the MENA region to inboxes worldwide. Interviewing Danny is Fadi Nicholas Nassar, U.S.-Lebanon Fellow at the...

  
• 12.20.2022

  MENA Music and More!

  On today's episode, Middle East Focus kicks off the new year with Danny Hajjar, whose newsletter Sa'alouni El Nas brings diverse music and perspectives from the MENA region to inboxes worldwide. Interviewing Danny is Fadi Nicholas Nassar, U.S.-Lebanon Fellow at the...

  
• 12.19.2022

  Iran’s Protests 3 Months On

  Now entering their fourth month of defiance, the people of Iran continue to protest the regime of Ali Khamenei. Since protests began in September, the crackdown by security forces has become increasingly severe and the government has now begun executing...

  
• 11.07.2022

  COP 27: Ask the Experts with Mohammed Mahmoud

  With Egypt hosting COP 27 this week, all eyes are on climate change in the MENA region. For today's episode, Senior Fellow and Director of the Climate and Water Program Mohammed Mahmoud asked several of MEI's Climate and Water Program...

  
• 11.01.2022

  Russia’s War on Ukraine: Iran’s Growing Role and the Nuclear Threat

  In today's episode, Alistair Taylor sits down with experts from MEI's Frontier Europe Initiative to assess the trajectory of Russia's war on Ukraine. They discuss Russia’s growing attacks on critical infrastructure, its recent deployment of Iranian drones and their impact...

  
• 10.25.2022

  The Biden Administration’s National Security Strategy

  The Biden Administration's National Security Strategy has drawn some criticism for its relatively late release, but what of its actual substance? Today, Alistair Taylor talks with four experts, each with unique insights into the context and strategy of this document...

  
• 10.11.2022

  Pakistan's Climate, Economic, and Political Crises

  Relentless floods in Pakistan have resulted in thousands of deaths, widespread displacement, and economic devastation. Today, we discuss these impacts as well as Pakistan's broader economic and climate change challenges, the ongoing political crisis, and developments on the foreign policy...

  
• 10.04.2022

  Contending with Reality in Palestine & Israel

  Today's two-part episode is a study in contrasts. On one hand, the Partnership for Peace Fund strives to create a social and economic environment in which sustainable peace can become possible. On the other, hard political realities and gridlock undermine...

  
• 09.23.2022

  Iran's Growing Protests

  Today's episode challenges preconceived notions about Iranian society, the hijab, and the regime clinging to power in Tehran. Joining us today for a highly enlightening conversation are two Iran experts, Marjan Keypour Greenblatt and Alex Vatanka. Marjan is the founder...

  
• 09.13.2022

  Yemen After Eight Years of Civil War

  Now in the fifth month of a ceasefire, what are the prospects for a negotiated end to the Yemeni Civil War, and the beginning of a sustained peace? MEI Distinguished Sr. Fellow on U.S. Diplomacy and Director of the Arabian...

  
• 09.02.2022

  Algeria & France: Untangling Past and Present

  French President Emmanuel Macron's recent visit to Algeria brought talks of cooperation and reconciliation to the fore in an otherwise fraught relationship. France and Algeria share a long and painful history, including 132 years of colonial occupation and an eight...

  
• 08.25.2022

  Iraq's Deepening Political Crisis

  Ten months on from last October’s elections, Iraq still does not have a new government and faces a deepening political crisis. To understand the current situation's perils and what may be next for the future of the country, we are...

  
• 08.09.2022

  MENA Photography: More than your eyes can see

  MEI Arts and Culture Center Director Lyne Sneige speaks with photographers Eman Ali and Samar Hazboun, who are featured in MEI's latest gallery exhibition "More Than Your Eyes Can See:  Contemporary Photography from the Arab World" - curated by Laila...

  
• 08.09.2022

  The US strike on al-Qaeda leader al-Zawahiri

  On today’s episode, host Alistair Taylor explores the ramifications of the CIA drone strike that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 31. Joining the program are three MEI experts - Mick Mulroy, Javid Ahmad, and Douglas...