HICHAM SAFIEDDINE | Banking on the State: Leb...

Arabic culture and literature hold a vastly rich classical history that continues to captivate scholars and readers worldwide. Renowned literary critic and Columbia University professor, Dr. Muhsin Al-Musawi, explores the depths of this heritage, from the global allure of the Ara ...  Show more

A unique personal journey spanning from a third-generation textile merchant family in Japan to a thriving design studio in Beirut serves as the foundation for iconic designer Nada Debs’ universal message of collaboration. The intricate world of Levantine woodwork, the philosophy ...  Show more

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Haneen Sayed, an international development expert and former lead specialist at the World Bank. During the conversation, Dr. Sayed discusses the roots of the economic crisis in Lebanon and how the international donor community can ...  Show more

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 ...  Show more

Dr. Patrick Mardini, the founder and president of the Lebanese Institute for Market Studies, explains to Bilal El-Amine Lebanon's multilayered economic and financial crisis, focusing on the decline of the national currency and the role of the Lebanese Central Bank before and a ...

How did Lebanese banks go from being the crown jewel of the economy to become what is being referred to as "zombie banks"? Can the sector recover on its own or does it need a complete overhaul? And, most importantly, what is the fate of the billions of dollars in deposits? Joi ...