MEnbar
MEnbar is a podcast by the Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) that offers diverse insights and research-based discussions on policy relevant topics in the Middle East and North Africa region. Hosted by Marc Owen Jones.
Episodes
What’s Next for Gulf Economies?
Oil Prices, regional conflicts, and the push for energy transition are redefining the Gulf states' economies as they enter 2026. Amid these shifts, how are these economies adapting to global uncertainty?In this episode of MEnbar, recorded on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, Omar Rahman talks with Karen Young, Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University's Center of Global Energy Pol
Media and the War of Narratives in MENA
The mainstream media has lost control of the narrative. Middle East Eye’s David Hearst joins MEnbar to explain why Western media narratives are collapsing.In this special episode of MEnbar, recorded on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, Marc Owen Jones welcomes David Hearst, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye, to discuss how media and conflict have fundamentally reshaped each oth
Africa’s Internationalized Conflicts and the Broken Crisis Response
In this episode of MEnbar, recorded on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, Marc Owen Jones is joined by Comfort Ero, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group, to examine the rapidly changing nature of conflict across Africa and its wider implications. Ero reflects on why crises in Sudan and the Sahel have worsened rather than stabilized, how international crisis response and managemen
Rethinking Global Health Governance in a Changing World
In this special episode of MEnbar, recorded on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, Marc Owen Jones speaks with Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean at the World Health Organization (WHO), about the increasing pressure on global and regional health systems amid deepening crises and declining international support. The discussion examines how recent funding cuts and shifti
EU-GCC Towards a Strategic Partnership
In this special episode of MEnbar, recorded on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, Omar Rahman welcomes the EU Special Representative Ambassador Luigi De Maio for the Gulf region to discuss the growing strategic partnership between the European Union and Gulf countries. The conversation explores how recent regional and global crises have reshaped the EU’s expectations and engagement in the Gulf,
Inside the Gulf’s Expanding Mediation Role
In this episode of Menbar, Marc Owen Jones talks with Yasmine Farouk, the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Project Director at the International Crisis Group, to discuss the Gulf states’ growing role as mediators in regional conflicts. Farouk examines how Qatar’s involvement in Gaza ceasefires and hostage negotiations, Saudi and Emirati mediation efforts in Sudan, and broader Gulf engagement in the Horn
Iran is Down, Not Out
In this episode of MEnbar, Marc Owen Jones speaks with Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and Africa Programme in Chatham House, about the Twelve Day War between Israel and Iran and its impacts on Iran’s nuclear program. Vakil discusses the implications of these attacks on Iran’s domestic policies, its deterrence strategies, and the future of the Axis of Resistance amidst growing uncertainty
Security Dynamics in the Gulf Region
In this episode of MEnbar, Marc Owen Jones speaks with Rory Miller, Professor of International Politics at Georgetown University in Qatar and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the ME Council, about the evolving security landscape of the Gulf. Miller explores both traditional threats and emerging non-conventional dangers, as well as the ways external actors are reshaping the region’s strategic environm
Arab Barometer Insights: How Gaza Shapes Regional Views
In this episode of MEnbar, in partnership with the Arab Barometer, host Marc Owen Jones welcomes Michael Robbins, Director and Co-Principal Investigator of the Arab Barometer, to discuss how the war in Gaza has shaped public opinion and regional dynamics in the Middle East. Robbins unpacks the latest Arab Barometer Wave report and examines the different regional perceptions towards the US, China,
Building a Unified Army in a Fractured Syria
In this episode of MEnbar, Marc Owen Jones speaks with Haid Haid, non-resident senior fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, about efforts to unify Syria’s fragmented armed factions into a national defense force. Haid examines the realities of paramilitary groups such as HTS and the SDF, the deep-rooted mistrust and ideological divides that hinder unity, and the spoiling effects of e
Economic Fallout of the Israel-Iran War on the Gulf
In this episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones welcomes Frédéric Schneider, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, to discuss the economic aftershocks of the Iran-Israel war and their implications for the Gulf. Schneider examines pressure on diversification efforts, investor uncertainty, and capital outflows, while also assessing the fragility of the Gulf’s reli
Shifting Dynamics of Gulf–Asia Relations
In this episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones welcomes Adel Abdel Ghafar, Fellow and Director of the Foreign Policy Program at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, to explore the shifting dynamics of Gulf–Asia relations. Ghafar discusses China's growing influence across the Middle East, including its role in energy and infrastructure, arms sales, and advancements in emerging technologi
Qatar’s Next Energy Chapter
In this episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones is joined by Justin Dargin, a senior visiting fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs. They discuss his contribution to the dossier, “Carbon Emissions Reduction Strategies for Qatar,” focusing on his chapter titled “LNG Giant and Solar Dreams: Qatar’s Next Energy Chapter.” Dargin explores Qatar’s strategic approach to energy and climate d
USAID in MENA: A Requiem
In this episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones speaks with ME Council fellows Robert P. Beschel Jr. and Paul Dyer about their recent policy note, “USAID in MENA: A Requiem.” They explore the sudden dismantling of USAID operations under the Trump administration and its wide-ranging effects on humanitarian aid, economic development, and civil society in the MENA. Focusing on countries like Jordan,
Syria’s future after Assad
In this episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones welcomes Nader Kabbani, Senior Fellow and Director of Research at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, to analyze the suddencollapse of the Assad regime and its aftermath. Kabbani explores the economic and institutional decay that led to Assad’s downfall, the military’s rapid dissolution, and the evolving role of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria’s
The Paradox of Trust in the Military in MENA
In this episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones is joined by Yasmina Abouzzohour, a nonresident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs and a fellow and lecturer in politics at Princeton University. They discuss her co-authored issue brief, “The Paradox of Trust in the Military in the Middle East and North Africa” where Abouzzohour examines the surprisingly high trust in military insti
Shifting Landscape of Middle East Cooperation
In this episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones welcomes Galip Dalay, a nonresident senior fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, to explore the shifting landscape of Middle East cooperation. Dalay discusses regional integration efforts, from the Abraham Accords to the Development Road project, and examines how the war in Ukraine, the war on Gaza, and the shifting global order are s
The Future of Iran's Nuclear Program
In this episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones is joined by Hamidreza Azizi, a nonresident fellow at the ME Council, to discuss his latest publication, "Iran’s Shifting Discourse on Nuclear Weaponization: Bargaining Tactic or Doctrine Change?" Azizi discusses the evolution of Iran's nuclear rhetoric, military doctrine, and forward defense strategies. He also explores regional challenges, the impa
Shifting Public Opinion in the Arab World
This episode of MEnbar, recorded during the Doha Forum 2024, features Amaney Jamal, the Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and co-principal investigator of the Arab Barometer project. Jamal provides an in-depth look at the Arab Barometer's critical work, which captures Arab public opinion on the region's political, social, and economic issues. She unpacks findings fr
The Future of Reform in the Arab World - Doha Forum Special
Recorded on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2024, this special episode of MEnbar features Nadim Houry, the executive director of the Arab Reform Initiative (ARI). Houry shares insights from his career as a human rights advocate and reflects on the evolving challenges of translating grassroots activism into actionable policies and the role of civil society. He explores the ARI's unique approach to
Somalia's Path to Peace
In this episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owens Jones welcomes Afyare A. Elmi, a non-resident Senior Fellow and the author of "Engaging Al-Shabaab in Somalia: Military Failures and the Merits of Dialogue", published by the ME Council. Elmi speaks on the conflict in Somalia, the evolution of Al-Shabab, the potential/obstacles for negotiations, and the role of external actors. Looking ahead, He outlines
AI Chips: The New Oil?
In this episode host Marc Owen Jones welcomes June Park, a Visiting Fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, to discuss her latest publication, “AI Competition Amid Expansion of U.S. AI Chip Export Controls into the Gulf.” Park explores why AI chips are being called the "new oil" and their role in the Gulf states’ economic diversification efforts. She also examines the geopolitical dyn
Breaking Down Israel's War Strategy
In the second episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones welcomes Omar H. Rahman, a fellow at ME Council and the editor of Akfar, the council’s online publication providing insights and analysis on current events in the region. Rahman talks about Israel’s evolving strategy in Gaza, and the impact on regional dynamics, from Hamas’ resistance to rising tensions with Lebanon and Iran. He shares insights
HAMAS: The Quest for Power
In the first episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones welcomes Beverley Milton-Edwards, a non-resident Senior Fellow and the co-author of "Hamas: The Quest for Power". Beverley shares valuable insights into the complex political landscape surrounding Hamas, discussing the organization’s evolving ideology and influence. She offers a nuanced perspective on the War on Gaza, the potential for a ceasefi
Introducing MEnbar
MEnbar is a podcast from the Middle East Council on Global Affairs. It's a space for research-based discussions on policy-relevant topics, showcasing the expertise of our fellows and network of experts.
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