Between Conflict and Coexistence: Refugee-Host Dynamics in Ghobeiry
In this podcast, Carlos Naffah speaks with LCPS researcher Rasha Akel about the dynamics between Syrian refugees and Lebanese returnees in Ghobeiry, a municipality in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Naffah discusses a study he conducted after the 2023 conflict which explores how these two communities—both impacted by displacement and economic hardship—navigate coexistence in a strained environment. Through interviews with local residents, authorities, and civil society actors, the study reveals a complex reality marked by both tension and interdependence.*The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung or its Lebanon Office.
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12:31
Unpacking Inequality: Poverty, Policy, and Lebanon’s Economic Crisis
Walid Marrouch discusses with LCPS Senior Economic Researcher Lina Maddah the pressing issues of poverty and income inequality in Lebanon. Drawing from recent research and data, the conversation explores the impact of Lebanon's ongoing economic crisis, the role of governance and public policy, and the urgent reforms needed to protect vulnerable populations—especially young people.Walid Marouch is a professor of economics at the Lebanese American University (LAU) and a research fellow at the Economic Research Forum. His extensive research covers environmental economics, applied microeconomics, and development economics. He has published widely on poverty and economic sustainability in Lebanon and the broader MENA region.
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15:12
War, Crisis, and Emigration in Lebanon
Jasmin Lilian Diab speaks with LCPS researcher Christelle Barakat about the intersecting impacts of conflict, economic collapse, and political paralysis on emigration from Lebanon. The conversation examines the structural and immediate drivers of departure, the growth of irregular migration routes, and the policy challenges these trends present.Jasmin Lilian Diab is the Director of the Institute for Migration Studies at the Lebanese American University and an Assistant Professor specializing in migration and identity. She has held prestigious fellowships and visiting positions at institutions like Sciences Po Lyon, Brown University, York University, and the United Nations University, among others. Her research and work have received notable recognition, including the Lisa Gilad Prize in 2025 and multiple research grants. Diab has contributed extensively to the field through over 100 consultancies for UN agencies and humanitarian organizations, focusing on conflict, displacement, gender, and humanitarian planning. She also serves on editorial boards of several academic journals in the fields of migration, sociology, and humanitarian studies.
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17:46
MSMEs and the Energy Transition: The Lebanon Case Study
Marc Ayoub and Ahmad Diab discuss with LCPS researcher Rasha Akel the role of Lebanon’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country’s clean energy transition. Drawing on a year-long LCPS mixed-methods study conducted between October 2023 and July 2024, the conversation explores how MSMEs have adapted to overlapping crises—from economic collapse to energy shortages—by embracing renewable energy solutions. The episode highlights key findings, challenges, and policy recommendations aimed at supporting MSMEs as drivers of sustainable change in Lebanon.
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Energy Transitions in the Context of Crises: The Cases of Lebanon and Sudan
Muez Ali discusses with Rasha Akel the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to renewable energy in Lebanon and Sudan amid economic and political turmoil.Muez Ali is a Research and Policy Lead at Earthna: Center for a Sustainable Future at Qatar Foundation, an Honorary Research Fellow at the Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources at UCL, London and an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University in Qatar.يناقش معز علي مع رشا عاقل تحديات وفرص التحوّل إلى الطاقة المتجددة في لبنان والسودان وسط الاضطرابات الاقتصادية والسياسية. معز علي هو مسؤول الأبحاث والسياسات في مركز "إرثنا" التابع لمؤسسة قطر الذي يُعنى بتعزيز مستقبل مستدام، وهو زميل باحث فخري في كلية بارتليت للبيئة والطاقة والموارد في كلية لندن الجامعية، وأستاذ مساعد في جامعة جورج تاون في قطر.
Alternative Frequencies | غيّر الموجة is a new bilingual podcast by the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies - a Beirut-based, independent, and non-profit research organization - dropping new episodes every Tuesday at 5PM (UTC+3).
Recognizing a renewed interest in understanding the factors that led Lebanon into its overlapping crises, and wanting to discuss ways to move forward during these uncertain times, LCPS brings you informed 30-minute conversations with experts, scholars and activists on a range of pressing issues that concern all those interested in Lebanon and its ongoing developments.
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