Zionism, the political movement to create a Jewish state in Palestine, has had an immense impact on the modern history of the Middle East. But what were its theoretical foundations, and in what political context did it take shape?

In this new episode of Kalam Shorts, Sam and Edgar discuss the roots of Zionism, starting from Theodor Herzl’s (1860-1904) The Jewish State (Der Judenstaat) from 1896 — the book which launched Zionism as a political movement. This episode will be the first of several exploring the different forms of Zionism which have appeared over the last 130 years.

To gain access to the full episode, join the Kalam Community at patreon.com/kalampodcast for just $3 a month.

For continuous updates on the podcast and historic perspectives on the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

What is Settler Colonialism, and can it be applied to Israel? In this instalment of Kalam Shorts, Sam and Edgar explore this terminology and talk about the French Jewish scholar, Maxime Rodinson, and his seminal 1967 work, "Israel: A Settler Colonial State?"

To gain access to the full episode, join the Kalam Community at patreon.com/kalampodcast for just $3 a month.

For continuous updates on the podcast and historic perspectives on the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

The death and destruction, wrought by Israel's bloody war in Gaza has been highly publicised and discussed, rightly so. But what about the day to day lives of those who survive?

How do women manage menstrual cycles when fleeing bombardment and living in refugee camps with tens of thousands of strangers?

In today's episode, Edgar speaks with 23 year old Donia Ashour, a translator from Gaza who had recently graduated with a degree in English Literature when the war began on October 7.

Back in October, Edgar interviewed Donia for Swedish Radio when she was still living in a refugee camp in Khan Younis. Today, she and her family managed to escape to Cairo.

For continuous updates and posts about Middle Eastern history, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast. If you want to support us, you can do so by joining the Kalam Community at patreon.com/kalampodcast

The Eurovision finals were held in Malmö on May 11 2024, and because of Israel's participation huge demonstrations were organised. Tens of thousands are estimated to have marched in Malmö on the days preceding the finals.

An alternative song contest was also organised, Falastinvision: "The genocide free song contest". Edgar travelled to Malmö and attended Falastinvision, where the Palestinian pop artist Bashar Murad performed.

This is a KALAM 5ASA instalment, a feature episode of the Kalam podcast. The regularly scheduled episodes released on Thursdays will not be affected.

For continuous updates and posts about Middle Eastern history, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast. If you want to support us, you can do so by joining the Kalam Community at patreon.com/kalampodcast

A democratic Egypt is impossible without a liberated Palestine and vice versa. This is the argument put forth by the Egyptian writer, researcher and DJ, Nihal El Aasar. Nihal is a member of the London branch of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), where she lives.

In today's episode, Nihal speaks to Edgar about why the West has a vested interest in keeping Egypt's government authoritarian and anti-Democratic, as well as the ecumenical nature of the term Arab - before the creation of the state of Israel.

For continuous updates on Kalam, as well as biographical introductions to historical figures in the Middle East, follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast

If you'd like to support Kalam you can do so by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/kalampodcast for just 3 USD a month. There, you'll gain access to full length interviews with all our guests and our new series, Kalam Shorts - 10 to 15 minute explainers of important terminology like Orientalism, Zionism and Settler Colonialism.

Are Edgar and Sam, the two white men behind Kalam, actually orientalists? Listen to find out!

In this first instalment of Kalam Shorts, Middle Eastern scholar Samuel Carlshamre discusses Edward Said's seminal book Orientalism. What is it about, and what do his critics say?

Kalam Shorts are 10-15 minute explainers of terminology important to understand when studying and learning about the Middle East. This first episode is free but coming Kalam Shorts will only be available for our Patreon supporters (subscribe via patreon.com/kalampodcast). Upcoming shorts will look at topics like Settler Colonialism, the Kuffieh and Zionism.

Included in the shorts is a literature guide for further study!

Follow us on Instagram at @kalampodcast

Across the United States and increasingly in Western Europe, students are establishing encampments on university campuses. Encampments in solidarity with Palestine. Students want to protest against the ongoing war on Gaza and to demand that their institutions divest from Israel.

In today's episode Iraqi writer, poet and literary scholar, Sinan Antoon, speaks to Edgar about this movement and its implications for the broader movement to liberate Palestine. Sinan is an Associate Professor at NYU in New York City and was arrested by the NYPD for peacefully protesting.

For continuous updates on the podcast and on all things Palestine and Middle East, follow us on instagram @kalampodcast

If you want to support independent, in-depth journalism on Palestine and the Middle East, you can do so by joining our Patreon community, at patreon.com/kalampodcast

The Palestinian-Egyptian journalist Youmna El Sayed was for many people the media face of the war on Gaza.

Soon she found herself in the surreal position of reporting on the same calamities she was facing herself. She and her husband and children have been displaced several times and at times did not have enough food or water. She has since chosen to evacuate Gaza for the sake of her kids. At the moment, she’s travelling the Western world, advocating for the Palestinian cause.

Follow us on social media @kalampodcast for updates about the show and information on Palestine and the Middle East.

Support independent journalism about the Middle East and Palestine by joining our Patreon community. For just 3 USD a month you will gain access to full length interviews and bonus content.