Afleveringen
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We're excited to relaunch Middle East Focus with an insightful conversation featuring MEI's new CEO, Amb. Stuart Jones. In this episode, hosted by MEI's Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj, Ambassador Jones shares his perspectives on the second Trump administration's foreign policy approach, the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape in the region, and Iraq's place in the developing order. Drawing from his extensive experience in both diplomacy and the private sector, he also explores emerging US-Middle East business partnerships and cooperation in AI and technology. Tune in to this discussion and be sure to join us every Thursday for new episodes of Middle East Focus.
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Turkey has plunged into turmoil after authorities arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Ä°mamoÄlu, President ErdoÄan's strongest opponent, on charges of corruption. Mass protests, the largest in over a decade, have erupted nationwide after Ä°mamoÄlu was removed from office and jailed just hours before the opposition was set to declare him its presidential candidate.
Political scientists warn this is a defining moment for the future of democracy in the country. Is it indeed a turning point? How did we get here and where do we go next?
In this episode of Rethinking Democracy, experts break down Turkey's latest turmoil and what it means for the country's democratic future and democracy worldwide.
Dr. Karabekir Akkoyunlu, research associate at the Department of Politics and International Studies at SOAS University of London, and Dr. Senem Aydın DĂŒzgit, professor of International Relations at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Sabancı University in Istanbul, join host GönĂŒl Tol to explore the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead for Turkey.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Note: We're excited to announce that 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' is moving to its own channel! Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts to continue following the show.
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Middle East Focus Presents: âTaking the Edge Off the Middle Eastâ with Brian Katulis
A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today â hosted by MEIâs Senior Fellow Brian Katulis.
In this episode, Brian is joined by former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, who recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East. They discuss the Trump administrationâs early approach to the region in its second term, including its handling of Iran, Gaza, and regional normalization efforts. Drawing on his decades of experience across the NSC, State Department, and Pentagon, Dan shares his candid assessments of whatâs working, whatâs not, and whatâs still unsettled. He also reflects on his own career path and what young people interested in U.S. foreign policy can learn from decades of peacemaking efforts.
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Middle East Focus Presents: âTaking the Edge Off the Middle East,' a series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEIâs Senior Fellow Brian Katulis.
Ibrahim Dalalsha, founder and director of Horizon Center for Political Studies and Media Outreach, and Shira Efron, research director at the Israel Policy Forum, join host Brian Katulis to discuss policy developments in the devastating war between Israel and Hamas, and how Israelis and Palestinians can work together toward a peaceful resolution of conflict.
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Renowned poet, producer, and New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander joins guest host Lyne Sneige to discuss the power of storytelling and the intersection of art and social change. Looking back on his recent experience speaking at the 2024 Riyadh International Book Fair in Saudi Arabia, Alexander shares his reflections on the Kingdom's literary scene, the growing appetite for global narratives, and how books and poetry can serve as bridges between cultures.
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Middle East Focus Presents: âTaking the Edge Off the Middle Eastâ with Brian Katulis.
A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEIâs Senior Fellow Brian Katulis.
Barbara A. Leaf is a seasoned diplomat and expert on the Middle East, having served as the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and held key positions in US embassies across the region. In this episode, Barbara joins Brian to discuss the array of âblack swanâ events currently unfolding in the Middle East, and how the second Trump administration may respond to these challenges. They discuss the broader implications of these developments for US foreign policy, national security, and regional stability. -
For the first time in decades, the question of how Syria will be governed is wide open. The fall of Bashar al-Assadâs regime at the hands of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an armed Islamist group with former ties to al-Qaeda, has left Syria in uncharted territory. Its de facto leader, Ahmed Al Shaara, has pledged a vision of a pluralistic Syria governed by civil institutions rather than dictatorship or ideology.
But can Syriaâs new rulers deliver on that promise? Will this moment mark the beginning of an inclusive, secular democracy, or will Islamist rule take hold? And can Syriaâs fractured societyâdivided by years of war and sectarian tensionsâunite around a new national identity?
Dr. Olivier Roy, Professor of Political Science at the European University Institute, and Ziad Majed, Professor of International Relations at the American University of Paris, join host Gonul Tol to explore the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead for Syria.
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Middle East Focus Presents: âTaking the Edge Off the Middle Eastâ with Brian Katulis.
A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEIâs Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy, Brian Katulis.
Norman T. Roule is a member of MEI's Iran Program Advisory Council. Roule served for 34-years in the Central Intelligence Agency, where his service included roles as Division Chief and Chief of Station at the CIAâs Directorate of Operations. He joins Brian to discuss the state of an ideologically contested Middle East, as well as the opportunities and challenges following the fall of the Assad regime. -
The war in Gaza continues as the Biden administration nears its end, leaving President-elect Donald Trump with a vastly different Middle East from the one he inherited in his first term. Khaled Elgindy, Director of the Palestine & Palestinian-Israeli Affairs program at MEI, is joined by Tamara Kharroub and Daniel Levy to discuss Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, the fragile cease-fire talks, and the potential shifts in US policy with Donald Trump's return to the White House. What does this mean for Palestinians and Israelis, and how might the Trump administration reshape the future of the region?
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Following more than a year of turmoil and transformative changes reshaping the Middle East, the region witnessed another shock with the downfall of the Assad familyâs 54-year rule over Syria last weekend. The rapid collapse was triggered by a lightning rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a former affiliate of al-Qaeda.
This on-the-record briefing featured Amb. (ret.) Ryan Crocker, career diplomat with the US Foreign Service. His previous appointments included US Ambassador to Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Lebanon; as well as Charles Lister, Senior Fellow and Director of MEIâs Syria and Countering Terrorism & Extremism programs.
Our experts discussed what the fall of Bashar al-Assad means for Syria and the region, the international communityâs assessment of the Syrian conflict, what this development portends for Iranâs âAxis of Resistanceâ in the Levant, the influence of regional powers in Syria, and the future of US policy toward the region.
This is a special presentation of the latest installment of our Virtual Briefing Series. This episode was recorded on December 10, 2024. -
About the series: This is a critical year for the future of democracy. Half the worldâs population will go to the polls in 2024, at a time when citizens in America and across the globe are losing faith in democratic institutions. We often view the rollback of democracy and threats to the liberal international order as separate problems, but in reality they are closely interlinked. Through a new limited podcast series, MEIâs Gonul Tol seeks to examine the interplay between democracyâs domestic and international foes as well as how to counter them.
In this episode: Last month, the US electorate voted President-Elect Donald Trump back into the White House. His victory was seen by some experts as part of a global trend and a move towards anti-incumbency attitudes and populism.How will Trumpâs rhetoric impact the United States domestically and internationally? Will he govern as a strongman during his second term? What can we expect to be different from his first term?
Dr. Larry Diamond, Mosbacher Senior Fellow of Global Democracy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University and author of Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency, and Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University and author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, join host Gonul Tol to discuss Trumpâs election.
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MEI Senior Fellow for Israeli Affairs Nimrod Goren and Associate Research Professor Ilai Saltzman discuss potential shifts in US policy, the outlook for Israeli politics in 2025, and the challenges to advancing peace on the Israeli-Palestinian front. Tune in for expert insights on what lies ahead.
*This episode was recorded on November 13, 2024.
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Wednesday, November 20, marks a somber anniversary for Ukraine: 1,000 days since Russiaâs full-scale invasion of the country. Though the Ukrainians continue to hold out with Western assistance against Russian attacks, the past two-and-a-half years have been devastating for the country and its people. Ukraine now faces another winter at war as momentum appears to be shifting in Russiaâs favor. What can the US and its allies do to ensure hostilities end as favorably as possible to Ukraine and in line with American strategic national interests?
Former NATO SACEUR Gen. Philip M. Breedlove and MEI Senior Fellow Dr. Iulia-Sabina Joja join host Matthew Czekaj to discuss the state of the conflict and whatâs at stake for the region and the global community.
Note: This conversation was recorded Nov. 4. -
Middle East Focus Presents: âTaking the Edge Off the Middle Eastâ with Brian Katulis
A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEIâs Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy Brian Katulis.
Steven A. Cook, Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, sits down with Brian to discuss his latest book âThe End of Ambition,â their policy outlook with the incoming Trump Administration, and deteriorating discourse in Washington policy circles.
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Middle East Focus Presents: âTaking the Edge Off the Middle Eastâ with Brian Katulis
A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEIâs Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy Brian Katulis.
Danielle Pletka, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, sits down with Brian to discuss how she made the jump from journalism to policy, her views on the Iraq War, and the need for strong leadership in US-MENA foreign policy.
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Over the past month, Iran and its regional network of allies and proxies - the Axis of Resistance - has suffered a string of dramatic losses and defeats. What is the future of the Axis and its members, and what can the US and its allies do to confront and disrupt this Iranian-led network?
MEI Managing Editor Matthew Czekaj speaks to Meir Javedanfar and Alex Vatanka on Iran's role in keeping its network of proxies together and the conflicting interests that may force the country to rethink its antagonistic regional strategy.
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Over the past month, Iran and its regional network of allies and proxies - The Axis of Resistance - has suffered a string of dramatic losses and defeats. What is the future of the Axis and its members, and what can the US and its allies do to confront and disrupt this Iranian-led network?
MEI Managing Editor Matthew Czekaj speaks to Randa Slim, Charles Lister, and Fatima Abo Alasrar about Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis - and how the Gaza war has affected standing in the region.
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Gen. Khalil Helou and Dr. Paul Salem speak with MEI's US-Lebanon Fellow Fadi Nicholas Nassar on the unraveling Israel-Hezbollah conflict, the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces during this critical moment, and the prospects of a political solution in Lebanon and the wider region.
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Director of MEIâs Arabian Peninsula Program Gerald Feierstein speaks to scholars Nadwa Al-Dawsari and Fatima Abo Alasrar as they reflect on the tenth anniversary of Yemenâs civil war.
Itâs been ten years since the Houthis seized control of the capital of Sanaa, beginning a cycle of fighting that continues on and off to this day. What happened, what is the current state of the conflict, and where might the country be headed?
*Note: this episode was recorded on Sept. 26, 2024.
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About the series: This is a critical year for the future of democracy. Half the worldâs population will go to the polls in 2024, at a time when citizens in America and across the globe are losing faith in democratic institutions. We often view the rollback of democracy and threats to the liberal international order as separate problems, but in reality they are closely interlinked. Through a new limited podcast series, MEIâs Gonul Tol seeks to examine the interplay between democracyâs domestic and international foes as well as how to counter them.
In this episode: China has made significant inroads in the Middle East through diplomacy, trade, investment, and infrastructure projects. Beijing advertises the benefits of its authoritarian development model and presents itself as a responsible alternative to the United States. What does this mean for MENA autocracies?
Dr. F. Gregory Gause and Dr. Jon Alterman join Gonul Tol to discuss Chinaâs growing presence in the Middle East.
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