Altamar - Navigating the High Seas of Global Politics
237 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago - ★★★★★ - 57 ratingsAltamar is dedicated to curating an informative discussion on how global issues impact all of us. The show avoids the typical Washingtonian US bias and talks about accelerating changes from a global perspective by featuring diverse guests on a range of foreign policy topics. We aim to rise above the polarization that detracts from the public’s understanding of crucial global issues. Hosted by political analyst Peter Schechter and columnist Muni Jensen.
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Episodes
Is Non-Alignment Dead? The Case for Countries Not Picking a Side [S6, E11]
June 02, 2023 04:00 - 38 minutes - 35 MBIn a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, alliances are changing fast. The US, Russia, and China are using their influence to rally support from previously neutral countries. Increasingly, nations -- especially developing nations -- are forced to pick a side. Is non-alignment possible in an increasingly polarized world? Who are the fence sitters, and how long can they hedge their bets? The Altamar hosts are joined by Matias Spektor, founder and professor at the School of Internationa...
Great Britain’s Identity Crisis [S6, E10]
May 19, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBSeveral years into Brexit, the country has not found its footing politically, economically, and in its very soul. The UK is working to rebuild relationships with Europe while dealing with renewed calls for independence from Scotland and Northern Ireland. The economy has fared better than expected, even though inflation has resulted in a deep cost-of-living crisis. Rising economic inequality and anti-immigration sentiments add to the uncertainty. The Altamar hosts are joined by Jon Sopel, f...
NATO Veers North [S6, E9]
May 05, 2023 04:00 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBMoscow’s invasion of Ukraine eroded the concept of neutrality as an effective policy in a polarized world. That’s especially true for countries in close geographic proximity to Russia. Recently, Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, ending 100 years of neutrality. With 830 miles of border between Russia and Finland, NATO’s newest addition changes the strategic balance in Europe. These major geopolitical shifts are likely to outlast the actual Russian invasion of Ukraine. Wha...
The Mexican Paradox [S6, E8]
April 21, 2023 04:00 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBThese days, Mexico is one contradiction after another. For example, President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador – or AMLO, as he is called – declared a rhetorical war on the private sector, yet the economy is holding on pretty well – at least for now. On the tourism front, it’s one of the world’s booming tourist destinations, despite travel advisories warning of drugs and crime at popular destinations. And on trade, the government is on a protectionist streak, yet the North American Free Trade Agr...
The Future of Work is Now [S6, E7]
April 07, 2023 04:00 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBCOVID-19 turned many workplaces and schools into virtual or hybrid environments. Artificial intelligence has become part of daily life with new products such as Chat GPT. The UK just had a hugely successful 4-day workweek trial. With all of these new developments, what is the future of work? But not every industry or every country will transform in the same way. We discuss what skills are needed, where and how we work, who will be the winners and losers, and, of course, how much of the world...
Nigeria: Trading Votes or Deeper Democracy [S6, E6]
March 24, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBNigeria’s presidential vote constituted one of the most closely watched and significant elections of the year. One of the world’s top oil producers, Nigeria has suffered political and economic upheaval since its independence from the UK in 1960. In lead up to this election, young people were galvanized, and many hoped for change. But then, the election was defined by a small margin, low turnout, and rampant corruption. There were widespread accounts of voter irregularities, sporadic violence...
Why Greece? The Curious Case of Country Rankings [S6, E5]
March 10, 2023 05:00 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBCountry rankings – whether it’s about the economy, democracy, or environmental standards – are important for a country’s reputation. The Economist produces its annual Economic Rankings, which look at several economic factors to assess economic stability. Since COVID, the process of “measuring” countries has been turned upside down. The 2022 Economist Economic Ranking is a good example of the confusion. In the ranking, Turkey, on the verge of dictatorship and with sky-high inflation, ranks we...
Open Source Intelligence: What is it, and why should you (really) care? [S6, E4]
February 24, 2023 05:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBOSINT is the gathering and analysis of publicly available data from unlimited and all-encompassing sources. This new tool is shaping the frontlines of war, terror, and other geopolitical threats. Open Source Intelligence is a tool, and like any tool, its purpose and morality depend on how it’s used. Analysts use open sources to find illegal activity and identify threats. Bad actors use it to plan and target networks through hacking and cyberterrorism. Ukraine has used geo-location from Rus...
Spotlight on Biodiversity [S6, E3]
February 10, 2023 05:00 - 34 minutes - 32.2 MBBiodiversity is crucial for our planet’s food security, climate resilience, supply chains, and our economy. Half of global GDP relies on nature. Governments are scrambling to create policies on conservation – is it too little too late? Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity. It has growing economic value as most industries rely on healthy ecosystems. Companies are paying closer attention to biodiversity and ...
Breakdown in Brazil [S6, E2]
January 27, 2023 05:00 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBNews around the world centered on the violent protests in Brazil by those who rejected election results and sought to overthrow the government following the presidential transition (sound familiar?). The riots were – at best – a collapse of military preparedness or – at worst – included the help and connivance of the military and business elites. How stable is Brazil? Will another shoe drop? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Ricardo Sennes, a political analyst an...
Everything Energy [S6, E1]
January 13, 2023 05:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MB2022 put energy in the headlines nearly every day. The list of interlocking energy issues is huge: Europe’s spiraling prices and gas shortages, the war in Ukraine and the cutoff of Russia’s oil and gas from world markets, canceling Nordstream 2, the rift between the US and the Saudis, COP 27 and the green energy transition to renewables are only a few of the issues that will spill over into this new year. – to name just a few. Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Da...
Megatrends 2022 [S5, E26]
December 30, 2022 05:00 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBThe big issues of our time transcend borders, countries, and geographies. This past year, power has become more diffuse. Many leading western countries are stifled by crises and polarization. New players are asserting themselves, taking a slice of the power pie. We identified eight macrotrends: shifting demographics, economic uncertainty, China’s stagnation, the green energy transition, the uncertain future of tech, the rise of Africa, ‘everything-washing,’ and women’s rights. What’s Tom F...
#Soccerpolitics [S5, E25]
December 16, 2022 05:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBAs the first championship in the Middle East, the Qatar World Cup is both historic and controversial. Notwithstanding numerous bribing allegations, Qatar was selected as the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup. And the political controversies have been on full display during the Cup – from LGBTQ rights to Iran’s protests, the world was watching. Are these political debates the new normal? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Nick Sprague, a sports...
Bibi’s Extreme Comeback [S5, E24]
December 02, 2022 05:00 - 34 minutes - 32 MBIsrael's longest-serving Prime Minister – Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu – is back with a new strategy. This time, Bibi aligned himself with hard-right extremist parties to clinch a victory in a narrow election. His new allies are the ultra-nationalist Religious Zionist Party, who have expressed racist and homophobic propaganda. Will this new coalition add even more instability to this historically tumultuous region? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Gil Tamary, Chief ...
Midterm Mayhem [S5, E23]
November 17, 2022 05:00 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MBThere was a lot at stake in the American midterm elections. The loss of the House will greatly impact Biden’s ability to accomplish his agenda in his last two years as president. But, Republicans did not win nearly as big as expected. The red wave was a fizzle. Democrats held on in important races and some unexpected upsets that led to doubts about Trump’s capacity to endorse candidates. What are the elections’ key takeaways? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Pau...
Lula Strikes Back [S5, E22]
November 04, 2022 04:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MBThe Brazilian presidential election was a bickering, contentious and rancorous race between two opposing views of Brazil. Lula and Bolsonaro have dominated the country’s political story for over a decade, one a veteran politician with allegations of corruption, both beloved and criticized. The other an autocratic, right-wing populist with little regard for institutions. After a brutal and dirty campaign, leftist leader Lula emerged as the winner by a narrow margin. Will Bolsonaro respect th...
Germany in the Crossfire [S5, E21]
October 21, 2022 04:00 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBShifting realities following Russia’s invasion have put Berlin in a tough position. Germany’s long history of trade and business with Russia has placed it deep into the crossfires of this conflict. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is facing an energy crisis and a difficult governing coalition at home while being criticized for not doing enough to help Ukraine. How is Germany’s relatively new Chancellor handling these new dynamic threats? How will Russia’s war change Germany? And what’s next for Europe...
Italy’s Right Turn [S5, E20]
October 07, 2022 04:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBGiorgia Meloni will be Italy’s first woman leader and first rightwing Prime Minister since WWII. The rise of the Brothers of Italy party is a case study in the continued prominence of culture war politics and the implosion of centrist parties. Just how radical will Meloni’s government be? The country progressing under the steady, technocratic and respected leadership of Mario Draghi has just done a shocking U-turn. Italy just elected a coalition under the leadership of the far-right Brot...
Buses Fuel the Migration Fire [S5, E19]
September 23, 2022 04:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBImmigration seems unsolvable in the United States. The number of immigrants crossing the border has been spiking since at least 2013, haunting several presidents. The Trump administration was criticized for being inhumane. The Biden administration took a friendlier stance, but border traffic has increased exponentially. To make a political point and burnish their right-wing credentials, the Republican governors of Texas and Arizona (and now Florida) are sending tens of thousands of migrants ...
Marshall Plan 2.0 [S5, E18]
September 09, 2022 04:00 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MBWestern nations are struggling to cope with the onslaught of international and national crises from climate to a tide of authoritarianism. Developing countries have an even harder time as they face greater inequality with fewer resources to help their citizens. Government and international bodies have been unable to find lasting solutions to the economic, social, and political tensions. It’s time for bold ideas and strategic action. Lord Mark Malloch Brown, former UN deputy secretary general...
Monkeypolitics [S5, E17]
August 26, 2022 04:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBThe emergence of Monkeypox stress-tested the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic – and, again, the world is failing the challenge. Health institutions seem unprepared to deal with this new health scare, especially one that targets a stigmatized minority and involves complicated national security issues around vaccine stockpiles. As a result, information from health authorities around the world is uneven, and the responsibility has fallen largely on the global media to report on spre...
Nuclear South Asia: The World’s Third Tripwire [S5, E16]
August 12, 2022 04:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBIn 1947, free from British control, India and Pakistan split based on religious majorities – Hindu and Muslim. Soon thereafter, the two countries went to war over control of the Jammu and Kashmir provinces. Since then, the conflict escalated into confrontations on multiple fronts, with global implications. After all, both countries are nuclear powers. What is on the horizon with shifting global alliances (think: the US and China)? After Ukraine and Taiwan, is this region the world’s third tr...
The End of Trade [S5, E15]
July 29, 2022 04:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBThe term “free trade” has fallen out of favor in recent years. Trade disputes, economic uncertainty, and a growing income gap have stoked a global protectionist fire. Nationalist parties across the world have flourished on a trade-unfriendly agenda. Latin American leaders run campaigns on “renegotiating” trade agreements. The Trump Administration’s loud anti-trade agenda, which led to the US leaving the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and an average 25% tariff on goods produced in China have prov...
Storm Clouds in Africa [S5, E14]
July 15, 2022 04:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBBy 2050, Africa’s population will double; by 2100, one of three people on the globe will be African. While it’s hard to generalize in a continent so diverse, Africa has seen a lot of progress over the past twenty years. Economic growth and manufacturing expanded. Infrastructure was built. Social services such as education and healthcare improved. Millions were pulled out of poverty in countries like Kenya and Tanzania in the East and Nigeria and Ivory Coast in the West. However, new threats ...
Colombia Ousts the Center [S5, E13]
July 01, 2022 04:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBThis is the first time that the left will rule in this democracy of 50 million historically conservative people, who have now expressed a deep desire for change. Gustavo Petro, a controversial former guerrilla, congressman, and Mayor, beat a rich and eccentric populist who ran from the right. Petro promises a radical transformation of Colombia’s economic model. Can he deliver? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Miguel Silva, advisor, author, lawyer, and former Sec...
Americas in Disarray [S5, E12]
June 17, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBThis Summit of the Americas only served to underscore the fractures on the continent. Instead of resetting its relations with Latin American countries, the US seemed further apart than ever from the continent. The hotly debated RSVP list left out some major players, such as Mexico’s President Lopez Obrador. With countries facing such different internal and external challenges, what is next for the hemisphere? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Luis Alberto Moreno...
The Globalization of Food Insecurity [S5, E11]
June 03, 2022 04:00 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MBGlobal food insecurity was already an issue. Years of heightened climate change cut global production by about 20%. Then, a war happened. Russia and Ukraine together normally account for almost a third of the global production of wheat and are the main providers of barley, sunflowers, and maize. Human Rights Watch has warned that many countries have seen disruptions in their imports of wheat, but also fertilizer, vegetable oils, and other key commodities. Let’s add to that the rising cost of...
The Globalization of Food Insecurity [S5, E1]
June 03, 2022 04:00 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MBGlobal food insecurity was already an issue. Years of heightened climate change cut global production by about 20%. Then, a war happened. Russia and Ukraine together normally account for almost a third of the global production of wheat and are the main providers of barley, sunflowers, and maize. Human Rights Watch has warned that many countries have seen disruptions in their imports of wheat, but also fertilizer, vegetable oils, and other key commodities. Let’s add to that the rising cost of...
Extreme Autocracy [S5, E10]
May 20, 2022 04:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBAs Russia escalates its merciless attack on Ukraine, there is much talk of a newly reunited West taking a collective position and presenting a strong front against Putin. But is consensus real? All over the world, we are seeing large percentages of voters embracing a populist candidate with autocratic tendencies. From Marine Le Pen in France, Duterte in the Philippines, and even the lingering political presence of Trump in the United States. Has democracy lost its appeal among voters? Alt...
Corporations Cancel Russia [S5, E9]
May 06, 2022 04:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBIn the first weeks of the war, we heard reports that brand after brand was closing their doors in Russia. Oil giants shut down their rigs, and tech companies unplugged their servers, sending workers home. Luxury good brands joined the exodus, sending powerful values-ridden press releases. The wave of global companies leaving Russia has not stopped. Taking a stance on political issues is an escalation of corporate behavior in the last decades, moving toward active corporate social responsibil...
Serbia in the Middle [S5, E8]
April 22, 2022 04:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBThe conservative Serbian Progressive Party easily won the elections at the presidential, parliamentary, and municipal levels. Vucic and his party have already ruled for over ten years. He stays in power with a comfortable mandate but with a difficult geopolitical agenda, stuck between Russia and the EU. Serbia has been an EU candidate since 2009 while also maintaining strong ties to Russia. The War in Ukraine puts Vucic in a difficult position. Serbia voted in favor of a UN resolution condem...
ASEAN Realigns [S5, E7]
April 08, 2022 04:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBImpressive economic growth and development made ASEAN an increasingly important geopolitical block. In the past few decades, China invested heavily in Southeast Asia through its Belt and Road Initiative and strengthened its ties with the ten countries. The result has been widespread economic growth, greater trade and investment flows, and growth in education and technology. Recently, the US, Japan, and Australia created a counterforce to China, building an agenda around climate change issues...
The Sanctions War [S5, E6]
March 25, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBThe economic sanctions are unprecedented in both size and scope. The strongest blow was dealt by freezing assets of Russia’s Central Bank and the largest Russian sovereign wealth fund. Without reserves, the ruble has fallen to historic lows. To further isolate Russia, many countries have expelled Russian banks from SWIFT services and have targeted specific sanctions on top banks, key Russian oligarchs, as well as on President Putin and his inner circle. No sanctions regime – including the ne...
After A Century of Egyptian Independence, It’s Still Complicated [S5, E5]
March 11, 2022 05:00 - 33 minutes - 31.2 MBEgypt’s revolt from Britain occurred decades before any other African or Asian country managed to throw off the yoke of British, French, Belgian, German colonial power. For years, this act of revolution propelled Egypt to a position of regional and global policy leadership – from its role as a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the pioneer of pan-Arabism, and, of course, the first country to make peace with Israel. Now, human rights abuses and restrictions of freedoms have placed t...
Sports or Politics? [S5, E4]
February 25, 2022 05:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBNow, countries with poor human rights records are using wealth to clean reputations and advance personal gain. Sportswashing - coined by Amnesty International in 2018- describes how countries clean their reputation by becoming the epicenter of global athletic events. Sportwashing is the newest example of the intertwining of sports and politics. And 2022 is shaping up to be one of the most politically charged sporting years in recent memory. Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are...
The Italian Job [S5, E3]
February 11, 2022 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBItalian Prime Minister Draghi, former European Central Bank head, managed to keep the country’s economy growing, its vaccine calendar in check, and his popularity strong both at home and abroad. Italy has also managed 248 billion Euros in recovery granted by the ECB. Even though The Economist’s prize of “Country of the Year” prize was not very competitive this year, Italy’s 2021 track record is surprisingly good. Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Arturo Zampaglion...
Europe's Extreme Right: How Real is The Threat? [S5, E2]
January 28, 2022 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBExtreme right-wing ideology is spreading. As France prepares for presidential elections in April, two candidates on the far-right are vying to replace current centrist President Emmanuel Macron. The right-wing darling Marine Le Pen and the even more extreme Eric Zemmour drive a daily political agenda of xenophobia, anti-globalization, anti-elites, and anti-immigration. This isn’t just a French phenomenon. Right-wing parties are becoming extremist in much of the West-- from Scandinavia to Spai...
The Rise of Latin America’s Young Progressives [S5, E1]
January 14, 2022 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBThe year ahead is a difficult one for Latin America as the region tries to reverse its democratic and economic backsliding. A new generation of leaders is on its way to power. 2022 has a critical electoral calendar in Latin America, as elections loom ahead in Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica. In Chile’s recent presidential elections, the country voted for a 35-year old former student protestor, Gabriel Boric, who promises transparency and new economic hope. In recent years, the region ...
The Good, The Bad and the Scary [S4, E24]
December 31, 2021 05:00 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBThis year has been an absolute whirlwind of the Good, the Bad, and the Scary. Our end-of-year episode’s positive highlights include the scientific collaboration that led to vaccines for both COVID and malaria, a growing consensus on climate change, an emphasis on holding China accountable, and the end of the Trump era. Our drawbacks are the ever-growing concerns of COVID as it continues to run rampant around the world, geopolitical fears in Taiwan, Ukraine, and Iran that threaten future peac...
Rocky Recovery: These Strange Economic Times [S4, E23]
December 17, 2021 05:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBThe London Interbank Overnight Rate (LIBOR) – one of the world’s longest-lasting financial benchmarks – disappears this month. It’s just one of the many signs of a new uncertainty in economics. Rising inflation, high energy bills, real estate crises in China, lockdowns, supply chain breakdowns, and labor shortages are creating an unusual economic storm. How will all of this affect the world economy and geopolitics in the new year? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by...
Russia Turns 30 [S4, E22]
December 03, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBIt’s been 30 years since the Soviet Union fell. With the dismantling of communism, the US became the sole superpower. Market economies and liberal democracies became the new norm. But, Russia has once again reverted to old habits. Russia is an authoritarian superpower and one of the West’s principal antagonists. What is in Russia’s imminent future? What will Russia look like in ten years? Will Putin ever leave? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Julia Ioffe, forme...
The US: A Nation at Risk [S4, E21]
November 19, 2021 05:00 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBNational security is more complex than ever before. The dangerous rivalry between the US and China continues to grow. The Middle East’s balance of power is shifting. And threats to democracy are deepening around the world. Not to mention, the heightened cybersecurity risks due to heightened dangers of hacks and data thefts from the COVID-era’s teleworking and virtual gatherings. Where do we begin? In a special edition of Altamar with Johns Hopkins University’s Hopkins at Home, hosts Pete...
Is COP26 a Copout? [S4, E20]
November 05, 2021 04:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBAfter 18 months of COVID and a turbulent geopolitical map, this crucial global convening of leaders will set the stage for the environmental future of planet Earth. COP is coordinated by the UN and produced the Paris Accord five years ago. Now, many of the world’s top leaders are back to discuss what happens next. COP 26 comes at a time of huge energy confusion. Energy prices are off the charts, and there simply is not enough clean energy to meet the world’s needs. What can we expect from ...
Dirty Money [S4, E19]
October 22, 2021 04:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBFirst the Panama Papers in 2016, then the Paradise Papers in 2017, and now the Pandora Papers. The massive leaks expose financial maneuverings and corruption at the world’s highest levels. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists worked with more than 140 media organizations on its biggest-ever global investigation. Data reveals hidden wealth, tax avoidance, and money laundering by the world’s most rich and powerful. But not all of these practices are illegal. What constitut...
Is there Life after Angela? [S4, E18]
October 08, 2021 04:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBEveryone’s looking at Germany. Not because its general elections are typically an exciting affair, but because Chancellor Angela Merkel is stepping down after more than a decade and a half at the helm of Europe’s most powerful nation. Germany’s youth wanted a female, young, climate activist to take her place, but the leader of a likely coalition will be Social Democrat Olaf Scholz. Beyond Germany, this election is realigning EU politics. There are questions about whether France’s Macron wi...
Woke Corporations and Cancel Capitalism [S4, E17]
September 24, 2021 04:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBSocial activism and conscious consumerism are on everyone’s mind. Should businesses be taking stances on the social justice debate of the day? Given the repeated failures of government to resolve long-festering issues such as widening inequality, injustice, and racism, corporations have now become more engaged in pushing social causes. Is this simply good marketing? At a time when Millennials and Gen-Zers demand more social “woke-ness,” companies are quickly jumping on the opportun...
‘Friendshoring’ in the Caribbean [S4, E16]
September 10, 2021 04:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBSince the early 2000s, most US and European companies have cut significant costs by moving manufacturing operations to China and Southeast Asia. Because of COVID disrupted supply chains, growing tensions and trade disputes between China and Western nations, and backlash over China’s dismal human rights records, companies are seeking diversity. As CEOs are rethinking their supply chain strategies and looking to new areas, the Caribbean and Central American regions are positioning themselves a...
Cuba Libre? Not So Much. [S4, E15]
August 27, 2021 04:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBCalls for freedom and change ring in Cuba as the country faced the most widespread, violent protests since 1959. What spurred these demonstrations and what lies in store for the island’s future? Exhausted by food shortages, lack of opportunity, and a declining economy, protests exploded across the island as people – from novelists and singers to cooks and nurses – took to the streets to call for freedom from the authoritarian regime. The world was taken by surprise by the scope and siz...
Afghanistan: The Graveyard of Empires [S4, E14]
August 13, 2021 04:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBAmerica’s “longest war” has again entered the spotlight as the Biden Administration announced a complete withdrawal of U.S. military forces. Nicknamed ‘the graveyard of empires,’ Afghanistan has defeated many global powers – the British, the Soviets, and now the Americans. The U.S. leaves after having spent close to $800 billion and lost countless lives. The Taliban’s growing presence is worrisome, not least because of its grip on civilian life in the country. Now, with the lack of military...
COVID, Diplomacy and Populism [S4, E13]
July 30, 2021 04:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBThe worldwide vaccination effort has deepened the fault lines between rich and poor countries. While more developed countries are welcoming a long-anticipated reopening, developing countries continue to live a hellish public health crisis. The global initiative, COVAX, spearheaded by the WHO, GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance), CEPI, and UNICEF, aims to provide participating countries with equal access to vaccines. But it’s not that simple. The global effort is riddled with obstacles from vaccine h...