ERA Institute

Ryan McLean -- a final year PhD Student at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) in Northern Ireland -- discusses the evolution of China's climate change policy through the decades; current challenges and opportunities; global leadership on combating climate change; as well as COVID-19 pandemic's effect and potential development scenarios.

Global Terrorism Database at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) Researcher Karina Panyan discusses terrorism trends in Eurasia, including Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, Philippines, nuclear threat, etc.

U.S. foreign policy and Middle East commentator Shahed Ghoreishi discusses the U.S. posturing in the region in both historic and contemporary contexts, delving into Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and more.

Erik Khzmalyan and Tobias Brandt discuss Germany's strategy of integrating Syrian refugees. The conversation begins with Merkel's unilateral decision to accept over 1 million refugees in 2015. Mr. Brandt explains how Merkel communicated her decision with the general populace and recognizes the parties that opposed the decision. He then breaks down the integration process and describes the involvement of ordinary Germans in this process. Finally, Mr. Brandt sheds light on the policies implemented to combat radical ideologies that some refugees may harbor and concludes by talking about Germany's shortage of skilled workers and how refugees are integrated into the workforce. Tobias Brandt was born and raised in Germany where he attended the University of Hamburg to receive his BA in Middle Eastern Studies. He wrote his thesis on Al-Qaeda's propaganda strategy and used original Arabic documents for his research. Tobias spent some time in Qasid Arabic Institute in Jordan where he studied Arabic. He served as a volunteer language teacher in Germany helping a group of refugees to learn German. He is currently an MA student at the IWP studying Statecraft and International Relations.

Erik Khzmalyan and Kevin Dunne talk about Chinese ethnic policy from the 1950s to present. They assess its evolution and examine whether Chinese identity exists independently of its Han core, and implications thereof. Some of the peoples discussed include the Miao, Uyghur, and Bouyei as well as the Korean minorities living in the north of the country.

In this episode of Eurasia Unveiled, Erik Khzmalyan and Brandon Weichert discuss the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and the objective of preventing Russia and China from becoming regional hegemons. Weichert explores the possible solutions for Afghanistan, including through multilateral/regional approach. He also elaborates on China's involvement in Afghanistan, particularly focusing on the country's role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Weichert further sheds light on Russia's involvement with the Taliban and provides with policy recommendations on America's withdrawal from the country. Brandon Weichert is a former Congressional staffer and the founder and CEO of The Weichert Report - a magazine of geopolitics. He is also a contributing editor at the 'American Greatness'. To learn more, please visit: www.theweichertreport.com

ERA Institute Senior Fellow Erik Khzmalyan and Peter Debbins discuss Russian grand strategy -- both in historic and present terms -- and how it has been incorporated into the cyber sphere. Mr. Debbins is an instructor at the Academy for Defense Intelligence (ADI). He instructs a wide range of topics which have a Russian nexus. His background includes service in the U.S. Army as an officer, commercial business, and Russian area analysis. He is a native of Minnesota with a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Minnesota. He earned his M.A. in Strategic and International Studies from the Institute of World Politics in Washington DC. For more information, visit: www.erainstitute.org

ERA Institute Executive Director Armen V. Sahakyan and Bear Market Brief's Aaron Schwartzbaum discuss the evolution of Russia's Economy since 1991 and its future prospects. Aaron Schwartzbaum is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bear Market Brief. He is currently pursuing an MA in International Political Economy and International Economics from Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington DC. Previously, he was a researcher with Eurasia Group’s Eurasia and global macro practices, and has experience in investment banking. He has lived in Saint Petersburg for a year and a half, where he completed the Overseas Language Flagship program. He focuses on Russia’s economy, fiscal policy, domestic politics, and the defense industry. For more information, visit: https://bearmarketbrief.com/

ERA Institute's Erik Khzmalyan discusses Iran's regional policy with Persian Gulf Institute's president Shahed Ghoreishi. Mr. Ghoreishi talks about Iran's power politics, involvement in neighboring states, and the Carter Doctrine as well as possible cooperation between Washington and Tehran. The Persian Gulf Institute (PGI) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to the independent study of the of the Persian Gulf region. PGI aims to provide impartial and insightful analysis of the region’s political, economic, and social dynamics. For more information, visit: www.persiangulfinstitute.org

Erik Khzmalyan and Armen V. Sahakyan delve into the concept of Eurasia -- its historical evolution as well as contemporary definition and implications upon global politics. What is Eurasia and why should we care about it? Take a listen and let us know your thoughts, comments, and suggestions. More at: www.erainstitute.org