Podcasts about africa studies

Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how the Israel-Hamas ceasefire over Gaza came together, what the agreement requires each side to do, and what will come next.     Mentioned on the Episode   Steven Cook, “Israel and Hamas Reach Cease-Fire, but Will the War End?” CFR.org   Steven Cook,  “Israelis and Palestinians Both Lost Their Futures,” Foreign Policy   Steven Cook, The End of Ambition: America's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/gaza-ceasefire-steven-cook

Middle East Focus Presents: 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' with Brian Katulis A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEI's 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 “The End of Ambition,” their policy outlook with the incoming Trump Administration, and deteriorating discourse in Washington policy circles. 

Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how Middle Eastern countries are reacting to former President Donald Trump's election victory and his potential policy for the region. This episode is the second in a special TPI series on the U.S. 2025 presidential transition and is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.   Mentioned on the Episode   Steven A. Cook, The End of Ambition: America's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East   Ivo H. Daalder and James M. Lindsay, The Empty Throne: America's Abdication of Global Leadership   Jared Kushner, Breaking History: A White House Memoir For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/trump-and-middle-east-steven-cook-transition-2025-episode-2 

TK Pooe & Sanet Solomon | The TK Show In this episode, TK interviews political analyst Sanet Solomon. They discuss the current state of South African politics under the GNU government, the need for academics to foster a culture of public engagement, and how to balance listening to non-expert perspectives while preserving academic rigour. They also explore the role of social media in political commentary and discuss why, despite the challenges of poor governance in many provinces, Sanet remains hopeful about South Africa's future. TK Pooe (PhD) is a senior lecturer at the Witwatersrand School of Governance; his main fields of research are Public Policy themes such as Local Economic Development, Law and Development, Scenario Planning and Thinking, and Failure Analysis. Over the last ten years, he has lectured and consulted for various institutions like the North-West University's Government Studies Programme, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Gordon Institute of Business Science (University of Pretoria) and the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute. Before joining academia, he worked in various government institutions as a Public Policy research consultant. Twitter LinkedIn Sanet (née Madonsela) Solomon is a tenured Lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of South Africa (UNISA) teaching second year South Africa Politics (PSC2601) and Political Science and Research (HPPSC81) at Honours level. She is a seasoned political analyst, internationally published author, and PhD Candidate in the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State. She currently serves as a Council Member of the South Africa South Africa Association of Political Studies (SAAPS), and is a member of the International Political Sciences Association (IPSA) and British International Studies Association (BISA).  LinkedIn Subscribe to our Substack.   Follow us on Social Media: YouTube LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram   Subscribe to the Discourse ZA Podcast: iTunes Stitcher Spotify RSS feed  

Are Turkish-Egyptian relations entering a “new phase”? This week Egypt's President al-Sisi traveled to Ankara to meet with Turkish President Erdogan, a visit that came after over a decade of tensions between the two countries that spanned from Libya to the Eastern Mediterranean and saw Erdogan describe his Egyptian counterpart as a “tyrant”. Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis to explore whether we are seeing relations between Turkey and Egypt turn a new page, and break down what this means for the region.Read Steven Cook's latest book here: The End of Ambition: America's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle EastYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Egypt's Sisi makes first presidential visit to Turkey in 12 yearsEgypt's el-Sisi says Turkey visit paves way for ‘new phase' in relationsTurkey's Role in NATO Comes Under ScrutinySummer 2024 was world's warmest on recordChevron's plan for Aphrodite

Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the potential for a wider war in the Middle East as Iran vows to retaliate against Israel for the killing of a top Hamas official in Tehran.   Mentioned on the Episode   Steven Cook, The End of Ambition: America's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/a-wider-middle-east-war-with-steven-cook

Naomi Hossain, Professor of Development Studies at SOAS, School of Oriental and Africa Studies at the University of London

Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the United States' past, present, and future policy in the Middle East.   Enter the CFR book giveaway by June 17, 2024, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of The End of Ambition: America's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East by Steven A. Cook. You can read the terms and conditions of the offer here.    Mentioned on the Episode    George H. W. Bush and Brent Scowcroft, A World Transformed   Steven A. Cook, False Dawn: Protest, Democracy, and Violence in the Middle East   Steven A. Cook, The End of Ambition: America's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/us-policy-middle-east-steven-cook 

FDD Senior Vice President Jonathan Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis on headlines of the Middle East, followed by a conversation with Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

The world has responded with stunning cynicism to the wave of coups d'etat across Central Africa – either ignoring the violence, suffering and the rise of military strongmen, or exploiting it for their own ends. From Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso to the bloody civil war and mass displacement in Sudan, Oz Katerji finds that the Sahel region isn't only threatened by war, drought and Islamist terror. The “Africa Corps” wing of Russia's Wagner paramilitaries are vying with the Gulf States for power, influence and Africa's resources. Where did it go wrong for democracy in Africa – and is there any way to fix this delicate region? With the Sudanese journalist Dallia Abdelmoniem and Dr Ebenezer Obadare, Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington DC.  Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon to get early episodes, merchandise and more. Written and presented by Oz Katerji. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, and Ray Takeyh, the Hasib J. Sabbagh senior fellow for Middle East studies at CFR, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel and the prospects for a broader Middle East war.   Mentioned on the Episode    Steven A. Cook, "Iran Attack Means an Even Tougher Balancing Act for the U.S. in the Middle East," CFR.org   Steven A. Cook, The End of Ambition: America's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East [forthcoming]   Reuel Marc Gerecht and Ray Takeyh, “Keeping U.S. Power Behind Israel Will Keep Iran at Bay,” New York Times   Ray Takeyh, "Iran Attacks on Israel Spur Escalation Concerns," CFR.org   Ray Takeyh, The Last Shah: America, Iran, and the Fall of the Pahlavi Dynasty   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/irans-attack-israel-steven-cook-and-ray-takeyh 

Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the state of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, the prospects for an end to the fighting, and the tensions in U.S.-Israeli relations.   Mentioned on the Episode    Steven Cook, “Five Months of War: Where Israel, Hamas, and the U.S. Stand,” CFR.org   Steven Cook, The End of Ambition: America's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East [forthcoming]   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/war-gaza-steven-cook  

This week on Talk World Radio we're discussing Namibia's denunciation of Germany's support for Israel's defense against South Africa's case that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Our guest, Henning Melber is Senior Adviser and Director Emeritus at the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation. He has served as Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Kassel University, was Director of the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit in Windhoek, and Research Director of the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala. Henning is an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria and at the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein and a Senior Research Fellow with the Institute for Commonwealth Studies/University of London. He directed the Foundation from 2006 to 2012. He holds a PhD in Political Sciences and a Habilitation in Development Studies. In 2017 he was elected President of the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI). See also: https://www.daghammarskjold.se https://nai.uu.se https://www.namibian.com.na/namibia-germany-and-israel-the-pitfalls-of-selective-remorse-and-trauma

Kristina Hooper, Invesco Chief Global Market Strategist, says the key for investors in 2024 is to be well-diversified. Gerard Cassidy, RBC Capital Markets Large Cap Bank Analyst, advises a risk-on investment strategy going into the new year. Steven Cook, Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Middle East & Africa Studies, says the US will opt to remain on the defensive amid recent escalations in the Red Sea. Nadia Martin Wiggen, Svelland Capital Director, overviews the impacts of ongoing geopolitical conflicts on the global oil market. Sel Hardy, CFRA Research Analyst, predicts a gradual recovery in the healthcare sector next year. Get the Bloomberg Surveillance newsletter, delivered every weekday. Sign up now: https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/surveillance See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hussein Solomon, Senior Professor in the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa and co-author of “African Security in the Anthropocene,” depicts how humans have created more dangerous situations through the use of fossil fuels that are accelerating climate change, squabbling over natural resources, hunger and terrorism.   Africa, which is the second largest continent with a 1.4 billion population, is primarily rural and does not have the technology and financial wherewithal to combat these problems.  Recently, the African Climate Summit, recommended removal of subsidies for fossil fuels, which would make clean energy sources much more competitive. Although 80% of agriculture is by subsistence farmers, funding, global capital and partnerships are required to make the transition. There is hope for “cautious optimism” since some regions are using drought resistant crops and “conflict smart” agriculture. As always, women play a critical role in confronting these problems.

On the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius it appears that Turkish President Erdogan is once again moving the goalposts when it comes to Sweden's NATO membership bid, attempting to put progress on Turkey's EU membership on the table as well. At the same time, President Biden and Erdogan also discussed the potential sale of US F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, and with Ankara introducing new demands at the 11th hour, the link between Sweden's NATO accession and the issue of F-16s is under the spotlight as well. Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis to look ahead at what is likely to be a dramatic NATO summit.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Sweden still not ready for NATO, Erdoğan tells BidenUS could agree to sell Turkey F-16 jets so it will allow Sweden to join NatoUS, Turkey edge closer to deal on Sweden's NATO membership; bargaining over F-16sAs NATO Gathers, Unity Among the Alliance Has Become Harder to SustainMitsotakis, Erdogan hoping for a resetErdogan's difficult equation in NATOTemperatures set to climbItaly heatwave could push temperatures close to European record

In 2014, Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped 276 female students from their dormitory at the Government Girls Secondary School in the Nigerian town of Chibok. The act inspired international outrage and a worldwide campaign to #BringBackOurGirls. Far less attention has been paid, however, to the plight of those who escape Boko Haram's violence and become displaced within their own country. Now, anthropologist Gbemisola Abiola, PhD '23, is exploring different sites—camps, informal settlements, and host communities—where internally displaced persons (IDP) resettle. In this episode of Colloquy, Abiola discusses protracted displacement, the new structures of social and economic life that emerge from it, and the different survival strategies and tools IDP use to rebuild their lives.

On this episode of Showcase, watch: Vermeer at Rijksmuseum 00:02 House of the Vettii 03:32 ‘Africa Studies' 07:37 Mining Tourism 10:24 Admont Abbey Library 12:54 Between Human and Non-Human 15:17 Chopin Museum Reopens 18:32 Hunt for History 21:30

News of the rapprochement between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran sent shockwaves through the Middle East. The fact that China brokered the deal also took many in Washington by surprise, as it adds to worries over how US partners are responding to growing competition between the US and China. Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis to break down whether this China-brokered deal actually upends Mideast diplomacy and challenges the US, explore Washington's options moving forward, and look at what ripple effects it could have for the broader region - from the Middle East to the Eastern Mediterranean.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Chinese-Brokered Deal Upends Mideast Diplomacy and Challenges U.S.The Saudi-Iran deal reflects a new global realityGreek credit system ‘able to absorb foreign jitters'Finland gears up for Turkey's NATO blessing, as Sweden gets left behind

Anwar Sadat was the President of Egypt between 1970 and his assassination in 1981. Sadat changed Egypt utterly during his time in power, recognising Israel and aligning with the US following the anti-colonial rule of Nasser. The about-turns made by Sadat during his 11-year presidency make him one of the post-1945 World's most controversial figures, and he ultimately paid for his cosying up to Israel with his life. But did his actions make Egypt more stable and more prosperous? This is the question at the heart of today's episode.My guest for today's conversation is Steven Cook. Steven is a senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, and he contributes regularly to publications such as Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy. He is also the author of many books, including False Dawn: Protest, Democracy and Violence in the New Middle East, released in 2017. 

Guest: Prof.박현도, Middle East and Africa Studies at Sogang University Euromena InstituteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the future of the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia in the wake of the decision by OPEC+ to cut oil production.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Jason Bordoff and Meghan L. O'Sullivan, “Green Upheaval: The New Geopolitics of Energy,” Foreign Affairs   Steven A. Cook, False Dawn: Protest, Democracy, and Violence in the New Middle East    Steven A. Cook and Martin Indyk, The Case for a New U.S.-Saudi Strategic Compact   Steven A. Cook and Martin Indyk, “Go Big In Saudi Arabia,” Foreign Affairs

Africa has grown economically in recent years in such a way that many of its populations now enjoy both the benefits and the drawbacks of a middle class western lifestyle. Yet it is also growing rapidly in demographic terms due to the combination of high fertility and lower mortality, raising questions about employment and development generally. What does the future of the continent look like? This week RBI Director John Torpey talks with Ebenezer Obadare, Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow in Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, about the current situation in Africa. The conversation covers Africa's experience with COVID, the influence of China and Russia on the continent and why they represent a threat to the established order, why Africa suffers from state weakness, the demographic situation and the lack of opportunities for youth, and finally the religious dimension of contemporary African politics.

To pre-order your copy of "El Anatsui: The Reinvention of Sculpture," visit: https://www.amazon.com/El-Anatsui-Reinvention-Sculpture/dp/8862087632/?tag=karhunsho-20

Turkey's crisis of democracy may not end with the departure of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as there is ample reason to question whether fair elections would occur in a post-Erdoğan Turkey, said Steven Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relation.Turkey may struggle to emerge as a healthy democracy due to the transformation of the country's institutions under two decades of Erdoğan's rule, Cook told Ahval editor-in-chief Yavuz Baydar in the media outlet's Hot Pursuit podcast series.

Turkey's crisis of democracy may not end with the departure of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as there is ample reason to question whether fair elections would occur in a post-Erdoğan Turkey, said Steven Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relation. Turkey may struggle to emerge as a healthy democracy due to the transformation of the country's institutions under two decades of Erdoğan's rule, Cook told Ahval editor-in-chief Yavuz Baydar in the media outlet's Hot Pursuit podcast series.

Michelle Gavin, senior fellow for Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the fighting in northern Ethiopia between federal government forces and regional Tigrayan forces.

On this edition of Encounter, Ambassador Michelle Gavin, senior fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and former Ambassador to Botswana, and Frans Cronje, CEO of the Johannesburg-based Institute of Race Relations, analyze with host Carol Castiel the political, economic and social situation in South Africa following the arrest and detention of former South African president Jacob Zuma given the protests, looting and violence which this incident triggered. How did the celebrated multiracial democracy led by Nelson Mandela reach this critical juncture point, and what does the future hold for South Africa?

On this edition of Encounter, Ambassador Michelle Gavin, senior fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and former Ambassador to Botswana, and Frans Cronje, CEO of the Johannesburg-based Institute of Race Relations, analyze with host Carol Castiel the political, economic and social situation in South Africa following the arrest and detention of former South African president Jacob Zuma given the protests, looting and violence which this incident triggered.  How did the celebrated multiracial democracy led by Nelson Mandela reach this critical juncture point, and what does the future hold for South Africa? 

(00:00:50) Annette Bhagwatis Leidenschaft ist «nicht-westliche» Kunst. Sie promovierte an der School of Oriental and Africa Studies in London. Seit November 2019 leitet sie das Museum Rietberg in Zürich. Ein Gespräch über Raubkunst und die Revolution der afrikanischen Architektur. Weitere Themen: (00:11:26) Die Theater sind wieder offen – die Vidmarhallen in Bern zeigen den Tschechow-Klassiker «Onkel Wanja». (00:15:09) Streaming und mehr: Der Tonkünstler Marcel Babazadeh präsentiert die Reihe «Altchemie» in Uetikon am See. (00:19:33) Das Insitut für historische Theologie der Universität Bern hat theologische Lieblingsorte gesammelt und in einer Liste zusammengetragen. (00:23:44) Premiere am Theater St. Gallen: Der künstlerische Leiter der Tanzkompanie, Kinsun Chan, choreographierte «Cindarella» – nach der Ballettmusik von Sergei Prokofiev.

In 2018, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was elected with a promise to transform the country into a fully-fledged democracy after its people faced decades of oppressive rule. In 2019, he won a Nobel Peace Prize for peacemaking efforts with neighboring Eritrea. Last fall, however, Ethiopia’s democratic experiment seemingly fell apart. Now, the country is at the center of a humanitarian disaster. If Ethiopia erupts into an all-out civil war, it could trigger a regional conflict throughout the Horn of Africa, the continent’s ethnically diverse eastern peninsula.   Guests: Michelle Gavin, Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and former Ambassador to Botswana Adotei Akwei, Deputy Director for Advocacy and Government Relations for Amnesty International   If you appreciate this episode and want to support the work we do, please consider making a donation to World Affairs. We cannot do this work without your help. Thank you.  

When uprisings took place throughout the Middle East and North Africa in 2011, it seemed like Egypt would be the big success story. But in the last few months, civil rights activists say it has become a nightmare. In October, the government more than doubled its pace of executions, putting nearly 60 people to death. In November, Egyptian state security arrested three prominent human rights leaders with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, or EIPR. Executive director Gasser Abdel-Razek and colleagues Kareem Ennarah and Mohamed Basheer were held on terrorism charges after they met with Western diplomats.Related: Photo essay: Arab uprisings began with quest for freedom“The EIPR is kind of Egypt’s ACLU or the NAACP,” said Ramy Yaacoub, founder and executive director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy in Washington, DC. “It's that revolutionary and it's that important.”Yaacoub said the arrests hit a raw nerve. It seems like the country is at its lowest point, he said, 10 years after such a hopeful moment during the so-called Arab Spring. A protest movement led by young Egyptians did the unthinkable in February 2011 — deposing military dictator Hosni Mubarak.Related: Egypt social media censorship targets women on TikTok“And I can tell you ... initially there was so much freedom of speech and freedom of expression, assembly, I didn't believe it,” Yaacoub said.  But by April 2011, he remembers thinking that the different revolutionary factions were struggling to work together. “We were successful in creating a political vacuum,” Yaacoub said. “The only people that were around to offer ... a viable option or an alternative were the Muslim Brotherhood and their affiliates. They were prepared and ready.”The Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi was elected president. That was something the Egyptian military would not let stand. Yaacoub said by June 2013, he realized the military was going to win the power struggle.  Related: Egypt's Mubarak, ousted by popular revolt in 2011, dies aged 91“I remember writing on Twitter multiple times then, like, ‘Folks, this is no longer our fight. This is completely out of our hands. Other people are going to take over now, unfortunately,’” he said.Morsi was driven out of power by massive protests. Former military chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi took over and was elected president in 2014. Then, in a series of new laws and executive orders, Sisi solidified his rule. He restricted due process and the freedom of expression. The military used force to end anti-government demonstrations. Human rights groups say political opponents were detained, tortured and killed. Related: Egyptian artist duo commemorates Tahrir Square revolutionSisi’s government imposed new restrictions on nongovernmental organizations and international charities. Many NGOs were forced to close. “It's been a really steadily escalating campaign of targeting and repression, using lots of different tools, using lots of different laws."Stephen McInerney, executive director, Project on Middle East Democracy“It's been a really steadily escalating campaign of targeting and repression, using lots of different tools, using lots of different laws,” said Stephen McInerney, executive director of the Project on Middle East Democracy, a group that had helped train some activists and protest leaders during the uprising. “And of course there are, you know, very difficult circumstances on the ground for anyone who wants to engage politically.”At this point, he said most democracy activists have fled Egypt. Those remaining have gone underground. McInerney’s organization uses encrypted communications to talk to them. Meanwhile, McInerney said, Western countries have done little to support pro-democracy efforts inside Egypt. “We've been disappointed to see other democratic countries overlook democratic values in order to profit by selling weapons,” he said.Like the US and most recently, France. During a visit with Sisi earlier this month, President Emmanuel Macron said France would continue to sell weapons to Egypt, despite its human rights record. The Trump administration has made the same decision, allowing military assistance to flow. And Donald Trump even called Sisi his “favorite dictator.”At that meeting in France, Sisi dismissed criticisms about human rights. "You cannot present the state of Egypt, with all that it has done for its people and for stability in the region, with it being a dictatorship,” he said. That message of stability still appeals to many Egyptians, and to leaders in the West, said Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.“European leaders have looked the other way when it comes to human rights violations throughout the region, but particularly in Egypt, because they are concerned about instability in North Africa affecting politics in Europe."Steven Cook, senior fellow, Middle East and Africa Studies, Council on Foreign Relations“European leaders have looked the other way when it comes to human rights violations throughout the region, but particularly in Egypt, because they are concerned about instability in North Africa affecting politics in Europe,” he said. Sisi has also defended his actions by saying they’re necessary to fight terrorism. “One of the things that the Egyptian foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, has said over and over again is that ‘it's unfair to criticize Egypt because this is human rights as formulated by Egypt's Western critics,’” Cook said. “‘It's really just a form of colonialism.’”But Cook said the recent arrests of prominent human rights activists in Egypt set off an unprecedented international outcry. The UN, the European Union, and members of the EU parliament called for their release. Also, US President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, and celebrities such as Scarlett Johansen.“I think the Egyptians understood after the outcry that they perhaps had gone too far,” Cook said. “But it’s very hard to tell what's going on.”  Earlier this month, the three staffers with the EIPR were abruptly released. But they still face charges. And thousands of other less-famous prisoners remain behind bars. Still, their release gives Ramy Yaacoub of the Tahrir Institute some hope. “Social political change takes time — a long time. And as humans, we want prosperity right now. One hundred years from now it will be a footnote. ... But for us humans living through it, it's a long time.”Ramy Yaacoub, Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, Washington, DC“Social political change takes time — a long time. And as humans, we want prosperity right now. One hundred years from now it will be a footnote,” he said. “But for us humans living through it, it's a long time.”

Projections show that by 2050, Africa’s population will double. By 2100, one in three people on Earth will be African. This means that, by the end of the century, sub-Saharan Africa—which already has an extraordinarily young population—will be home to almost half of the young people in the world. In this episode, two experts examine whether Africa’s youth boom will be a blessing or a curse.  Featured Guests: Michelle Gavin (Senior Fellow for Africa Studies, Council on Foreign Relations) John Githongo (Inuka Kenya Trust, CEO and publisher of The Elephant)

This week, in addition to Michael Nagler's Nonviolence Report, Stephanie shares an interview with Josef Woldense, assistant professor in the Department of Africa Studies and African American Studies at the University of Minnesota, also affiliated with the Political Science Department. Professor Woldense analyzes the lack of trust that characterizes authoritarian regimes and the way it makes a leader vulnerable to a coup: the authoritarian may hold the power, but in exchange, he/she can trust no one, thus mutiny is a constant threat. A strategy used by authoritarian rulers to protect themselves from mutinous coups he calls “shuffling.” Shuffling, Professor Woldense explains, is best thought of as “a technology. What it does is it recognizes that the fuel for cliques to form is people being in close proximity to each other, having an opportunity to get to know each other. Shuffling disrupts that process: as people are getting to know each other, but before that relationship matures, what you do is you divorce people from one another by essentially having them move into different parts of the regime. They're still part of the government, but they never get a chance to get too close to each other.”While this may help to solve the clique/coup problem, it also seems inevitably to preclude the possibility of experts -- no one has time to acquire the experience needed to be competent in any government role! Thus shuffling tends to undermine the aim of a well-run regime.Professor Woldense explores these issues in their own right and also shares the way he explains this complex dynamic to his students through a role-playing game that places each one in a position where action must be taken despite the fact that information is limited. 

This week, in addition to Michael Nagler’s Nonviolence Report, Stephanie shares an interview with Josef Woldense, assistant professor in the Department of Africa Studies and African American Studies at the University of Minnesota, also affiliated with the Political Science Department. Professor Woldense analyzes the lack of trust that characterizes authoritarian regimes, and the way it makes a leader vulnerable to a coup: the authoritarian may hold the power, but in exchange he/she can trust no one, thus mutiny is a constant threat. A strategy used by authoritarian rulers to protect themselves from mutinous coups he calls “shuffling.”  Shuffling, Professor Woldense explains, is best thought of as “a technology. What it does is it recognizes that the fuel for cliques to form is people being in close proximity to each other, having an opportunity to get to know each other. Shuffling disrupts that process: as people are getting to know each other, but before that relationship matures, what you do is you divorce people from one another by essentially having them move into different parts of the regime. They’re still part of the government, but they never get a chance to get too close to each other.” While this may help to solve the clique/coup problem, it also seems inevitably to preclude the possibility of experts — no one has time to acquire the experience needed to be competent in any government role! Thus shuffling tends to undermine the aim of a well-run regime. Professor Woldense explores these issues in their own right and also shares the way he explains this complex dynamic to his students through a role-playing game that places each one in a position where action must be taken despite the fact that information is limited.  The post How to Prevent A Political Coup appeared first on Metta Center.

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Dr. Nadine Lake, the Director of Gender Studies in the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State. We discuss feminism as a theory that challenges normative patriarchal and capitalist societies to reconsider the way that people think about reality and prioritises the voices and lived experiences of women. Multiple traits of feminism have evolved. Some of the applied learnings of a more gender sensitive state has seen narrowing of gender pay gaps, women having the right to work, increasing the number of women in decision making positions and fighting against gender-based violence in a public manner supported by the President of South Africa. The field of gender studies aims to teach students to think about power relations in society and the way that this impacts on our work and domestic environments to challenge inequality in society. Tune in for more….

Guest Ambassador Michelle Gavin joins American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe for a discussion on the COVID-19 outbreak in Africa, a wide variety of government responses, and international support. Ambassador Gavin served as U.S. Ambassador to Botswana during the Obama Administration and currently serves as Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

How did Saudi Arabia get away with the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the kidnapping and alleged torture of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and even 9/11? How does it get away with war in Yemen and human rights violations at home? Oil, and the wealth that oil has brought about. On the first international episode of Who Is, Sean Morrow explores the 34-year-old trillionaire in charge of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman, and the story of a monarchy that is using its wealth to secure its global legitimacy--and expand its influence--through investments in Silicon Valley notables like Twitter, Uber, and Slack. Featuring Agnès Callamard, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Executions, who investigated Khashoggi’s 2018 killing. Hala Aldosari, Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow at the MIT Center for International Studies Agnès Callamard, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Executions and Director, Global Freedom of Expression, Columbia University Steven A. Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. His latest book is False Dawn: Protest, Democracy, and Violence in the New Middle East Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Ebrahim Rahbari, Citi Global Head of FX Analysis, explains why the currency issue between the U.S. and China will be easy to resolve. Steven Cook, CFR Senior Fellow for Middle East & Africa Studies, discusses how the Turkish incursion has the potential to affect politics in Europe and the U.S. David Pearl, Epoch Investment Partners Co-Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager, says Saudi Aramco's upcoming IPO is less about growth and more about increasing ownership value. Robert Kaplan, Dallas Fed President, says any future rate adjustments should be restrained and modest.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Ebrahim Rahbari, Citi Global Head of FX Analysis, explains why the currency issue between the U.S. and China will be easy to resolve. Steven Cook, CFR Senior Fellow for Middle East & Africa Studies, discusses how the Turkish incursion has the potential to affect politics in Europe and the U.S. David Pearl, Epoch Investment Partners Co-Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager, says Saudi Aramco's upcoming IPO is less about growth and more about increasing ownership value. Robert Kaplan, Dallas Fed President, says any future rate adjustments should be restrained and modest. 

Dr. Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche for a discussion on the latest rerun of the Istanbul mayoral election. A decade of divisive AKP politics has turned Erdogan’s ‘stronghold’ of Istanbul against him, but his personalist regime is far from collapse. Going forward, Erdogan and the AKP will try to box in opposition urban mayors and retain as tight a grip on national-level politics as possible.

13th June 2019 This week on Sitrep: No more street-fighting. The RAF tracks down IS to the Iraqi mountains.  Air Commodore Justin Reuter talks to Simon Newton Why two oil tankers were on fire in the Gulf. Pressure builds in Sudan.  Michelle Gavin, senior fellow for Africa Studies at the Council for Foreign Relations says the country is on a knife edge. British Forces lead Exercise Baltic Protector. And what do the Tory Leader hopefuls think about Defence?  Robert Fox from the London Evening Standard has the low-down. Sitrep is presented by Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee.  

13th June 2019 This week on Sitrep: No more street-fighting. The RAF tracks down IS to the Iraqi mountains.  Air Commodore Justin Reuter talks to Simon Newton Why two oil tankers were on fire in the Gulf. Pressure builds in Sudan.  Michelle Gavin, senior fellow for Africa Studies at the Council for Foreign Relations says the country is on a knife edge. British Forces lead Exercise Baltic Protector. And what do the Tory Leader hopefuls think about Defence?  Robert Fox from the London Evening Standard has the low-down. Sitrep is presented by Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee.  

May 8, 2018: At the Council of American Ambassador's Spring Conference, Global Tour d'Horizon, Dr. Steven A. Cook discusses Turkey's pivotal regional role and draws on the history of U.S.-Turkey relations to suggest foreign policy for the United States going forward. Dr. Cook is the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. The presentation was moderated by Ambassador William C. Eacho and followed with a Q&A session.

When Syria was pulled apart seven years ago, the United States opted to stay on the sidelines. It was clear that President Bashar Al-Assad was a bad guy, but it was far less clear who the good guys were. Unfortunately, inaction has also had its price for the U.S., according to our guest Steven A. Cook, who is the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr. Steven A. Cook discusses Turkey's pivotal regional role at the Council of American Ambassadors' Spring conference, "Global Tour d'Horizon." Dr. Cook is the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. The presentation was moderated by Ambassador William C. Eacho and followed with a Q&A session.

Howard Ward, Gabelli Funds CIO of Growth Equities, says he's not sure if this is a market rally that can be trusted. Terry Haines, Evercore ISI Head of US Policy & Political Analysis, says Pres. Trump has proved not to be a Congressional Republican. Tobias Levkovich, Chief US Equity Strategist at Citi, thinks the next several earnings seasons are going to be good. Steven Cook, CFR Senior Fellow for Middle East & Africa Studies, expects Sec. Tillerson to get a cold welcome in Turkey today.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Howard Ward, Gabelli Funds CIO of Growth Equities, says he's not sure if this is a market rally that can be trusted. Terry Haines, Evercore ISI Head of US Policy & Political Analysis, says Pres. Trump has proved not to be a Congressional Republican. Tobias Levkovich, Chief US Equity Strategist at Citi, thinks the next several earnings seasons are going to be good. Steven Cook, CFR Senior Fellow for Middle East & Africa Studies, expects Sec. Tillerson to get a cold welcome in Turkey today. 

Chinese president Xi Jinping's three-country tour of the Middle East and North Africa offers yet another example of Beijing's expanding drive for increased global influence. During his first visit to the region, Xi traveled to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran where he inserted his government into the mix of some of the world's most volatile regions. That Xi chose to visit these countries for his first overseas trip of the year, a highly symbolic act that is closely watched by Chinese foreign policy observers, is not surprising given China's increased dependence on oil from the Middle East and Persian Gulf. Experts contend, though, that there was much more to the trip than the usual cash-for-resources tours that Chinese leaders often do elsewhere in Africa. In this instance, there's a lot more at stake. One Belt, One Road Both Egypt and Iran are critical pieces in China's rapidly evolving global trading strategy that aims to revive the ancient silk road that once connected Persia with China. Known commonly as One Belt, One Road (OBOR), China hopes to link its economy with markets in Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa through expansive new maritime routes, international rail lines and other overland connections. If successful, OBOR promises to bring billions of dollars in Chinese development funds to these countries and further integrate them into China's trading orbit. A region in flux Xi's visit also coincides with a series of dramatic power shifts in the region that provides a unique opportunity for Beijing to expand its influence in the region. Saudi Arabia's growing alienation from the United States, a once unshakable alliance, over Washington's rapprochement with Iran allowed for Xi to receive a much warmer welcome in Riyadh than he would have just a few years ago. Separately, across the Persian Gulf in Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his eagerness for building a deeper relationship with China to serve as a potential counterweight to the United States. Similarly, in Egypt, president Abdul Fattah el-Sisi's turbulent relationship with Washington no doubt contributed to his enthusiastic courtship of Chinese investment and development during Xi's visit. Risks everywhere While the strategic logic of China's desire to broaden its reach in the Middle East and North Africa is obvious, the key question is whether or not Beijing is capable of successful navigating the region's volatile, often violent politics. This is new diplomatic terrain for the Chinese and the risk of policy missteps are very high. For now, the Chinese don't bring much more to the table than money. If their people and big new investments get sucked in to the sectarian conflicts that are ravaging the region, it will not be easy for China to extricate itself without suffering considerable losses (both human and financial). Lina Benabdallah is a China-Africa scholar at the University of Florida's Center for Africa Studies where she is pursuing her Phd. Lina's research focuses on Chinese foreign and security policy in Africa and as a native Arab speaker from Algeria, she also closely follows China's diplomatic activity in North Africa and the Arab world. Lina joins Eric & Cobus this week to discuss Xi's recent Mideast trip and what it says about the current direction of Chinese foreign policy.