Podcast appearances and mentions of alex thurston

On this episode of American Prestige, we welcome back to the pod, Alex Thurston, associate professor in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Cincinnati and non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute, to discuss the situations in Niger and Chad now that the two nations have respectively kicked out most US troops.We discuss the State Department's underwhelming treatment of some African heads of state, how this dynamic differs when working with a military junta, what specifically precipitated the US withdrawals from Niger and Chad, AFRICOM's security-focused framing, how Russia's role in the region factors into things, and more.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, Patrick C. Fox and John Allen Gay interview Dr. Alexander Thurston, an expert on conflicts, jihadism and stability in West Africa. Dr. Alex Thurston is a professor at the University of Cincinnati and a non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute. This conversation covers sources of instability ranging from the French presence to the American intervention in Libya along with a conversation about the politics of the region, ranging from Niger's path to dictatorship, Nigeria's new leadership and the comparatively stable situations in Senegal and Chad.

In this episode, we try to think through the unfolding regional crisis brought about by the (latest) coup in Niger. What do we know about the coup so far? Why is Ecowas beating the drums of war? Should these recent coups give us hope for the future of popular sovereignty and socialism in West Africa? Some readings: Alex Thurston on domestic dynamics of the coup in Niger: ⁠https://sahelblog.wordpress.com/2023/08/03/thoughts-on-nigers-coup-at-the-domestic-level-proximate-triggers-structural-causes-and-some-ramifications/⁠ The Military as Revolutionary Vanguard: A Critique Bjorn Beckman: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4005818

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.americanprestigepod.comDerek welcomes back Alex Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati, for a discussion of this week's coup in Niger, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani and which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Check out Alex's piece in Responsible Statecraft to learn more!Recorded Friday, July 28, 2023

Danny and Derek welcome back Alex Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati, to discuss the 2023 Nigerian presidential election. They discuss the three main candidates, controversy around the election itself, issues the country is currently grappling with, what a Bola Tinubu presidency might look like, the legacy of incumbent Muhammadu Buhari, the international response, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

Danny and Derek welcome Lamin Keita, PhD candidate in political science at Northwestern University, and Alex Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati, for a discussion on the situation in the Sahel, namely Mali and Burkina Faso. They talk about the 2022 coups in each country, the role of jihadist conflicts in the region, where the respective junta governments currently stand, the role of the United States in the coups and the Sahel in general, and more.Note: This discussion was recorded before the expulsion of French troops by Burkina Faso.Check out Alex's work at Sahel Blog, the issue of Middle East Report he guest edited, and his book Jihadists of North Africa and the Sahel!Check out Lamin's AfroSaharo Research Network! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

The Sahel, a region spanning the countries of West Africa, has been rocked by instability for the past few years. There is what the West calls an Islamist insurgency that has provoked international intervention, from France (the former colonial power) but also the United States. The region is one of the richest in the world in terms of natural resources, including oil, gold and uranium. Yet it's one of the poorest in the world, the proceeds of these extractive industries rarely reaches the people. This week, we talk to Dr Alex Thurston, a specialist in the region, and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati to explain why the Sahel is important. Alex has written extensively about the Sahel and is an authority, regularly contributing to reports and discussions. You can donate to the show here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/contribute Follow us on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/jalalayn and https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim Website: thinkingmuslim.com

Listen now (65 min) | Sahel expert Alex Thurston is here to talk about the apparent death of Abubakar Shekau and another coup in Mali. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at fx.substack.com/subscribe

Join a panel of experts for a discussion of the growing imperialist interventions into the Sahel and East Africa, and how to fight them. The United States is escalating its military presence in Africa, with the construction of new military bases, drone facilities, and more. Both the CIA and Pentagon are conducting operations with little to no public scrutiny. France and other major powers are also increasing their presence to 'combat terrorism' and protect what it regards as its “own” strategic resources, including land, oil and uranium. The militarization and the conflict it perpetuates in and around the Sahara has created extremely dire circumstances for the people of the region, creating a major barrier to working class organizing on the continent. Understanding these dynamics is critical for building international solidarity from the Sahel to East Africa and beyond. Speakers; Samar Al-Bulushi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at University of California, Irvine. Her research is broadly concerned with surveillance, militarism, and policing in the context of the so-called 'War on Terror' in East Africa. She is a contributing editor at Africa is a Country and her work has appeared in The Guardian, Al-Jazeera, Intercepted, Jacobin, Pambazuka, and Africa is a Country. Brittany Meché is the Gaius Bolin Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Studies at Williams College. Brittany earned her PhD in Geography from the University of California, Berkeley, and she is currently writing a book about transnational security regimes, environmental knowledge, and the afterlives of empire in the West African Sahel. Alex Thurston is Assistant Professor Political Science at the University of Cincinnati. He is the author of three books, most recently Jihadists of North Africa and the Sahel: Local Politics and Rebel Groups, published by Cambridge University Press in 2020. Facilitator: Andom Ghebreghiorgis is a former special education teacher who recently ran for Congress in NY's 16th District. He is active with the Eritrean justice organization One Day Seyoum and is a member of Lower Hudson Valley DSA and the DSA International Committee. This event is co-sponsored by Africa Is A Country, the DSA International Committee, and Haymarket Books. Watch the live event recording: https://youtu.be/gu3tZy6KLCE Buy books from Haymarket: www.haymarketbooks.org Follow us on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/haymarketbooks

Listen now (74 min) | Returning champ and brand new FX contributor Alex Thurston, of the University of Cincinnati and Sahel Blog, joins me to discuss his first FX column and the similarities between America’s Forever War in Afghanistan and France’s Forever War in the Sahel. Alex also offers his perspective on Sunday’s presidential runoff in Niger and the unrest that has ensued, which diverges from what you’re likely to find in most Western media outlets. Enjoy! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at fx.substack.com/subscribe

Alex Thurston of the University of Cincinnati talks about his latest book, Jihadists of North Africa and the Sahel: Local Politics and Rebel Groups with Marc Lynch on this week's podcast. The book studies cases of jihadist movements in North Africa and the Sahel, examining them from the inside, uncovering their activities and internal struggles over the past three decades. (Starts at 19:50). Michael Robbins, Director of the Arab Barometer, introduces the Arab Barometer and discusses recent polling work on themes including the normalization of Arab states with Israel, and the effects of COVID-19. (Starts at 1:14). Christiana Parreira of Stanford University discusses her recent article, "Power politics: Armed non-state actors and the capture of public electricity in post-invasion Baghdad," published in the Journal of Peace Research. (Starts at 10:10).

Following the ouster of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in Mali last month, the ruling military junta is being pressured by the Economic Community of West African States to appoint a transitional civilian leader. Today on Trend Lines, WPR’s Elliot Waldman discusses the outlook in Mali with Alex Thurston. If you like what you hear on Trend Lines and what you’ve read on WPR, you can sign up for our free newsletter to get our uncompromising analysis delivered straight to your inbox. The newsletter offers a free preview article every day of the week, plus three more complimentary articles in our weekly roundup every Friday. Sign up here. Then subscribe. Relevant Articles on WPR: With Keita Gone After Another Coup, Mali Enters a New Phase of Uncertainty The Crisis in Mali Holds Important Lessons for Governments Everywhere Was ECOWAS’ Intervention in Gambia a Sign of Things to Come in West Africa? How Counterinsurgency Campaigns Are Fueling Human Rights Abuses in the Sahel Trend Lines is produced and edited by Peter Dörrie, a freelance journalist and analyst focusing on security and resource politics in Africa. You can follow him on Twitter at @peterdoerrie. To send feedback or questions, email us at podcast@worldpoliticsreview.com.

This is the web version of Foreign Exchanges, but did you know you can get it delivered right to your inbox? Sign up today:FX’s regular analyst on all things related to the Sahel, Alex Thurston, joins me to discuss the August 18 coup in Mali, the ouster of former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, and what may be on the horizon for Mali and the rest of the region.Keïta voting in Mali’s 2018 presidential election (Voice of America via Wikimedia Commons)As always, Alex’s blog is a great resource for those interested in the political ups and downs of the Sahel region. He also mentioned a recent Jacobin piece by historian Gregory Mann that is available here. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at fx.substack.com/subscribe

This is the web version of Foreign Exchanges, but did you know you can get it delivered right to your inbox? Sign up today:Returning guest and scholar of the Sahel Alex Thurston joins me to discuss the recently reported death of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb leader Abdelmalek Droukdel. Serendipitously, this subject coincides with Alex's forthcoming (probably in September) book, Jihadists of North Africa and the Sahel: Local Politics and Rebel Groups. He’s also written about Droukdel’s (probable) death at his blog. Twice, actually. We delve into the history of AQIM and the diminishing role it's played as the center of jihadist gravity has shifted from Algeria into the Sahel region. The piece Alex mentions toward the end of the interview on the regional crisis surrounding the Fulani, from anthropologist Modibo Ghaly Cissé, is available here. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at fx.substack.com/subscribe

In this edition of Wilson Center NOW we are joined by Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, and Alex Thurston, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati. They discuss the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the Muslim world during the holy month of Ramadan.

Returning guest Alex Thurston joins the show to discuss COVID-19 in the Sahel, how the region's militant groups have responded to the pandemic, and recent militant and military activity in Nigeria, Chad, Mali, and elsewhere. Be sure to check out Alex's Sahel Blog and follow him on Twitter: @sahelblog. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at fx.substack.com/subscribe

Returning guest Alex Thurston discusses the recent dust up between the leaders of the G5 Sahel nations and French President Emmanuel Macron, then guides us through an introduction to Mauritania and its current political crisis.You can find Alex on Twitter at @sahelblog. His recent World Politics Review piece on the squabbling at the top of Mauritanian politics can be found here. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at fx.substack.com/subscribe

In this bonus recording, hear Ufahamu Africa host Kim Dionne read University of Cincinnati professor Alex Thurston’s review of John Campbell and Matthew Page’s “Nigeria: What Everyone Needs to Know,” Brandon Kendhammer and Carmen McCain’s “Boko Haram,” and Carl LeVan’s “Contemporary Nigerian Politics.” The review was published as the eleventh installment of the African Politics Summer Reading Spectacular, and this recording is being shared as part of a collaboration with The Monkey Cage, a blog on politics and political science at The Washington Post. … More Bonus: Hear a review of three new books on power and politics in Nigeria

I'm joined for either the first or third time by Alex Thurston from Miami University of Ohio to talk about inter-communal violence in Mali, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, as well as an update on the Boko Haram(s) conflict in Nigeria. Alex is an expert on the Sahel region who writes at several places, but you should definitely check out his Sahel Blog and his books:Salafism in Nigeria from Columbia University PressBoko Haram: The History of an African Jihadist Movement from Princeton University PressYou can also follow him on Twitter.I’ve uploaded two previous interviews I did with Alex when I was at Patreon, which you can find most easily on our Archive page. And to answer your other question, we do now have an RSS feed for unlocked episodes, so please plug it in to your favorite podcast app: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast?publication_id=6479. RSS feeds for subscribers are still in the works but should be available soon. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at fx.substack.com/subscribe

Alex Thurston (@sahelblog on Twitter) joins me again to try to make some sense of the dizzying array of extremist groups in Mali and to talk about the aftermath of the Malian presidential election last month, which saw Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (pictured) reelected albeit with very low turnout. Be sure to check out Alex's Sahel Blog and his books:Salafism in Nigeria from Columbia University PressBoko Haram: The History of an African Jihadist Movement from Princeton University PressEnjoy! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at fx.substack.com/subscribe

I'm joined by Alex Thurston from Miami University of Ohio to talk about Boko Haram in particular and Nigeria in general. Alex is an expert on the Sahel region who writes at several places, but you should definitely check out his Sahel Blog and his books:Salafism in Nigeria from Columbia University PressBoko Haram: The History of an African Jihadist Movement from Princeton University PressYou can also follow him on Twitter. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at fx.substack.com/subscribe

January 15-16, 2015 On January 15-16, the Religious Freedom Project hosted a British Council workshop on religious understanding. The event consisted of five panel discussions, two roundtables, and three other breakout sessions. In addition to a host of university professors—representing Georgetown, George Washington, the University of Minnesota, the University of Florida, and University of Leeds—this event welcomed representatives from US Department of State, World Bank, Institute for Global Engagement, Institute for Economics and Peace, American Academy of Religion, and Atlantic Council. The keynote panel, led by Brian Grim and Alex Thurston, addressed religious dynamics in the Horn of Africa. Subsequent panels covered topics including: the interaction of religious and political priorities in the region; barriers to religious engagement; religion and development; and policy makers’ engagement with religious leaders.