Podcasts about Middle Eastern studies

Iran is, once again, in global headlines, following U.S. strikes on the country earlier this year. Operation Epic Fury, as the Department of Defense called it, is the latest twist in Iran's modern history, starting from the coup that brought the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to power, through the 1956 coup against Mossadegh and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, to the present day's tensions over Iran's nuclear program. Homa Katouzian looks at this history in his latest book Iran and the Revolution: A History (Yale University Press, 2026), where he posits that Iran is a “short-term society,” one that lacks long-term continuity. We recorded this interview on May 18th, 2026. Homa is a member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford, and a visiting scholar at the Department of History, University of Toronto. He is the author of numerous books, including Iran: Politics, History and Literature (Routledge: 2012), Iran: A Beginners' Guide (Oneworld Publications: 2013), and The Persians (Yale University Press: 2009). You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Iran and the Revolution. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Iran is, once again, in global headlines, following U.S. strikes on the country earlier this year. Operation Epic Fury, as the Department of Defense called it, is the latest twist in Iran's modern history, starting from the coup that brought the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to power, through the 1956 coup against Mossadegh and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, to the present day's tensions over Iran's nuclear program. Homa Katouzian looks at this history in his latest book Iran and the Revolution: A History (Yale University Press, 2026), where he posits that Iran is a “short-term society,” one that lacks long-term continuity. We recorded this interview on May 18th, 2026. Homa is a member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford, and a visiting scholar at the Department of History, University of Toronto. He is the author of numerous books, including Iran: Politics, History and Literature (Routledge: 2012), Iran: A Beginners' Guide (Oneworld Publications: 2013), and The Persians (Yale University Press: 2009). You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Iran and the Revolution. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Iran is, once again, in global headlines, following U.S. strikes on the country earlier this year. Operation Epic Fury, as the Department of Defense called it, is the latest twist in Iran's modern history, starting from the coup that brought the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to power, through the 1956 coup against Mossadegh and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, to the present day's tensions over Iran's nuclear program. Homa Katouzian looks at this history in his latest book Iran and the Revolution: A History (Yale University Press, 2026), where he posits that Iran is a “short-term society,” one that lacks long-term continuity. We recorded this interview on May 18th, 2026. Homa is a member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford, and a visiting scholar at the Department of History, University of Toronto. He is the author of numerous books, including Iran: Politics, History and Literature (Routledge: 2012), Iran: A Beginners' Guide (Oneworld Publications: 2013), and The Persians (Yale University Press: 2009). You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Iran and the Revolution. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Iran is, once again, in global headlines, following U.S. strikes on the country earlier this year. Operation Epic Fury, as the Department of Defense called it, is the latest twist in Iran's modern history, starting from the coup that brought the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to power, through the 1956 coup against Mossadegh and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, to the present day's tensions over Iran's nuclear program. Homa Katouzian looks at this history in his latest book Iran and the Revolution: A History (Yale University Press, 2026), where he posits that Iran is a “short-term society,” one that lacks long-term continuity. We recorded this interview on May 18th, 2026. Homa is a member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford, and a visiting scholar at the Department of History, University of Toronto. He is the author of numerous books, including Iran: Politics, History and Literature (Routledge: 2012), Iran: A Beginners' Guide (Oneworld Publications: 2013), and The Persians (Yale University Press: 2009). You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Iran and the Revolution. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

Iran is, once again, in global headlines, following U.S. strikes on the country earlier this year. Operation Epic Fury, as the Department of Defense called it, is the latest twist in Iran's modern history, starting from the coup that brought the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to power, through the 1956 coup against Mossadegh and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, to the present day's tensions over Iran's nuclear program. Homa Katouzian looks at this history in his latest book Iran and the Revolution: A History (Yale University Press, 2026), where he posits that Iran is a “short-term society,” one that lacks long-term continuity. We recorded this interview on May 18th, 2026. Homa is a member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford, and a visiting scholar at the Department of History, University of Toronto. He is the author of numerous books, including Iran: Politics, History and Literature (Routledge: 2012), Iran: A Beginners' Guide (Oneworld Publications: 2013), and The Persians (Yale University Press: 2009). You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Iran and the Revolution. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

Iran is, once again, in global headlines, following U.S. strikes on the country earlier this year. Operation Epic Fury, as the Department of Defense called it, is the latest twist in Iran's modern history, starting from the coup that brought the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to power, through the 1956 coup against Mossadegh and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, to the present day's tensions over Iran's nuclear program. Homa Katouzian looks at this history in his latest book Iran and the Revolution: A History (Yale University Press, 2026), where he posits that Iran is a “short-term society,” one that lacks long-term continuity. We recorded this interview on May 18th, 2026. Homa is a member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford, and a visiting scholar at the Department of History, University of Toronto. He is the author of numerous books, including Iran: Politics, History and Literature (Routledge: 2012), Iran: A Beginners' Guide (Oneworld Publications: 2013), and The Persians (Yale University Press: 2009). You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Iran and the Revolution. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-review

Discover the heartbeat of Montreal's Jewish community with the Federation CJA 360 Podcast - your front‑row seat to the impact, innovation, and inspiration shaping Jewish life today. Each episode spotlights dynamic leaders, transformative initiatives, and powerful stories that highlight how Federation CJA is strengthening our community and building a vibrant Jewish future. Engaging, uplifting, and full of purpose, this is the podcast that brings our mission to life. Show Notes Discover the heartbeat of Montreal's Jewish community with the Federation CJA 360 Podcast - your front‑row seat to the impact, innovation, and inspiration shaping Jewish life today. Each episode spotlights dynamic leaders, transformative initiatives, and powerful stories that highlight how Federation CJA is strengthening our community and building a vibrant Jewish future. Engaging, uplifting, and full of purpose, this is the podcast that brings our mission to life.Guest Information Samantha Mintz VinebergBio: A proud third-generation Montrealer, Samantha's commitment to the Montreal Jewish community began as a student leader at McGill University, where she earned her BCL and LLB degrees. Her legal background—including practicing tax and estate planning—eventually transitioned into a life dedicated to community impact.Samantha's journey with Federation CJA has spanned decades, from her early days as Chair of FedNext. Having served as the Chair of Women's Philanthropy from 2020–2021 and as a member of the Planning and Allocations Committee, Samantha has been a member of the FCJA board of directors since 2022 and was named First Vice Chair in September 2025., Samantha has consistently focused on the "rolled-up sleeves" work of community building.As a Wexner Heritage Program alum, Samantha is deeply invested in fostering the next generation of leaders. For her, ensuring a strong Jewish future in Montreal is about more than tradition; it's about creating a vibrant, secure, and thriving home for the generations to come.Link:@samvinebergConsul General Eliaz LufBio: Eliaz Luf was appointed Consul General of Israel and moved to Montreal in summer 2025. He began his diplomatic career in 1995, serving in Warsaw, Poland, and then Mexico City, holding a number of positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' headquarters in Jerusalem, was then posted as Deputy Head of Mission at the Israeli Embassy in Ottawa and subsequently served as Director of Department of Arms Export Control at the Strategic Division of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Luf served as Deputy-Director General for International Relations Division, at the Israeli Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology. Luf holds an M.A. in Political Science from the National Security College and the University of Haifa, M.B.A. in Business Administration and B.A. (with honours) in General History and Political Science from the University of Haifa. He is a certified Mediator by the Ministry of Justice and volunteers as a mediator in a Community Mediation Center in the city of Ramle.Host & Show InfoHost: Glenn J. NashenAbout the Host: Glenn J. Nashen is an award-winning public safety innovator and communicator, and longtime Cote Saint‑Luc City Councillor having founded CSL Emergency Medical Services and CSL volunteer Citizens on Patrol. Glenn was Director of Public Affairs and Communications at the Jewish General Hospital and CIUSSS West Central Montreal for 20 years and now serves as Podcast Producer and Director of Media Relations and Crisis Communications at Federation CJA, continuing his commitment to strengthening, safeguarding, and informing the community.Links: Blog, Facebook, X, LinkedIn.Featuring: Yair SzlakYair Szlak is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Federation CJA, a role he has held since 2018 after more than 15 years in senior leadership positions within the organization. A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, Yair is known as a skilled fundraiser and community builder. He has dedicated his career to strengthening Jewish life in Montreal and fostering a vibrant, resilient future for the community.Link: LinkedInReporter: Jordan StooplerJordan Stoopler is a copywriter and podcast reporter within Federation CJA's Strategic Marketing & Communications department. A graduate with journalism degrees from both Concordia University and Hofstra University on Long Island, New York, Jordan contributes to campaigns, weekly newsletters and other organizational communications. By night, Jordan is a freelance sports reporter, covering the local professional sports scene for the Canadian Press. He also produces and co-hosts Menschin' with the Boys, a podcast that shines a light on Jews and Israelis from across the sports world. Link: Podcast, Articles, 360 Newsletter Karen PayneBio: Karen Payne is a Strategic Advisor in Antisemitism Advocacy at Federation CJA. She began her career as a corporate lawyer, practicing for over a decade in both New York and Montreal. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Karen has long been active in community philanthropy, within Solomon Schechter Academy and as a dedicated member of Federation CJA's Women's Philanthropy.  Driven by a deep commitment to combating antisemitism and strengthening the Jewish community, Karen joined Federation CJA to lead efforts in advocacy, education and resilience-building. She works closely with CIJA and helps with the strategies in educating and supporting community, and initiatives addressing antisemitism. Karen collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders to raise awareness, develop strategic responses, and implement impactful programs. Her unwavering dedication continues to inspire and empower the community in the ongoing fight against Jew-hatred.Emmanuel TrauBio: An attorney from Israel with a background in Law and Middle Eastern Studies, Emmanuel Trau also has a foundation in advanced traditional Jewish studies and serves as a Shaliach (Special Emissary) with Federation CJA. He leads high-impact advocacy and Jewish identity initiatives, delivering interactive workshops for students and diverse community cohorts to build lasting resilience and a deeper connection to Israel.Reporter: Dan Laxer from The SuburbanBio: Dan Laxer is a reporter with 30 years' experience in broadcast media and print journalism. He covers parts of the west end and the City of Montreal for The Suburban Newspaper. Follow him on Instagram and Facebook.Link: laxer@thesuburban.com.Podcast Website: FederationCJA.org/podcastPlease rate and review on podcast appContact the show: podcast@federationcja.orgFollow us on social media:X (formerly Twitter)InstagramFacebookLinkedInYouTubeShare this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway.The Pulse of Montreal's Jewish Community.

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with veteran US official Elliott Abrams about the state of US-Iran negotiations. Abrams assesses President Trump's approach to Iran's nuclear programme, the future of the Strait of Hormuz, and the risks of sanctions relief for Tehran. They also discuss the Trump administration's decision-making process, the prospects for further US military action, the potential expansion of the Abraham Accords. Elliott Abrams is Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC. He previously served in senior roles in the US government, including as Deputy National Security Advisor for President George W. Bush and as Special Representative for Iran in the first Trump administration.

This week on Talk World Radio, we're talking about Iran and how we got to this point. Our guest Stephen Zunes is a professor of politics and program director for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of San Francisco.

Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Dr Andreas Krieg, Senior Lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King's College London and Fellow at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies. According to Krieg, "Iran is fighting a war against the global economy." By targeting the UAE, and especially Dubai, Tehran is not merely retaliating militarily but seeking to exploit what Krieg calls the "Achilles heel" of the international system: the Gulf's hyperconnected financial and logistical infrastructure.

Rare artifacts within the vast archives of the Library of Congress (LOC) represent a shift in how our region's history is fundamentally understood. Moving beyond traditional nationalist timelines, Arab World specialist in the African and Middle East division at the LOC, Dr. Muhannad Salhi, explores the transition of diverse items in the library's "Near East" collection, from 3000-year-old economic receipts to unique cultural fragments, into autonomous objects of study that define a global narrative. Reclaiming these stories serves as a resistance against regional erasure and the invisibility often felt in the global cultural landscape.   0:00 Introduction 1:52 The "Near East" Section: Geographic and Linguistic Scope 3:02 The Library's Path 4:46 Overview of the Arabic Collection 5:20 The Library's Oldest Items 7:06 Digitization Efforts and Copyright Restrictions 9:10 The Purpose of the Library of Congress 13:24 Regional Context and Cultural Insight 16:00 A Public Resource and Supporting Global Scholarship 18:36 Overseas Offices and Book Dealers 19:17 A Typical Week with Rare Materials and Scholarly Research 22:11 The Oldest Piece of Islamic object in the Americas 25:00 Calligraphy Styles: From Kufi to South Asian and Persian Aesthetics 27:03 The Chinese Quran: A Unique Intersection of Cultures 28:03 The Dalail al-Khayrat and Mantle of the Prophet 31:55 Manuscripts from Gambia 33:24 Arabic Translations of Greek Medicine 35:45 A Unique Work on Petroleum 36:54 Astronomy and Astrology 39:53 Mapping the Region 44:42 Archiving Historic Newspapers and Pop Culture 48:42 Early Arabic Printing 52:10 The Jefferson Quran: Myth vs. Reality in Pop Culture 57:00 Arab-American Literature: Ameen Rihani's The Book of Khalid 58:20 Iraq's Most Wanted Deck of Cards 01:00:22 A Lost Letter from West Africa 01:02:15 Photography Archives 01:03:33 The Items That Got Away 01:06:08 What Policymakers Should Understand About the Region   Muhannad Salhi is the Arab World Specialist in the African and Middle Eastern Division at the Library of Congress, where he covers the Arab world, North Africa, and Islam. He received his doctorate in history and his MAs in history and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago. He is the author of Palestine in the Evolution of Syrian Nationalism (1918-1920) as well as other book chapters, book reviews, and blogs. His interests include the Ancient Near East, Classical Islam, the Modern Middle East, and Islamic studies. Prior to coming to the Library of Congress, he taught courses on the Arab World and Islam at various colleges and universities in the Chicago area, including the University of Chicago and Governors State University.   Connect with Muhannad Salhi

Il 21 giugno 1998, durante i Mondiali di Francia, si affrontano Stati Uniti e Iran, due paesi divisi da una crisi diplomatica che dura da quasi vent'anni, quando la Rivoluzione iraniana depose la monarchia filo-americana della dinastia Pahlavi. La partita, però, capita in un momento storico in cui i due governi stanno cercando di migliorare le loro relazioni.LE FONTI USATE PER QUESTO EPISODIO:- BROMBERGER Christian, A third half for Iranian football, Le Monde Diplomatique- HAREUVENY Or, BLANGA Yehuda, Playing with ‘the Great Satan': the football diplomacy behind the 1998 and 2000 Iran–USA matches, Middle Eastern Studies, Routledge- LONGMAN Jere, Enmity Past, U.S. Meets Iran And Suffers Bitter 2-1 Defeat, The New York Times- WRIGHT Robin, U.S. Sees ‘Historic Opportunity' to End 20-Year Enmity With Iran, Los Angeles TimesLa musica è "Inspired" di Kevin MacLeod [incompetech.com] Licenza C.C. by 4.0Potete seguire Pallonate in Faccia ai seguenti link:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pallonateinfaccia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/pallonateinfacciablog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/pallonatefaccia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/pallonateinfaccia/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Per contattarmi: pallonateinfaccia@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iscrivetevi alla newsletter THE BEAUTIFUL SHAME!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COME SOSTENERE PALLONATE IN FACCIA⁠⁠

Trade ties and tariff relief were supposed to be the key issues on the agenda during US President Donald Trump's visit to China this week. But with the Iran war unresolved and the Strait of Hormuz still blocked, the conflict is to take precedence. China is a major importer of Iranian oil and analysts say Mr Trump will try to push Beijing to decrease its purchases as a way of increasing pressure on Tehran. China's relationship with Iran is significant. But Beijing also has important economic partnerships in Gulf states, which Iran has routinely attacked since the conflict began. China has been treading carefully throughout the war, not aligning itself explicitly with any one side. A week before Mr Trump's visit, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Beijing, when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for an end to the hostilities. But the meeting also came after China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution in April to reopen the strait. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher asks where China stands in the power struggle between Tehran and Washington, and whether Beijing could play a role in defusing the conflict. She speaks to Chuchu Zhang, deputy director at the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University in China.

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Zhang Chuchu joins us to discuss how China views the war in Iran and what the conflict means for China's interests and strategy in the Middle East. She explains Chinese concerns about regional spillover, energy security, and the erosion of trust in international negotiations. The conversation also discusses China's diplomatic approach and what the conflict means for U.S.–China relations and the upcoming Trump–Xi leadership meeting.  Zhang Chuchu is an associate professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs and deputy director at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University.   

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with Bard College Professor Ziad Abu-Rish about the roots of Israel's aggression against Lebanon. They discuss why Israel has been attacking Lebanon since 1948, why Hezbollah continues to fight Israel, and why the Lebanese military can't disarm Hezbollah. They draw upon this article that Ziad recently published in The Public Source, “Sovereignty Without Defense: The Army, the State, and Hezbollah's Weapons." Peter Beinart is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He is also a Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York, a Contributing opinion writer at the New York Times, an Editor-at-Large at Jewish Currents, and an MSNOW Political Commentator. His newest book (published 2025) is Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning. He publishes regularly on https://peterbeinart.substack.com/. Ziad Abu-Rish is Associate Professor of Human Rights and Middle Eastern Studies and Director, MA Program in Human Rights and the Arts at Bard College. He is a scholar of the modern Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. His research centers around state formation, economic development, and popular mobilizations, particularly in Lebanon and Jordan. His teaching experience includes undergraduate and graduate courses in human rights; comparative state formation; various themes in Middle East studies; and research methodologies. Abu-Rish is the author of The State of Lebanon: Popular Politics and Institution Building in the Wake of Independence (Stanford University Press, 2026). He co-created (with artist Tania El Khoury) The Search for Power, a touring lecture performance and sound installation exploring the history of electricity in Beirut. Abu-Rish is also coeditor of The Dawn of the Arab Uprisings: End of an Old Order? (2012) and Critical Voices: A Collection of Interviews from and on the Middle East (2015). Abu-Rish has also authored several articles appearing in Middle East Report and Review of Middle East Studies and chapters in edited volumes on the political economy of the Middle East, the Arab uprisings, and teaching Middle East history. Abu-Rish also serves as coeditor of Arab Studies Journal and Jadaliyya e-zine, and codirector of the Lebanese Dissertation Summer Institute. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

This episode unpacks the U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Islamabad and the prospect of a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.   Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR   Guest: Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, CFR   We Discuss: What transpired during the U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad. Whether both sides abandoned their own preconditions before talks began. How unusually senior and small the negotiating delegations were. What the logic and mechanics of the U.S. naval blockade are. Why other countries have not joined the blockade and may resist it. What the Arab Gulf states are privately urging Washington to do. Whether Israel and the U.S. share the same goals regarding the Iranian regime.   Mentioned on the Episode:   Vice President JD Vance Delivers Remarks in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 11, 2026   Harry Sekulich and Kate Whannel, "Starmer Says UK Will Not Join Trump's Blockade of Iran's Ports," BBC   Defense Technical Information Agency, "Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities," October 1, 2007   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/what-comes-next-after-failed-us-iran-talks   Opinions expressed on The President's Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

This month's podcast episode takes us through Uzbekistan along the route that The Barakat Trust took on our trip to the country in November 2025. We begin in Tashkent before moving to Samarkand and finishing in Bukhara, exploring a number of architectural sites, crafts and traditions along the way. In our discussion we ask how the richness of Uzbekistan's cultural heritage came to be considered on the periphery of the Persianate world.Our guest is Fuchsia Hart is The Sarikhani Curator for the Iranian Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. She has written for the publications like The Guardian and the Oxford Review of Books, and spoke or lectured at institutions like The Wallace Collection, SOAS, and the Royal Asiatic Society. In 2025, Fuchsia completed her DPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford with a thesis exploring Fath ‘Ali Shah Qajar's patronage of the major shrines of Iran and Iraq.This episode is part of our series Peripheries which seeks to push our understanding of the cultural heritage of the Islamic world away from the traditional centres that we associate with it. With a fantastic range of guests we will examine places and topics often considered peripheral to the Islamic world and understand why they are in fact of central importance to the region's cultural heritage, from Armenia to England, from Ethiopia to West Africa.

What happens to the environment when the state enters previously self-governed villages in rural China? We explore this question in the Blang mountains in southwestern China, a region that was incorporated into the nascent people's republic of China from 1953 onwards, with immense consequences for Blang communities and ecologies. Our guest Daniel Mohseni Kabir Bäckström disentangles how the arrival of the state disrupted long-standing relations between Blang communities and the local mountain gods, making the land sick. And what Blang people can teach us about tackling the ongoing climate crisis. Daniel Mohseni Kabir Bäckström is a guest researcher at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oslo. Kenneth Bo Nielsen, your host, is a social anthropologist working at the University of Oslo where he also heads the Centre for South Asian Democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

What happens to the environment when the state enters previously self-governed villages in rural China? We explore this question in the Blang mountains in southwestern China, a region that was incorporated into the nascent people's republic of China from 1953 onwards, with immense consequences for Blang communities and ecologies. Our guest Daniel Mohseni Kabir Bäckström disentangles how the arrival of the state disrupted long-standing relations between Blang communities and the local mountain gods, making the land sick. And what Blang people can teach us about tackling the ongoing climate crisis. Daniel Mohseni Kabir Bäckström is a guest researcher at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oslo. Kenneth Bo Nielsen, your host, is a social anthropologist working at the University of Oslo where he also heads the Centre for South Asian Democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/environmental-studies

What happens to the environment when the state enters previously self-governed villages in rural China? We explore this question in the Blang mountains in southwestern China, a region that was incorporated into the nascent people's republic of China from 1953 onwards, with immense consequences for Blang communities and ecologies. Our guest Daniel Mohseni Kabir Bäckström disentangles how the arrival of the state disrupted long-standing relations between Blang communities and the local mountain gods, making the land sick. And what Blang people can teach us about tackling the ongoing climate crisis. Daniel Mohseni Kabir Bäckström is a guest researcher at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oslo. Kenneth Bo Nielsen, your host, is a social anthropologist working at the University of Oslo where he also heads the Centre for South Asian Democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies

What happens to the environment when the state enters previously self-governed villages in rural China? We explore this question in the Blang mountains in southwestern China, a region that was incorporated into the nascent people's republic of China from 1953 onwards, with immense consequences for Blang communities and ecologies. Our guest Daniel Mohseni Kabir Bäckström disentangles how the arrival of the state disrupted long-standing relations between Blang communities and the local mountain gods, making the land sick. And what Blang people can teach us about tackling the ongoing climate crisis. Daniel Mohseni Kabir Bäckström is a guest researcher at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oslo. Kenneth Bo Nielsen, your host, is a social anthropologist working at the University of Oslo where he also heads the Centre for South Asian Democracy.

What happens to the environment when the state enters previously self-governed villages in rural China? We explore this question in the Blang mountains in southwestern China, a region that was incorporated into the nascent people's republic of China from 1953 onwards, with immense consequences for Blang communities and ecologies. Our guest Daniel Mohseni Kabir Bäckström disentangles how the arrival of the state disrupted long-standing relations between Blang communities and the local mountain gods, making the land sick. And what Blang people can teach us about tackling the ongoing climate crisis. Daniel Mohseni Kabir Bäckström is a guest researcher at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oslo. Kenneth Bo Nielsen, your host, is a social anthropologist working at the University of Oslo where he also heads the Centre for South Asian Democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

In this episode, panelists discuss Iran's current political climate, concerns for civilians on the ground, and how the country's rapidly evolving internal dynamics are shaping U.S. objectives as well as broader regional and international considerations.   Background Reading: In this article, International Affairs Fellow Sam Vigersky discusses the global economic disruption caused by the Iran war and its effects on existing humanitarian crises.    Host: Deborah Amos, Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence, Princeton University; CFR Member   Guests: Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations   Mahmood Reza Amiry-Moghaddam, Professor, University of Oslo; Founder and Director, Iran Human Rights NGO   Mara Karlin, Professor of Practice, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies; Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institution; CFR Member   Ray Takeyh, Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies, Council on Foreign Relations   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR's Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Iran's Internal Dynamics and U.S. Objectives

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the laws that Hammurabi (c1810 - c1750 BC), King of Babylon, had carved into a black basalt pillar in present day Iraq and which, since its rediscovery in 1901 in present day Iran, has affirmed Hammurabi's reputation as one of the first great lawmakers. Visitors to the Louvre in Paris can see it on display with almost 300 rules in cuneiform, covering anything from ‘an eye for an eye' to how to handle murder, divorce, witchcraft, false accusations and more. The Code of Hammurabi, as it became known, made such an impression in Mesopotamia that it was copied and shared for a millennium after his death and, since its reemergence, Hammurabi and his Code have been commemorated in the US Capitol and the International Court of Justice.WithMartin Worthington Professor in Middle Eastern Studies at Trinity College DublinFrances Reynolds Shillito Fellow and Associate Professor of Assyriology at the University of Oxford and Senior Research Fellow at The Queen's CollegeAnd Selena Wisnom Lecturer in the Heritage of the Middle East at the University of LeicesterProducer: Simon TillotsonReading list:Zainab Bahrani, Mesopotamia: Ancient Art and Architecture (Thames and Hudson, 2017)Dominique Charpin, Hammurabi of Babylon (I.B. Tauris, 2021)Prudence O. Harper, Joan Aruz and Françoise Tallon, The Royal City of Susa: Ancient Near Eastern Treasures from the Louvre (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1992)J. Nicholas Postgate (ed.), Languages of Iraq, Ancient and Modern (British School of Archaeology in Iraq, 2007), especially ‘Babylonian and Assyrian: A History of Akkadian' by Andrew R. George Martha T. Roth, Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor (2nd edition, Scholars Press, 1997)Marc Van De Mieroop, King Hammurabi of Babylon: A Biography (Wiley, 2005) Marc Van De Mieroop, A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000–323 BC (4th edition (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2006)Selena Wisnom, The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History (Allen Lane, 2025)Martin Worthington, Complete Babylonian: A Comprehensive Guide to Reading and Understanding Babylonian with Original Texts (Teach Yourself Library, 2012)In Our Time is a BBC Studios ProductionSpanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Misha Glenny and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the laws that Hammurabi (c1810 - c1750 BC), King of Babylon, had carved into a black basalt pillar in present day Iraq and which, since its rediscovery in 1901 in present day Iran, has affirmed Hammurabi's reputation as one of the first great lawmakers. Visitors to the Louvre in Paris can see it on display with almost 300 rules in cuneiform, covering anything from ‘an eye for an eye' to how to handle murder, divorce, witchcraft, false accusations and more. The Code of Hammurabi, as it became known, made such an impression in Mesopotamia that it was copied and shared for a millennium after his death and, since its reemergence, Hammurabi and his Code have been commemorated in the US Capitol and the International Court of Justice.WithMartin Worthington Professor in Middle Eastern Studies at Trinity College DublinFrances Reynolds Shillito Fellow and Associate Professor of Assyriology at the University of Oxford and Senior Research Fellow at The Queen's CollegeAnd Selena Wisnom Lecturer in the Heritage of the Middle East at the University of LeicesterProducer: Simon TillotsonReading list:Zainab Bahrani, Mesopotamia: Ancient Art and Architecture (Thames and Hudson, 2017)Dominique Charpin, Hammurabi of Babylon (I.B. Tauris, 2021)Prudence O. Harper, Joan Aruz and Françoise Tallon, The Royal City of Susa: Ancient Near Eastern Treasures from the Louvre (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1992)J. Nicholas Postgate (ed.), Languages of Iraq, Ancient and Modern (British School of Archaeology in Iraq, 2007), especially ‘Babylonian and Assyrian: A History of Akkadian' by Andrew R. George Martha T. Roth, Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor (2nd edition, Scholars Press, 1997)Marc Van De Mieroop, King Hammurabi of Babylon: A Biography (Wiley, 2005) Marc Van De Mieroop, A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000–323 BC (4th edition (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2006)Selena Wisnom, The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History (Allen Lane, 2025)Martin Worthington, Complete Babylonian: A Comprehensive Guide to Reading and Understanding Babylonian with Original Texts (Teach Yourself Library, 2012)In Our Time is a BBC Studios ProductionSpanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Misha Glenny and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.

Aaron is Joined by Luke Peterson to discuss his new book, The US Military in the Print News Media. Peterson is a professor of Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. American Exception followers on Patreon, regardless of the tier, get first access to new episodes! Paid subscribers enjoy access to the entire library of the best historical analysis of deep events on the American Exception podcast.  Subscribe to our Patreon at https://patreon.com/americanexception Special thanks to: Dana Chavarria, production Casey Moore, graphics Michelle Boley, animated intro Mock Orange, music

In an era of deepening polarization, Sari Hanafi examines how social scientists often reproduce the very injustices they seek to challenge, taking entrenched positions while dismissing alternative perspectives. He introduces the concept of symbolic liberalism - a contradiction in which individuals espouse classical liberal principles, yet act in politically illiberal ways. This, he argues, has exacerbated the pathologies of late modernity: authoritarianism, economic precarity, and environmental destruction, now all unfolding in a climate where reasonable debate seems increasingly impossible. Examining key flashpoints of contemporary polarization, Hanafi critiques how symbolic liberalism inflates the universality of rights while simultaneously narrowing the space for dialogue. Rather than this rigid ideological stance, he calls for a dialogical turn, a renewed public sphere where diverse conceptions of the ‘common good' engage in genuine conversation. Blending political and moral philosophy with sociological critique, Hanafi offers a path forward in an age when intellectual exchange is more necessary, yet also more imperilled, than ever. Against Symbolic Liberalism: A Plea for Dialogical Sociology (Liverpool UP, 2025) is not just a critique of polarization but a critical and impassioned call to reclaim meaningful intellectual discourse. Sari Hanafi is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Beirut. He served as President of the International Sociological Association (2018–23) and Vice President of the Arab Council for Social Sciences (2015–16). An International Fellow of the British Academy, he was also the Editor of Idafat: The Arab Journal of Sociology (2007–22). His contributions to the field have been recognized with some of the Arab world's most prestigious academic awards, including the Abdelhamid Shouman Award (2014) and the Kuwait Award for Social Science (2015). In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of San Marcos, Peru. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In an era of deepening polarization, Sari Hanafi examines how social scientists often reproduce the very injustices they seek to challenge, taking entrenched positions while dismissing alternative perspectives. He introduces the concept of symbolic liberalism - a contradiction in which individuals espouse classical liberal principles, yet act in politically illiberal ways. This, he argues, has exacerbated the pathologies of late modernity: authoritarianism, economic precarity, and environmental destruction, now all unfolding in a climate where reasonable debate seems increasingly impossible. Examining key flashpoints of contemporary polarization, Hanafi critiques how symbolic liberalism inflates the universality of rights while simultaneously narrowing the space for dialogue. Rather than this rigid ideological stance, he calls for a dialogical turn, a renewed public sphere where diverse conceptions of the ‘common good' engage in genuine conversation. Blending political and moral philosophy with sociological critique, Hanafi offers a path forward in an age when intellectual exchange is more necessary, yet also more imperilled, than ever. Against Symbolic Liberalism: A Plea for Dialogical Sociology (Liverpool UP, 2025) is not just a critique of polarization but a critical and impassioned call to reclaim meaningful intellectual discourse. Sari Hanafi is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Beirut. He served as President of the International Sociological Association (2018–23) and Vice President of the Arab Council for Social Sciences (2015–16). An International Fellow of the British Academy, he was also the Editor of Idafat: The Arab Journal of Sociology (2007–22). His contributions to the field have been recognized with some of the Arab world's most prestigious academic awards, including the Abdelhamid Shouman Award (2014) and the Kuwait Award for Social Science (2015). In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of San Marcos, Peru. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

In an era of deepening polarization, Sari Hanafi examines how social scientists often reproduce the very injustices they seek to challenge, taking entrenched positions while dismissing alternative perspectives. He introduces the concept of symbolic liberalism - a contradiction in which individuals espouse classical liberal principles, yet act in politically illiberal ways. This, he argues, has exacerbated the pathologies of late modernity: authoritarianism, economic precarity, and environmental destruction, now all unfolding in a climate where reasonable debate seems increasingly impossible. Examining key flashpoints of contemporary polarization, Hanafi critiques how symbolic liberalism inflates the universality of rights while simultaneously narrowing the space for dialogue. Rather than this rigid ideological stance, he calls for a dialogical turn, a renewed public sphere where diverse conceptions of the ‘common good' engage in genuine conversation. Blending political and moral philosophy with sociological critique, Hanafi offers a path forward in an age when intellectual exchange is more necessary, yet also more imperilled, than ever. Against Symbolic Liberalism: A Plea for Dialogical Sociology (Liverpool UP, 2025) is not just a critique of polarization but a critical and impassioned call to reclaim meaningful intellectual discourse. Sari Hanafi is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Beirut. He served as President of the International Sociological Association (2018–23) and Vice President of the Arab Council for Social Sciences (2015–16). An International Fellow of the British Academy, he was also the Editor of Idafat: The Arab Journal of Sociology (2007–22). His contributions to the field have been recognized with some of the Arab world's most prestigious academic awards, including the Abdelhamid Shouman Award (2014) and the Kuwait Award for Social Science (2015). In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of San Marcos, Peru. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

In an era of deepening polarization, Sari Hanafi examines how social scientists often reproduce the very injustices they seek to challenge, taking entrenched positions while dismissing alternative perspectives. He introduces the concept of symbolic liberalism - a contradiction in which individuals espouse classical liberal principles, yet act in politically illiberal ways. This, he argues, has exacerbated the pathologies of late modernity: authoritarianism, economic precarity, and environmental destruction, now all unfolding in a climate where reasonable debate seems increasingly impossible. Examining key flashpoints of contemporary polarization, Hanafi critiques how symbolic liberalism inflates the universality of rights while simultaneously narrowing the space for dialogue. Rather than this rigid ideological stance, he calls for a dialogical turn, a renewed public sphere where diverse conceptions of the ‘common good' engage in genuine conversation. Blending political and moral philosophy with sociological critique, Hanafi offers a path forward in an age when intellectual exchange is more necessary, yet also more imperilled, than ever. Against Symbolic Liberalism: A Plea for Dialogical Sociology (Liverpool UP, 2025) is not just a critique of polarization but a critical and impassioned call to reclaim meaningful intellectual discourse. Sari Hanafi is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Beirut. He served as President of the International Sociological Association (2018–23) and Vice President of the Arab Council for Social Sciences (2015–16). An International Fellow of the British Academy, he was also the Editor of Idafat: The Arab Journal of Sociology (2007–22). His contributions to the field have been recognized with some of the Arab world's most prestigious academic awards, including the Abdelhamid Shouman Award (2014) and the Kuwait Award for Social Science (2015). In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of San Marcos, Peru. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

In an era of deepening polarization, Sari Hanafi examines how social scientists often reproduce the very injustices they seek to challenge, taking entrenched positions while dismissing alternative perspectives. He introduces the concept of symbolic liberalism - a contradiction in which individuals espouse classical liberal principles, yet act in politically illiberal ways. This, he argues, has exacerbated the pathologies of late modernity: authoritarianism, economic precarity, and environmental destruction, now all unfolding in a climate where reasonable debate seems increasingly impossible. Examining key flashpoints of contemporary polarization, Hanafi critiques how symbolic liberalism inflates the universality of rights while simultaneously narrowing the space for dialogue. Rather than this rigid ideological stance, he calls for a dialogical turn, a renewed public sphere where diverse conceptions of the ‘common good' engage in genuine conversation. Blending political and moral philosophy with sociological critique, Hanafi offers a path forward in an age when intellectual exchange is more necessary, yet also more imperilled, than ever. Against Symbolic Liberalism: A Plea for Dialogical Sociology (Liverpool UP, 2025) is not just a critique of polarization but a critical and impassioned call to reclaim meaningful intellectual discourse. Sari Hanafi is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Beirut. He served as President of the International Sociological Association (2018–23) and Vice President of the Arab Council for Social Sciences (2015–16). An International Fellow of the British Academy, he was also the Editor of Idafat: The Arab Journal of Sociology (2007–22). His contributions to the field have been recognized with some of the Arab world's most prestigious academic awards, including the Abdelhamid Shouman Award (2014) and the Kuwait Award for Social Science (2015). In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of San Marcos, Peru. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications

In an era of deepening polarization, Sari Hanafi examines how social scientists often reproduce the very injustices they seek to challenge, taking entrenched positions while dismissing alternative perspectives. He introduces the concept of symbolic liberalism - a contradiction in which individuals espouse classical liberal principles, yet act in politically illiberal ways. This, he argues, has exacerbated the pathologies of late modernity: authoritarianism, economic precarity, and environmental destruction, now all unfolding in a climate where reasonable debate seems increasingly impossible. Examining key flashpoints of contemporary polarization, Hanafi critiques how symbolic liberalism inflates the universality of rights while simultaneously narrowing the space for dialogue. Rather than this rigid ideological stance, he calls for a dialogical turn, a renewed public sphere where diverse conceptions of the ‘common good' engage in genuine conversation. Blending political and moral philosophy with sociological critique, Hanafi offers a path forward in an age when intellectual exchange is more necessary, yet also more imperilled, than ever. Against Symbolic Liberalism: A Plea for Dialogical Sociology (Liverpool UP, 2025) is not just a critique of polarization but a critical and impassioned call to reclaim meaningful intellectual discourse. Sari Hanafi is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Beirut. He served as President of the International Sociological Association (2018–23) and Vice President of the Arab Council for Social Sciences (2015–16). An International Fellow of the British Academy, he was also the Editor of Idafat: The Arab Journal of Sociology (2007–22). His contributions to the field have been recognized with some of the Arab world's most prestigious academic awards, including the Abdelhamid Shouman Award (2014) and the Kuwait Award for Social Science (2015). In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of San Marcos, Peru. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics

Academic and writer Timothy Mitchell joins This Is Hell! to talk about his new book his new book "The Alibi of Capital: How We Broke the Earth to Steal the Future on the Promise of a Better Tomorrow”, published by Verso Books (https://www.versobooks.com/products/3452-the-alibi-of-capital). Mitchell is the William B. Ransford Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Columbia University. His is based in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies. We will have new installments of Rotten History and Hangover Cure. We will also be sharing your answers to this week's Question from Hell! from Patreon. Help keep This Is Hell! completely listener supported and access bonus episodes by subscribing to our Patreon: www.patreon.com/thisishell

By bringing together academics and journalists that utilise gender and media studies, as well as history and international relations, this interdisciplinary panel will speak to the relationship between the family and nation-building, the role of media and advertising in representing the mother figure, and through real life stories explore how people in the Middle East and the diaspora have redefined what family looks like. Meet our speakers Dr Polly Withers is a feminist cultural studies researcher, currently leading the Leverhulme Early Career Project ‘Neoliberal Visions: Gendering Consumer Advertising and its Resistances in the Levant', which considers how commercial advertising mediates shifts in gender and sexuality in post-Oslo Palestine and current-day Jordan. Prior to this, Polly's work focused on the gender and sexuality politics of 'alternative' music and subcultural participation in contemporary Palestine and its diaspora. Her work has appeared in Feminist Media Studies, the British Journal of Middle East Studies, and related gender and cultural studies outlets. She is currently working on a single-author monograph based on her Leverhulme research. Dr Andrew Delatolla is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Leeds. His research interests centre on the intersections of race and sexuality in relation to statehood and state formation. He has recently concluded a funded project examining the politics of LGBTIQ+ rights in the Spanish overseas territories of Ceuta and Melilla and is currently part of an AHRC-DFG funded project examining transformations in gender and sexual governance in post-Soviet Muslim majority republics. His recent publications include a co-authored chapter, with Karim Chedid, in the anthology This Queer Arab Family edited by Elias Jahshan and a co-authored article with Hossein Cheaito in the European Journal of Politics and Gender on LGBTIQ+ activism in Lebanon. Elias Jahshan (he/him) is a Lebanese-Palestinian journalist and writer, and the editor of groundbreaking anthologies THIS ARAB IS QUEER (2022) and THIS QUEER ARAB FAMILY (2025), both published by Saqi Books. This Arab Is Queer was a 2023 Lambda Literary Awards finalist in the USA and shortlisted for the 2023 Bread & Roses Award in the UK, and has been translated into Italian and soon in French. His short memoirs have been published in several anthologies, and he has written for The Guardian, The New Arab, Raseef22, My Kali, and more. Meet our chair Hakan Sandal-Wilson is Assistant Professor of Gender, Peace and Security at the Department of Gender Studies. He is a political sociologist whose teaching and research explore how gender and sexuality intersect with democracy, conflict, and ethnic and religious difference.

Federico Borsari is a Non-Resident Fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis, or CEPA for short.  The Center for European Policy Analysis is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy institution headquartered in Washington, DC, with hubs in London and Brussels. The organization focuses on strengthening the transatlantic alliance through research, analysis, and programs. CEPA provides insight on trends affecting democracy, security, and defense to government officials and agencies, helps transatlantic businesses navigate changing strategic landscapes, and builds networks of future leaders committed to transatlantic cooperation. At CEPA, Federico focuses on issues at the intersection of technology and international security, with particular emphasis on unmanned systems and autonomy. His work also covers NATO and transatlantic defense and security. He has authored several analyses and publications on the use and security implications of unmanned aerial systems by both state and non-state actors, and recently co-authored the first-ever report on drone warfare and its implications for NATO. Federico previously served as a Pan-European Fellow and later a Visiting Fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, and until October 2021 he worked as an analyst and project officer at the International Institute for International Political Studies in Milan, where he also helped organize the last three editions of the Mediterranean Dialogues Conference. He holds a BA in History from the University of Modena and an MA in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the University of Bologna. He also earned a second MA in Middle Eastern Studies from the Catholic University in Milan, and conducted fieldwork in Iraqi Kurdistan for a research project on the institutionalization and depoliticization of the Peshmarga. Federico is a frequent commentator on defense and drone technology in national and international media, and he regularly participates in conferences on defense technology and the use of drones. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Federico talks about how uncrewed systems are being used in the Arctic, and the challenges and opportunities they present for security, monitoring, and protecting critical infrastructure in this increasingly strategic region.

Director of Sac State's Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies weighs in on escalating conflict. Also, one couple's struggle to afford raising healthcare premiums. Finally, raising awareness of human trafficking through art and movement.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the attack on Iran and the killing of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the United States and Israel, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday, while experts warned that the joint military strikes will have far-reaching repercussions in the region and the world.外交部发言人3月1日表示，中方坚决反对并强烈谴责美国和以色列对伊朗发动的袭击以及刺杀伊朗最高领袖哈梅内伊的行为。专家警告称，此次联合军事行动将对该地区乃至全世界产生深远影响。Calling the attack a grave violation of Iran's sovereignty and security, the spokesperson said it also tramples on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and basic norms governing international relations. "We urge an immediate stop to the military operations, no further escalation of the tense situation, and joint effort to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East and the world at large," the spokesperson added.发言人在回答记者提问时表示，袭击并杀害伊朗最高领导人，严重侵犯伊朗主权安全，践踏《联合国宪章》宗旨原则和国际关系基本准则，中方对此予以坚决反对和强烈谴责。"我们敦促立即停止军事行动，避免紧张事态进一步升级，共同维护中东和世界和平稳定。"发言人强调。The US-Israeli airstrikes, which entered a second day on Sunday, have killed more than 200 people in Iran, including Khamenei, 86, and dozens of students at a girls' primary school in the southern part of the country, according to Iranian authorities.据伊朗官方证实，美以空袭进入第二天，已造成伊朗境内200余人死亡，包括86岁的最高领袖哈梅内伊，以及该国南部一所女子小学的数十名学生。The joint strikes have drawn the Middle East into unknown territory, as Iran has retaliated by firing missiles targeting Israel and 27 US military bases in the region.此次联合打击使中东地区局势进入未知境地，伊朗已向以色列及该地区27处美军基地发射导弹作为报复。The attack has opened a dangerous new chapter in terms of US intervention in Iran, marking the second time in over eight months that the US and Israel have attacked Iran amid negotiations over its nuclear program.此次袭击开启了美国干预伊朗事务的危险新篇章，这是八个多月以来，美以在其核计划谈判期间第二次对伊朗发动袭击。On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi sharply criticized the strikes in a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, calling for an immediate cessation of US-Israel military operations in Iran, a prompt return to dialogue and negotiations, and joint opposition to such unilateral actions. Wang said that China has consistently advocated adherence to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and is opposed to the use of force in international relations.3月1日，外交部长王毅同俄罗斯外长拉夫罗夫通电话时严厉批评了此次袭击行动。王毅呼吁立即停止军事行动，尽快重回对话谈判，共同反对单边行径。王毅表示，中方一贯主张遵守联合国宪章宗旨原则，反对在国际关系中使用武力。The blatant killing of a leader of a sovereign state and the incitement of regime change are "unacceptable", he said, adding that these actions "violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations".在国际关系中动辄使用武力，公然击杀一个主权国家领导人、鼓动政权更迭，这种行为"不可接受"，他补充说，这些行为"违反了国际法和国际关系基本准则"。Noting that the conflict has spread throughout the Persian Gulf, Wang said the situation may be pushed into a dangerous abyss, and China is highly concerned about this. He emphasized that launching military strikes against a sovereign state without the authorization of the UN Security Council undermines the foundation for peace established after World War II.王毅指出，目前战事已延烧至整个波斯湾，中东局势有可能被推向危险的深渊，中方对此高度关切。他强调，未经联合国安理会授权对主权国家大打出手，破坏二战之后建立的和平根基。Wang called on the international community to clearly and unequivocally voice opposition to the world regressing to the law of the jungle.王毅呼吁国际社会应当发出明确、清晰声音，反对世界倒退回丛林法则。Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the killing of Khamenei was a "declaration of war against Muslims". Iran issued a statement vowing that this "great crime will never go unanswered", its official news agency IRNA reported.伊朗总统佩泽希齐扬表示，刺杀哈梅内伊是对"穆斯林的宣战"。伊朗官方通讯社援引伊方声明称，这一"重大罪行绝不会得不到回应"。Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera network on Sunday that a new supreme leader will be chosen in "one or two days". Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that leadership duties would temporarily be assumed by the Iranian president, the judiciary chief and a jurist from the nation's Constitutional Council.伊朗外长阿拉格齐3月1日告诉半岛电视台，将在"一两天内"选出新的最高领袖。伊朗塔斯尼姆通讯社报道，领导职责将暂时由伊朗总统、司法部长和宪法监护委员会的一名法学家共同承担。Local media reports quoted Iran's Revolutionary Guard as saying that the Strait of Hormuz — a vital waterway for oil and gas shipments — was restricted to vessels on Saturday.当地媒体报道援引伊朗革命卫队称，霍尔木兹海峡——这一至关重要的油气运输水道——已于2月28日对船只实施限制。Jasim Al-Azzawi, an analyst in Iraq, said the conflict already looked broader and deeper than the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June last year.伊拉克分析人士阿扎维表示，此次冲突的广度和深度已经超过去年6月以色列与伊朗为期12天的战争。The recent strikes "followed mediators' announcement of a significant 'breakthrough' in negotiations", with talks set to resume last week, Al-Azzawi told Al Jazeera, adding that "clearly, diplomacy was never meant to succeed and was merely used to mask war plans".他指出，最近的袭击发生在调解人宣布谈判取得重大"突破"之后，原定上周恢复谈判，"显然，外交从未真正打算成功，只是用来掩盖战争计划的幌子"。"From the timing of the attack, it is apparent that Washington and Tel Aviv had already made up their minds weeks ago. Iran's readiness to retaliate across the region suggests it is willing to wage a long war rather than compromise," he added."从袭击时机来看，华盛顿和特拉维夫显然数周前就已下定决心。伊朗准备在整个地区进行报复，这表明它愿意打一场持久战，而不是妥协。"他补充道。Sun Degang, director of Fudan University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Shanghai, said the previous rounds of talks between the US and Iran appear to have been a mere delaying tactic, giving time for US-Israeli military deployments.复旦大学中东研究中心主任孙德刚分析认为，前几轮美伊谈判似乎只是拖延战术，为美以军事部署争取时间。"The US and Israel, seeking a pretext for military action against Iran, used the talks to enable the deployment of two US aircraft carriers to the Middle East," he said."美国和以色列在寻求对伊朗采取军事行动的借口时，利用谈判促成了两艘美国航母向中东的部署。"Sun added that the recent strikes in Iran may be the beginning of a full-scale conflict, as this time, Iran's determination to retaliate is significantly greater, potentially leading to the mobilization of its full capabilities to counter US-Israeli actions".他表示，此次对伊朗的打击可能是全面冲突的开端，因为这一次伊朗报复的决心明显更大，可能会调动全部能力来反击美以行动。Yan Wei, deputy director of the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at China's Northwest University, pointed out that Iran's retaliatory actions may lead to the US and Israel taking further escalatory measures.西北大学中东研究所副所长闫伟指出，伊朗的报复行动可能导致美以采取进一步升级措施。"In addition to intensifying military strikes and potentially expanding the range of targets, the US and Israel may further tighten economic sanctions on Iran, and step up information campaigns aimed at weakening the Iranian government's domestic and international standing," he said."除了加强军事打击和可能扩大目标范围外，美以可能进一步收紧对伊朗的经济制裁，并加大信息宣传力度，以削弱伊朗政府在国内外地位。"Emphasizing that the US-Israeli strikes in Iran constitute violations of the UN principles and international law, Yan urged nations in the Global South, as well as the UN, to unite to promote peace, end the conflict and resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through political means.他强调美以在伊朗的打击行为违反联合国原则和国际法，敦促全球南方国家以及联合国团结起来，促进和平，结束冲突，通过政治手段解决伊朗核问题。far-reaching repercussion /ˈfɑːˈriːtʃɪŋ ˌriːpəˈkʌʃən/深远影响grave violation /ɡreɪv ˌvaɪəˈleɪʃən/严重侵犯retaliate /rɪˈtælieɪt/报复blatant /ˈbleɪtənt/公然的incitement of regime change /ɪnˈsaɪtmənt ɒv reɪˈʒiːm tʃeɪndʒ/煽动政权更迭abyss /əˈbɪs/深渊unequivocally /ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəli/明确地

Israel launched a "preemptive" strike against Iran on Saturday, igniting renewed military tensions in the Middle East. Experts said the attack further diminishes prospects for a diplomatic resolution to the long-standing nuclear dispute between Tehran and the West.The attack, coming after Israel and Iran engaged in a 12-day conflict last June, follows repeated US-Israeli threats that they would strike again under the pretext of Iran's nuclear enrichment and its ballistic missile program.Tehran has long maintained that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only, while Iran's state media said the country is preparing for a "a crushing response" to the attacks, according to a CNN report.Witnesses in Iran reported a large explosion, though there was no immediate comment from the government about the blast."The State of Israel launched a preemptive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel," said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, declaring an "immediate state of emergency throughout the entire country".Sirens sound across Israel, while the Israeli military warned civilians to stay close to bomb shelters.An Israeli defense official said the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks ago.United States President Donald Trump described the attack as "massive and ongoing", advocating for regime change and calling on Iranians to "take over your government", the report said.Sun Degang, director of Fudan University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Shanghai, said the Israel-US attack on Iran may signify the beginning of a full-scale conflict."Mirroring last year's events, Israel launched strikes during ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran," Sun said."This time, Iran's determination to retaliate is expected to be significantly greater, potentially leading to the mobilization of its full capabilities to counter both US and Israeli actions. Consequently, a forceful response from Iran is likely, possibly escalating into wider conflict as a means of deterrence."Sun said that the initial three rounds of negotiations between Iran and the US appear to have been a delaying tactic, providing cover for US and Israeli military deployments."The US and Israel, seeking a pretext for military action against Iran, used the talks to enable the deployment of two US aircraft carriers to the Middle East," he added."With the carriers now in position, a coordinated offensive against Iran has purportedly begun, with Israel emphasizing the unified US-Israel front to deter Iran from limiting its retaliation. The strategy aims to fully involve the US in the conflict, forcing Iran into a strategically unfavorable confrontation against two adversaries."Given the present context, a key objective for Iran likely involves retaliatory action against Israel. This could extend beyond military targets to encompass specific civilian facilities, such as power plants and refineries, potentially aimed at deterring follow-on strikes from Israel and the US."Sun went on to say that, facing the perceived threat of regime change, Iran has proactively developed contingency plans, which include arrangements sanctioned by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for collective leadership and designated successors in the event of an emergency."Iran's preparations are more comprehensive than last year, suggesting that, in the short term, its command, control, intelligence and defense systems are unlikely to be significantly disrupted," he added."The ongoing tensions between the US, Israel and Iran pose a significant risk of regional escalation. While most Middle Eastern nations, particularly those bordering Iran, prioritize their own stability and are hesitant to be drawn into the conflict, but the region's overall peace and stability remain profoundly precarious."

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, 2025 FMEP Fellow Hilary Rantisi speaks with filmmaker and activist Jen Marlowe about the film Severed, which Jen directed. The film, released in late 2025, tells the story of Mohamad Saleh, a teenager from Gaza who has endured five major Israeli assaults, lost his home, close family members, his best friends, and—at the age of 12—his leg. Hilary and Jen discuss disablement, disability justice, and Gaza, which now has the largest cohort of child amputees in the world.  Jen Marlowe is the founder of Donkeysaddle Projects and a Consulting Producer for Just Vision. She is an independent filmmaker, journalist, author, playwright and human rights activist. Her books include I Am Troy Davis (Haymarket Books, 2013), The Hour of Sunlight (2011, Bold Type Books) and Darfur Diaries: Stories of Survival (2006, Bold Type Books). Her films include Severed, There Is A Field, and Remembering the Gaza War. Hilary Rantisi grew up in Palestine and has been involved with education and advocacy on the Middle East since her move to the US. She was a 2025 Fellow at FMEP and was most recently the Associate Director of the Religion, Conflict and Peace Initiative (RCPI) and co-instructor of Learning in Context: Narratives of Displacement and Belonging in Israel/Palestine at Harvard Divinity School. She has over two decades of experience in institution building at Harvard, having been the Director of the Middle East Initiative (MEI) at Harvard Kennedy School of Government prior to her current role. She has a BA in Political Science/International Studies from Aurora University and a master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago. Before moving to the US, Hilary worked at Birzeit University and at the Jerusalem-based Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. There, she co-edited a photo essay book Our Story: The Palestinians with the Rev. Naim Ateek. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Deborah Hart and David Cunliffe. First up, it's about to get faster and cheaper to get your driver licence - but is that coming at the cost of road safety? Then, tensions between Iran and the US are coming to a head, with a potential meeting to come. Australian National University Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Amin Saikal shares his read on the situation.

Episode 223: Ottoman Continuities and the Development of Modern Education in Tunisia This project traces the changing role of Ottomanism in relation to the emergence of modern educational institutions in Tunis. The development of the Tunisian education system demonstrated continuous Ottoman links, despite colonial co-optation over time. The social milieus formed in modern educational spaces facilitated ties to the Ottoman Empire. In short, this is a regional history rooted in a single city, which challenges colonial and nationalist historiographies. Over time, modern education led to a democratization in forms of belonging to the Ottoman Empire. It was no longer only court elites who had access to other statesmen, but rather those educated in the new schools who negotiated changing notions of being Ottoman in Tunis.  The first school aimed at modernizing education was founded in 1840: the Bardo Military Academy. This school created a modernized army, including a modernized Mamluk class, whose members would shape education reform later as well. Those educated there formed an inner circle of reformists around Khayreddine Pasha (though he himself was not a Bardo graduate). Here, Mamluks, as well as local Arabs, were educated in a way that emphasized bodily discipline, modern sciences, and European languages. This school was modeled on European military schools, but retained a distinctively Ottoman shape, just like its parallel institution in Istanbul. It was a product of the reforms of Ahmed Bey and, further, was clearly influenced by ideas from modernizing reforms like the Nizam-i Cedid and the Tanzimat. By 1875, the new Mamluk class played a key role in founding the Sadiki School. This institution, though later co-opted by French colonial interests, represented a distinctly Tunisian-Ottoman mode of modern education from the outset. The short-lived Ottoman language program at Sadiki represented an early democratization of the language outside of the Beylical Palace. More importantly, as a result of Sadikian education, French became a language of cross border communication between Arabs and Turks as well. When the first generation of Sadikians grew up, they became the nucleus of the Young Tunisian Party, modelled on the Young Turk Party. Beyond the walls of official schools, Sadikians generated a great deal of educational opportunities through two main institutions: first, the Khaldounia, an institution that aimed to teach modern subjects to Zaytounians.; and second, the Sadiki Alumni Association, which hosted many lectures and extracurricular activities outside of the tight control of the French colonial cultural project. In these spaces, Pan-Islamist ideas flourished. Even as ethnic difference between Turks and Arabs became a cornerstone of colonial propaganda in the 1910s, many of those educated in these spaces maintained the notion that Turks and Arabs were brothers sharing a common cause. Education was further a gendered issue, and one that became tied to moral questions articulated in an Ottoman-Islamic idiom. The first Franco-Arabic school for girls, located on Rue du Pacha, was founded in 1900. It featured a curriculum modelled largely on the Sadiki School, though moderated to produce mothers rather than civil servants. Though run by the wife of a French colonial official, this school and schools like it which followed were far from purely colonial institutions. In conferences and in the press, Tunisians emphasized the importance of educating girls, arguing that it was a religious matter. The education of girls became a matter of preserving an Umma that was rapidly changing shape as the Ottoman Empire came to an end over the early decades of the twentieth century.  Between 1840 and 1923, various educational institutions played key roles in renegotiating what Ottoman belonging meant in Tunis. Despite French colonial rule extending through most of this timeline, many Tunisians maintained a sense of being part of the Ottoman Empire. Initially the domain of statesmen, being Ottoman gradually became a more accessible identity to broader swaths of Tunisians because of changes to the education system.  Erin Kelleher is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Texas at Austin in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies. Focusing on social and cultural history, her work looks at on the relationship between Ottomanism and education reform in Tunisia from the mid-nineteenth century into the early twentieth century. She spent the 2024-2025 academic year as an AIMS fellow based in Tunis, Tunisia. Previously, she spent a year in Meknes, Morocco as a CASA fellow and spent several summers studying Modern and Ottoman Turkish in Istanbul. She holds an MA in Near Eastern Languages and Civilization from the University of Washington. This podcast was recorded on the 7th of May 2025 at the Centre d'Études Maghrébines à Tunis (CEMAT) with the historian Luke Scalone. We thank Bacem Affès, composer and oud soloist, for his interpretation of « Isteftah » in the introduction and conclusion of this podcast. Production and editing: Lena Krause, AIMS Development and Digital Resources Liaison.

Dr. Tomer Persico is a Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, a Rubinstein Fellow at Reichman University, and a Senior Research Scholar at the UC Berkeley Center for Middle Eastern Studies. His fields of expertise include contemporary spirituality, Jewish modern identity, Jewish renewal, and forms of secularization and religiosity in Israel. In God's Image, Persico examines the central role that the idea that all people were created in the image of God played in the development of Western civilization. Focusing on five themes―selfhood, freedom, conscience, equality, and meaning―the book guides the reader through a cultural history of the West, from ancient times through modernity. It explains how each of these ideals was profoundly influenced by the central biblical conception of humanity's creation in God's image, embracing an essential equality among all people, while also emphasizing each human life's singularity and significance. The book argues that the West, and particularly Protestant Christianity, grew out of ideas rooted deeply in this notion, and that it played a core role in the development of individualism, liberalism, human rights discourse, and indeed the secularization process. Making the case for a cultural understanding of history, the volume focuses on ideas as agents of change and challenges the common scholarly emphasis on material conditions. Offering an innovative perspective on the shaping of global modernity, In God's Image examines the relationship between faith and society and posits the fundamental role of the idea of the image of God in the making of the moral ideals and social institutions we hold dear today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Dr. Elisheva Machlis, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at Bar-Ilan University and a member of Forum Dvorah, spoke to KAN reporter Naomi Segal about the recent unrest in Iran and what may lie ahead. (Photo: Reuters)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

J.J. and Dr. Hindy Najman on authorship, authority, and the creation of the Jewish canon. If you or your business are interested in sponsoring an episode or mini-series, please reach out at  podcasts@torahinmotion.org Follow us on Bluesky @jewishideaspod.bsky.social for updates and insights!Please rate and review the the show in the podcast app of your choice.We welcome all complaints and compliments at podcasts@torahinmotion.org  For more information visit torahinmotion.org/podcastsHindy Najman (MA and PhD Harvard, NELC) is the Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture and a fellow at Oriel College.  She is the director and founder of the Centre for the Study of the Bible in Oriel College.  In the University of Oxford, she is a member of the faculty of Theology and Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, and member of the Sub-faculty Classics, and a member of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies.  Prior to her joining the faculty in Oxford, she has held posts at the University of Notre Dame, University of Toronto, and Yale University.  Her areas of research are entanglement of Ancient Culture; Reading Practices in Jewish Antiquity; Comparative Philology; Performance; Formation of the Self and the Subject; Collection and Canon; Authority and Author Function; Biblical Figures and Exemplarity; Practices of Pseudepigraphy and Pseudonymous Attribution; Revelation; Diaspora and Exile; Trauma Studies; and Nature and Law.  Her major publications include Losing the Temple and Recovering the Future: An Analysis of 4 Ezra. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014; Past Renewals: Interpretive Authority, Renewed Revelation, and the Quest for Perfection. Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism 53. Leiden: Brill, 2010.; Seconding Sinai: The Development of Mosaic Discourse in Second Temple Judaism. Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism 77. Leiden: Brill, 2003. Reissued in paperback by the Society of Biblical Literature in April 2009.  She has published over 50 articles and has edited 20 volumes. She has contributed as editor and associate editor to a variety of journals and book series, among them are Journal of Biblical Literature from; Dead Sea Discoveries and the Journal for the Study of Judaism Supplement Series. Her most recent monograph has appeared in December 2024 with Oxford University Press, Scriptural Vitality: Rethinking Hermeneutics and Philology.  In current projects are on Pluriformity and hermeneutics, Metathinking in Ancient Judaism, and Aesthetics and Poetics in ancient Jewish Song.

Dr. Tomer Persico is a Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, a Rubinstein Fellow at Reichman University, and a Senior Research Scholar at the UC Berkeley Center for Middle Eastern Studies. His fields of expertise include contemporary spirituality, Jewish modern identity, Jewish renewal, and forms of secularization and religiosity in Israel. In God's Image, Persico examines the central role that the idea that all people were created in the image of God played in the development of Western civilization. Focusing on five themes―selfhood, freedom, conscience, equality, and meaning―the book guides the reader through a cultural history of the West, from ancient times through modernity. It explains how each of these ideals was profoundly influenced by the central biblical conception of humanity's creation in God's image, embracing an essential equality among all people, while also emphasizing each human life's singularity and significance. The book argues that the West, and particularly Protestant Christianity, grew out of ideas rooted deeply in this notion, and that it played a core role in the development of individualism, liberalism, human rights discourse, and indeed the secularization process. Making the case for a cultural understanding of history, the volume focuses on ideas as agents of change and challenges the common scholarly emphasis on material conditions. Offering an innovative perspective on the shaping of global modernity, In God's Image examines the relationship between faith and society and posits the fundamental role of the idea of the image of God in the making of the moral ideals and social institutions we hold dear today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

On today's show, host Allen Ruff is joined by Stephen Zunes to talk about his recent article in The Progressive, “The Real Reason Trump Invaded Venezuela: It's not drugs, democracy, or even oil. It's power.”  Following the US's abduction of Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, Zunes breaks down the Trump administration's motivations for seizing the state leader and Trump's vision for the US in the Western Hemisphere. He says the Trump administration is telling a number of lies to justify their actions: calling Maduro a narco-terrorist despite that no fentanyl comes from Venezuela, that Maduro stole “our oil” despite Venezuela nationalizing its oil in the 1970s, and more.  Zunes puts these lies in the context of international law, the Monroe Doctrine, Venezuelan opposition to Maduro, and the US military's recent boat-bombing campaign. He says that the US will control all of the oil from Venezuela for the foreseeable future, but “Trump plans to take control of the oil personally and stash the cash in offshore accounts.” Dr. Stephen Zunes is a Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco, where he served as founding director of the program in Middle Eastern Studies. Featured image of Nicolás Maduro at a meeting in Geneva in 2015 via Flickr.  Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate hereThe post The Monroe Doctrine Rises Again in Venezuela appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

The discussion covers the evolving role of debt as an instrument of empire, the emergence of sovereign wealth funds, and the ways financial instruments and flows of money subtly shape political realities and people's lives in the region. Professor Elyachar discusses her latest book "On the Semicivilized: Coloniality, Finance, and Embodied Sovereignty in Cairo" and how she challenges the notion that global finance originated solely in the West. The conversation delves into the history of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and their role in economic development, particularly in "pushing debt as a form of development". A Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University whose work examines the intersection of finance, political economy, and the Arab world, Elyachar also shares her family's history as sarrafs (bankers/brokers) in Ottoman Palestine, and how this tradition sparked her interest in finance and economics. She also explains the historical legal category of the "semicivilized," a term used in international law to describe the Ottoman Empire and other non-European powers who were recognized as legitimate sovereigns. 01:13 Introduction 03:31 A Family History of Finance in Ottoman Palestine06:52 Fieldwork in Cairo: Informal Economy and Debt10:15 The Problem of NGOs and "NGOification"15:53 Debt As an Instrument of Empire23:28 Defining "Semicivilized"37:57 The Central Question: Finance and Violence50:12 The Rise of Sovereign Wealth Funds56:11 Turning Debt Into Assets Julia Elyachar is an anthropologist, political economist, and award winning author. She was trained in anthropology, economics, history of political and economic thought, political economy, social theory, Middle Eastern Studies, and Arabic language. She is an associate professor of anthropology at Princeton University, and associate professor at the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies. She is a Faculty Researcher with the Dignity and Debt network and serves on the Executive Boards of the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, and the Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies. She has published the books "Markets of Dispossession: NGOs, Economic Development, and the State in Cairo" and "On the Semicivilized: Coloniality, Finance, and Embodied Sovereignty in Cairo" (2025).Connect with Julia Elyachar

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Hilary Rantisi speaks with Dr. Yousef Kamal AlKhouri, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and Academic Dean at Bethlehem Bible College and a Christian Arab Palestinian theologian from Gaza. They discuss the Christian community in Gaza, the importance of Gaza in Christianity and Christian history, and the destruction of Christians in Gaza, which Dr. AlKhouri has termed 'ecclesiocide.' They also discuss the new Kairos document, called Kairos II, launched in Bethlehem in November 2025. According to the Kairos Palestine Initiative, Kairos II "declares the reality in Palestine as genocide and ethnic cleansing, challenges Western silence, and introduces a theology of resistance linking faith with justice. It exposes internal crises and reshapes the role of Christians in the struggle for liberation." Read the Kairos II document here. Dr. Yousef Kamal AlKhouri (Ph.D., Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) is a Christian Arab Palestinian theologian from Gaza. He serves as Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and Academic Dean at Bethlehem Bible College. He is a member of the steering committee of Christ at the Checkpoint and the board of Kairos Palestine. His research and publications, in Arabic and English, center on Palestinian theology, contextual biblical interpretation, and the witness of Christianity within the Palestinian experience. Hilary Rantisi grew up in Palestine and has been involved with education and advocacy on the Middle East since her move to the US. She is a 2025 Fellow at FMEP and was most recently the Associate Director of the Religion, Conflict and Peace Initiative (RCPI) and co-instructor of Learning in Context: Narratives of Displacement and Belonging in Israel/Palestine at Harvard Divinity School. She has over two decades of experience in institution building at Harvard, having been the Director of the Middle East Initiative (MEI) at Harvard Kennedy School of Government prior to her current role. She has a BA in Political Science/International Studies from Aurora University and a master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago. Before moving to the US, Hilary worked at Birzeit University and at the Jerusalem-based Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. There, she co-edited a photo essay book Our Story: The Palestinians with the Rev. Naim Ateek. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

Amy is joined by author Naima Brown to discuss her newest novel, Mother Tongue, exploring the consequences of change, finding our authentic selves, motherhood, right-wing radicalization, and the importance of fiction in our fight against patriarchy.Donate to Breaking Down PatriarchyNaima Brown holds degrees in Middle Eastern Studies, Anthropology and Religious Studies. Her essays have appeared in Vogue Australia, the Guardian Australia, and more. She wrote, along with Melissa Doyle, the non-fiction book How to Age Against the Machine. She has spent over a decade working in news, current affairs and documentary - save for her brief stint in reality TV, which inspired her first novel, The Shot. She was born and raised in Northern California before living and working in Yemen and Afghanistan, and now lives in New South Wales with her husband and her dog. Her second novel, Mother Tongue, was published in March 2025.

This series is sponsored by American Security Foundation.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—recorded at the 18Forty X ASFoundation AI Summit—we speak with ASF's Julia Senkfor and AI researcher Cameron Berg about the relationship between artificial intelligence and antisemitism.  In this episode we discuss: Why do large language models have an antisemitism problem? Is antisemitism inextricably embedded in Western culture? What can we do to reduce antisemitic bias in AI?Tune in for a conversation about the Jewish lives we want to create in a world that often seeks to define us negatively.Interview begins at 15:33.Julia Senkfor manages research and operations for American Security Fund. Prior to ASF, she worked as the lead researcher and subject matter expert on Iran (including Iran's nuclear program), Lebanon, Hezbollah, Yemen, and the Houthis at the American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC). She earned her BA in International Affairs and minors in Middle Eastern Studies and Legal Studies from Washington University in St. Louis.Cameron Berg is an AI researcher working at the intersection of cognitive science and machine intelligence. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale and former Meta AI Resident, he builds systems that enhance—rather than replace—human capabilities. His work focuses on alignment, cognitive science, and the emerging science of AI consciousness, with tools and research used across Fortune 500s, startups, and public institutions.References:Inception (2010)The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)Anti-Judaism by David NirenbergFor more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyWhatsApp: join hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.