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251. Turkey’s Critical Elections

Author:
Alistair Taylor
Publication Date:
05-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
On this week's episode Alistair Taylor, MEI's editor-in-chief, is joined by Gönül Tol, the founding director of MEI's Turkey Program and the author of "Erdogan's War: A Strongman's Struggle at Home and in Syria," to discuss Turkey's critical upcoming elections. After two decades in power, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) are facing unprecedented challenges, including an economy in shambles, the ongoing impact of the devastating early February earthquakes, and a united opposition.
Topic:
Elections, Economy, Domestic Politics, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and AKP
Political Geography:
Turkey and Middle East

252. Ending the use of child soldiers

Author:
Alistair Taylor, Mick Mulroy, and Eric Oehlerich
Publication Date:
05-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
On this week's episode Alistair Taylor, MEI's editor-in-chief, is joined by Mick Mulroy and Eric Oehlerich, Senior Fellows with MEI’s Defense & Security Program and the Co-founders of the Lobo Institute and End Child Soldiering, to discuss efforts to stop the recruitment and use of children in combat and rehabilitate former child soldiers. The use of child soliders is a widespread global problem that has a disproportionate impact on the broader Middle East, especially in Yemen, Syria, Sudan, and Somalia.
Topic:
Security, Defense Policy, Rehabilitation, and Child Soldiers
Political Geography:
Sudan, Middle East, Yemen, Syria, and Somalia

253. David Schenker | 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' Ep. 1

Author:
Brian Katulis and David Schenker
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEI VP for Policy Brian Katulis. David Schenker - Director of the Program on Arab Politics at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy - sits down with Brian to discuss the beginnings of his career, his time in the Trump Administration, and the pros and cons of US-MENA policy.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Geopolitics, and Donald Trump
Political Geography:
Middle East

254. How Will Presidential Election Results Affect Turkey’s Regional Outlook?

Author:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
Turkey’s May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections will have serious consequences for the country’s democracy and the economic well-being of its citizens. The results will also shape Turkey’s foreign policy and relations with its Arab neighbors, which have evolved dramatically over the past two years following Ankara’s detente with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia after a decade of tension. Will President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continue his detente with his former Arab and Gulf foes should he win reelection? In the event of Erdogan’s defeat, how will opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu approach regional relations? Will he prioritize relations with the West above ties with Turkey’s Middle Eastern neighbors? And how do Arab and Gulf capitals view these pivotal elections?
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Elections, Domestic Politics, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Regional Politics
Political Geography:
Turkey and Middle East

255. Art in Dialogue with Nature: An Exploration of Saudi Arabia’s New Valley of the Arts

Author:
Iwona Blazwick, Manal Al Dowayan, and Kate Seelye
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
Wadi AlFann ('Valley of the Arts') is a new global cultural destination in Saudi Arabia, where monumental contemporary artworks are being commissioned for AlUla’s majestic desert landscape. Curator Iwona Blazwick and participating Saudi artist Manal Al Dowayan speak with MEI's Senior Vice President Kate Seelye about Wadi Al Fann's permanent art commissions and the impact of the Kingdom's investment in the arts as part of Saudi Vision 2030 on local communities and the international art scene.
Topic:
Arts, Culture, and Investment
Political Geography:
Middle East and Saudi Arabia

256. Richard A. Clarke | 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' Ep. 2

Author:
Brian Katulis
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEI VP for Policy Brian Katulis. After a decade of leadership, Richard A. Clarke recently retired as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Middle East Institute. He chats with Brian about what originally got him into public service, his 30 years working in U.S. government national security agencies (including the Pentagon, the State Department, and the White House National Security Council), and his recent move into writing fiction.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, National Security, and Public Service
Political Geography:
Middle East

257. Itamar Rabinovich on “Middle Eastern Maze”

Author:
Itamar Rabinovich
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
Brookings’ Distinguished Fellow on Foreign Policy Itamar Rabinovich discusses his new book - “Middle Eastern Maze: Israel, the Arabs, and the Region” - as well as contemporary Israeli politics with MEI’s VP for Policy Brian Katulis.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Geopolitics, and Regional Politics
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, and Palestine

258. 'Retraumatized': Assessing the Impact of the Earthquake on Northern Syria's Humanitarian Crisis

Author:
Charles Lister, Dania Albaba, Nora Abdullah, Natasha Hall, and Alex Mahoney
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
The Syrian conflict, now in its 13th year, has generated a complex humanitarian emergency resulting from the dislocation of half of the country’s population and the disintegration of the Syrian public health system, greatly exacerbating the pre-existing global refugee crisis. The conflict and mass displacement have additionally had a severe psychological impact on civilians, resulting in high levels of mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The earthquake that struck northern Syria on Feb. 6, 2023 — the worst in the region in 200 years — compounded and retraumatized an already acutely affected population. Last February, MedGlobal deployed a team of psychiatric professionals to conduct post-disaster mental health training in northwestern Syria — their experiences led to the publication of a groundbreaking new report: “Retraumatized: The Psychological Impact of the Earthquake on War-Torn Syria.” The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to host a discussion with the report’s authors, who will present their findings and policy recommendations and explore the many wider aspects of Syria’s humanitarian crisis, including the upcoming United Nations Security Council vote on cross-border aid access into northwestern Syria.
Topic:
Natural Disasters, Trauma, Humanitarian Crisis, and Earthquake
Political Geography:
Middle East and Syria

259. Roundtable with Special Representative Dilawar Syed (U.S. Business in Iraq)

Author:
Dilawar Syed and Randa Slim
Publication Date:
07-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
The Middle East Institute (MEI) was pleased to host a roundtable with the U.S. State Department's Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs, Dilawar Syed, moderated by Paul Salem, President & CEO with Randa Slim, Senior Fellow and Director, Conflict Resolution & Track II Dialogues Program. SR Syed had recently returned from a delegation trip to Baghdad with the U.S.-Iraq Business Council (USIBC). In this roundtable, he briefed a private sector and policy audience about his findings. During his visit, he held high level bilateral meetings with senior Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Al-Sudani. SR Syed also met with the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, many of the Council of Representatives Iraq (COR) committees, and Iraqi entrepreneurs. SR Syed also spoke to opportunities and challenges for U.S. businesses in Iraq at large, responding to questions such as: Which economic sectors show the most promise for US-Iraqi economic cooperation in the short-, medium-, and long-term? What are the biggest challenges facing Iraq's economy and potential business partnerships with US companies? What were some of the private sector delegates impressions of Iraq today, and the economic opportunities available to US businesses? From this administration's perspective, how important (or high-priority) is our relationship with Iraq and what is the strategic rationale for improved and integrated economic cooperation? Looking past the delegation, how does the State Department intend to continue promoting active private sector partnerships? How do your Iraqi counterparts understand their relationship with the US, what are their hopes and fears as we look towards the future of this relationship, both economic and otherwise?
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Business, and Economic Cooperation
Political Geography:
Iraq, Middle East, and United States of America

260. Perspectives from the Bonn Climate Change Conference Ahead of COP28

Author:
Mohammed Mahmoud, Athraa Khamis, and Neeshad Shafi
Publication Date:
07-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
This year's Bonn Climate Change Conference featured events and discussions focusing on climate issues such as adaptation, mitigation, the global stocktake, and climate loss and damage. Progress on these issues at the Bonn Conference is intended to translate into potential draft decisions to be adopted at the COP28 meeting taking place in the UAE later this year. Mohammed Mahmoud discusses the details of the Bonn Conference, how it may have shaped the MENA climate change agenda, and other major outcomes with Athra Khamis and Neeshad Shafi, two of MEI’s non-resident scholars in the Climate and Water Program that attended the Bonn Conference.
Topic:
Climate Change, Environment, Water, Adaptation, and Conference of the Parties (COP)
Political Geography:
Middle East and North Africa

261. France’s Foreign Policy towards Lebanon and its Discontents

Author:
Fadi Nicholas Nassar
Publication Date:
07-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
The pair focus on the current state of affairs in Lebanon, historical trends in French policy towards the country and the region, and more in the latest episode of Middle East Focus.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Domestic Politics, History, and Regional Politics
Political Geography:
Europe, Middle East, France, and Lebanon

262. Ben Samuels | 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' Ep. 3

Author:
Brian Katulis and Ben Samuels
Publication Date:
08-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
Middle East Focus Presents: ‘Taking the Edge Off the Middle East’ with Brian Katulis A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEI VP for Policy Brian Katulis. Ben Samuels - U.S. correspondent for Haaretz - sits down with Brian to discuss how he got into journalism, the state of politics in Israel, and the country's ongoing judicial overhaul. *Note: this episode was recorded on June 8, 2023.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Journalism, and Judiciary
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, and Palestine

263. Little Amal Walks Across America

Author:
Kate Seelye and Vanessa Zuabi
Publication Date:
08-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
MEI’s Senior Vice President Kate Seelye speaks with award-winning theater director and writer Amir Nizar Zuabi - Artistic Director of the 'Amal Walks Across America' tour. They discuss the upcoming U.S. tour of Little Amal, an internationally celebrated 12-foot-tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl traveling across the world carrying a message of hope and compassion for displaced people everywhere.
Topic:
Arts, Refugees, Displacement, and Syrian War
Political Geography:
Syria, North America, and United States of America

264. Prospects for Saudi Arabia-Israel Normalization

Author:
Alistair Taylor, Martin Indyk, Sanam Vakil, and Bilal Y. Saab
Publication Date:
09-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
On this week's episode, MEI's Editor-In-Chief Alistair Taylor discusses the Biden administration’s push to reach a normalization accord between Saudi Arabia and Israel with Martin Indyk, Sanam Vakil, and Bilal Saab. While there are plenty of potential hurdles to reaching a deal — including Saudi Arabia’s steep demands, Israel’s far-right government, and challenging domestic politics here in the US — if done right, the potential geopolitical ramifications could be substantial.
Topic:
Treaties and Agreements, Geopolitics, Domestic Politics, Far Right, and Normalization
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia

265. Oman Library Book Talk Series | The One-State Reality with Michael Barnett and Shibley Telhami

Author:
Michael Barnett and Shibley Telhami
Publication Date:
09-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
The One State Reality: What is Israel/Palestine? (Cornell University Press, 2023), edited by Michael Barnett, Nathan J. Brown, Marc Lynch and Shibley Telhami, argues that a one state reality already predominates in the territories controlled by Israel and that current facts on the ground force a reconsideration of foundational concepts such as state, sovereignty and nation. Bringing together leading scholars to explore essential questions, The One State Reality is a catalyst for new thinking about future solutions to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Topic:
Sovereignty, State, Israeli–Palestinian Conflict, and Nationhood
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, and Palestine

266. Climate Financing

Author:
Mohammed Mahmoud
Publication Date:
09-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
Director of MEI’s Climate and Water Program Mohammed Mahmoud speaks to energy and sustainable infrastructure expert Lucia Fuselli on the role of climate financing - a critical component of initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bolstering climate resilience.
Topic:
Climate Change, Energy Policy, Water, Infrastructure, Climate Finance, Sustainability, and Carbon Emissions
Political Geography:
Middle East and Global Focus

267. The Israel-Hamas war and prospects for a ground invasion

Author:
Joseph Votel and Bilal Y. Saab
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
An on-the-record briefing to discuss the military implications of Israel’s impending ground invasion in Gaza, featuring former CENTCOM Commander General (ret.) Joseph L. Votel and MEI Defense and Security Program Director Bilal Y. Saab.
Topic:
Security, Hamas, Armed Conflict, and October 7
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and Gaza

268. Israel-Hamas war and the risk of regional escalation

Author:
Charles Lister and Firas Maksad
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
An on-the-record press briefing to discuss the Israel-Hamas war and the risks of a significant escalation across the broader Middle East given the expanded ground operation in Gaza, featuring MEI Counterterrorism and Syria program director Charles Lister and MEI Senior Fellow and Director of Strategic Outreach Firas Maksad.
Topic:
Hamas, Escalation, Regional Security, and October 7
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, and Palestine

269. The Israel-Hamas war and the role of Qatar and Egypt

Author:
Brian Katulis, Mirette F. Mabrouk, and Rachel Dooley
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
The Middle East Institute hosted an on-the-record press briefing to discuss the role of key regional partners Qatar and Egypt in the Israel-Hamas conflict, from the question of hostage negotiations being led by Doha to the evacuation of U.S. citizens and the wounded to Egypt. Recorded Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Topic:
Negotiation, Hamas, Regional Politics, Hostage Crisis, and October 7
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Egypt, and Qatar

270. Assessing Israel's military strategy in Gaza

Author:
Michael K. Nagata, Mick Mulroy, and Rachel Dooley
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
The Middle East Institute hosted an on-the-record press briefing to discuss Israel’s military strategy in Gaza, including the IDF’s successes and challenges in northern Gaza, the ramifications of a ceasefire versus a pause in fighting, and the growing humanitarian crisis. Recorded Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
Topic:
Military Strategy, Humanitarian Crisis, and Ceasefire
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and Gaza

271. Iran and the Israel-Hamas War

Author:
Alistair Taylor and Alex Vatanka
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
On this week's episode, MEI's Editor in Chief Alistair Taylor talks to Iran Program Director Alex Vatanka about Iran and the Israel-Hamas war. As fighting rages in Gaza and the prospects for regional escalation continue to mount, Iran will remain a critical actor to watch. It is not only Israel’s main regional foe but also the leading provider of military aid and training for Hamas. Given the centrality of Iran in this latest Middle Eastern war, understanding how Tehran views the conflict and its endgame will be critical.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Hamas, Armed Conflict, Escalation, Military Aid, Regional Politics, and October 7
Political Geography:
Iran, Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and Gaza

272. The debate inside Israel

Author:
Eran Etzion and Nimrod Goren
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
The Middle East Institute (MEI) hosted an on-the-record briefing titled 'The Debate Inside Israel' on Tuesday, November 21st, 2023, featuring Eran Etzion, former Deputy Head of Israel's National Security Council, and Nimrod Goren, MEI Senior Fellow for Israeli Affairs. The briefing delved into the growing internal debate in Israel over the country’s war aims and its handling of the conflict with Hamas, including discussions on calls for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resignation, the effectiveness of the war cabinet, and the response to the October 7 Hamas attack.
Topic:
National Security, Domestic Politics, Conflict, Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu, Debates, and October 7
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and Gaza

273. The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea

Author:
Shadi Hamid and Thomas Carothers
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
In The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea, author Shadi Hamid explores what he describes as the ‘democratic dilemma,’ the U.S. desire for democracy in theory but not in practice. Hamid cites the rise of Islamist parties during a wave of democratic elections across the Middle East, which he argues produced outcomes the U.S. was not intending, such as the empowerment of Hamas in Gaza following the 2006 Palestinian elections. Reviewing the lessons learned from the past two decades of U.S. policy in the Middle East, Hamid proposes ‘democratic minimalism’ as a new approach to democracy promotion. Instead of viewing democracy as a tool to usher in liberalism, economic development, and cultural progress, Hamid argues that democracy as an end in of itself should be prioritized over other liberal values. Please join us at the Middle East Institute for an in-person discussion with author Shadi Hamid and Thomas Carothers, Co-Director and Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict and Governance Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on the strategy of U.S. democracy promotion abroad, the consequences of the democratic push in the early twenty-first century and the future shape of governance systems globally. Gönül Tol, MEI Senior Fellow and Director of the Turkey Program, will moderate the discussion.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Elections, Democracy, Islamism, and Hamas
Political Geography:
Middle East, Palestine, Gaza, and United States of America

274. Will the Israel-Hamas Truce Be Extended?

Author:
Gerald Feierstein, Brian Katulis, and Rachel Dooley
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
The Middle East Institute (MEI) hosted an on-the-record briefing titled 'Will the Israel-Hamas Truce Be Extended?' on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, featuring former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and MEI Distinguished Senior Fellow Amb. Gerald Feierstein as well as MEI Vice President of Policy Brian Katulis. The briefing delved into the evolving dynamics arising from the temporary pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas, along with the potential for an extended truce and the release of more hostages and prisoners.
Topic:
Hamas, Armed Conflict, Hostage Crisis, October 7, and Truce
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and Gaza

275. REPORT LAUNCH: Presumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine-Israel Discourse

Author:
Sahar Aziz, Mitchell Plitnick, and Jonathan Matz
Publication Date:
12-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Join Sahar Aziz, Mitchell Plitnick, and Jonathan Matz for an insightful discussion during the launch of our pivotal report, 'Presumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine-Israel Discourse'. This critical session delves into the escalating issue of antisemitism accusations in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly amidst the recent calls for a ceasefire and human rights advocacy in Gaza. Our panelists will explore the complex dynamics at play, shedding light on how the weaponization of antisemitism accusations often results in perpetuating Islamophobic stereotypes, infringes on the free speech rights of Muslims and Arabs, and ultimately hinders genuine efforts to combat antisemitism. This discussion is crucial for anyone interested in Middle East politics, human rights advocacy, and the broader implications of political discourse.
Topic:
Human Rights, Politics, Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, and Discourse
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and Gaza

276. Palestine Teach in Series: Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Territories

Author:
Zachary Foster
Publication Date:
12-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Palestine Teach in Series: Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Territories with Dr. Zachary Foster
Topic:
Human Rights, Occupation, Palestinians, and Israeli Settlers
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and West Bank

277. Palestine Teach in Series: West Bank and Jerusalem with Dr. Zachary Foster

Author:
Zachary Foster
Publication Date:
12-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Palestine Teach in Series: West Bank and Jerusalem with Dr. Zachary Foster
Topic:
Human Rights, Occupation, and Palestinians
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, Palestine, Jerusalem, and West Bank

278. The West, Israel and Settler Colonization of Palestine with Professor Prof. Joseph Massad

Author:
Joseph Massad
Publication Date:
12-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
In this pivotal lecture, Professor Massad will delve into the intricate history of Western colonial intervention in Palestine, exploring the events that shaped the region both before and after the establishment of Israel. This lecture offers a comprehensive understanding of Israel's ongoing conflict with the Palestinian people, framed within the broader historical context of Western racism and its role in supporting and enabling these tensions.
Topic:
History, Colonialism, Settler Colonialism, Racism, and Palestinians
Political Geography:
Britain, Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and United States of America

279. Palestine Teach In Series: Palestine 101 with Dr. Zachary Foster

Author:
Zachary Foster
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Palestine 101 with Dr. Zachary Foster
Topic:
Politics, History, Occupation, Zionism, Settler Colonialism, and Palestinians
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, and Palestine

280. The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims — by Khaled A. Beydoun

Author:
Khaled A. Beydoun
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Discover a groundbreaking exploration of Islamophobia on a global scale in 'The New Crusades' by Khaled A. Beydoun. This seminal book offers an unprecedented deep dive into how both democratic and authoritarian regimes worldwide are exploiting Islamophobia to target Muslim populations. Beydoun meticulously analyzes the impact of the American War on Terror, revealing its pivotal role in amplifying and interconnecting anti-Muslim campaigns across continents. From Europe to Asia, the Middle East, and beyond, 'The New Crusades' provides a critical and intimate examination of Islamophobia's diverse manifestations. This is the first book to offer such a comprehensive analysis, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of global Islamophobia and its far-reaching consequences.
Topic:
Authoritarianism, Democracy, Islamophobia, Muslims, and Book Talk
Political Geography:
Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Global Focus

281. Muslim Prisoner Litigation with Professor Spearlt

Author:
Spearlt
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Since the early 1960s, incarcerated Muslims have used legal action to establish their rights to religious freedom behind bars and improve the conditions of their incarceration, safeguarding the civil rights not only of imprisoned Muslims but of all those confined to carceral settings. Spearlt will discuss this missing chapter in the history of Islam in America while illuminating new perspectives on the role of religious expression and experience in the courtroom.
Topic:
Religion, History, Law, Incarceration, Litigation, Muslims, and Book Talk
Political Geography:
North America and United States of America

282. Teach-In on Gaza

Author:
Race and Rights (CSRR) Center for Security
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Teach-In on Gaza
Topic:
Human Rights, History, Hamas, Armed Conflict, Palestinians, and Blockade
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and Gaza

283. Psychoanalysis Under Occupation: Practicing Resistance in Palestine with Dr. Lara Sheehi

Author:
Lara Sheehi
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Dr. Lara Sheehi presents "Psychoanalysis Under Occupation: Practicing Resistance in Palestine," a profound exploration of psychological resilience and defiance, known as sumud, amidst the harsh realities of occupation and settler colonialism in Palestine. Dr. Sheehi delves into the deep psychological expressions of self and collective endurance through the lens of psychoanalysis. With clinical case studies, she reveals how Palestinian clinicians and the community navigate an existence enveloped by violence and oppression, yet resist being reduced to mere victims through the power of human rights discourse.
Topic:
Human Rights, Occupation, Psychology, Violence, Settler Colonialism, Resistance, and Psychoanalysis
Political Geography:
Middle East, Israel, and Palestine

284. Punishing Atrocities and Fair Trials: From Nuremberg to Global Terrorism w/Prof. Jonathan Hafetz

Author:
Jonathan Hafetz
Publication Date:
09-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Prosecuting individuals who commit mass crimes is an important duty of states. Since World War II, an increasingly elaborate domestic and international legal framework has emerged for trying and punishing atrocities. But it is important that the rights of the accused are protected in the process. This lecture will examine the challenge of ensuring fair trials, with particular attention on the long shadow cast by the U.S. War on Terrorism, which continues to reverberate across Arab and Muslim communities today.
Topic:
Human Rights, International Law, Terrorism, History, War on Terror, and Atrocities
Political Geography:
Global Focus

285. In Search of a Better Approach U.S. Foreign Policy and Human Rights with Prof. Sahar Aziz

Author:
Sahar Aziz, Andrea Prasow, Bassam Barabandi, Radwan Masmoudi, and Saul Anuzis
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
This panel, titled, "In Search of a Better Approach – U.S. Foreign Policy and Human Rights" takes a broad approach examining ways to improve U.S. foreign policy concerning human rights. The members of this panel included Sahar Aziz, Andrea Prasow, Bassam Barabandi, and Radwan Masmoudi. Moderated by Saul Anuzis.
Topic:
Foreign Policy and Human Rights
Political Geography:
North America and United States of America

286. Shining a Light on New Jersey’s Secret State Intelligence System

Author:
Sahar Aziz, Dillon Reisman, Michael German, and Ayah Zaki
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Civil liberties are vulnerable to infringement in large part due to the post-9/11 expansion of a government surveillance apparatus. Join us as we examine the threats to civil liberties and rights posed by Fusion Centers, as highlighted in CSRR's groundbreaking report Shining a Light on New Jersey's Secret Intelligence System.
Topic:
Security, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Civil Liberties
Political Geography:
North America, New Jersey, and United States of America

287. The Racial Muslim with Professor Sahar Aziz, in conversation with Deborah Amos

Author:
Sahar Aziz and Deborah Amos
Publication Date:
04-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
The Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice at Rutgers University-Newark proudly continues its Race and Religion series with the next spring 2023 signature book talk featuring Sahar Aziz, Rutgers Professor of Law, Chancellor's Social Justice Scholar, founding Director of the Center for Security, Race, and Rights and acclaimed author of The Racial Muslim: When Racism Quashes Religious Freedom. Professor Aziz will be in conversation with Deborah Amos, Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University and Award-Winning International Correspondent for National Public Radio.
Topic:
Immigrants, Racism, Freedom of Religion, Muslims, and Book Talk
Political Geography:
North America and United States of America

288. Chengdu Youth

Author:
Zhang Feng and Andrew J. Nathan
Publication Date:
12-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
Zhang Feng is an influential blogger and bookstore owner from Chengdu, who closely observes trends among urban youth. In his city, there is far more independent thought and activism among young people than is generally recognized in the outside world. The "White Paper Movement" that occurred last November to protest strict Covid-19 lockdown measures was a rare public manifestation of deeper and longer trends. Young people are resisting the politicization, ideological rigidity, and organizational rigidity of Chinese life, and pursue their own lifestyles with an emphasis on aesthetics. The fact that they worked out ways to support friends who were arrested for the White Paper Movement is a sign of how urban culture is evolving. Zhang Feng will describe the mood among middle class citizens and youth in Chengdu during and after the Covid lockdown in that city
Topic:
Culture, Youth, Ideology, COVID-19, Activism, and Politicization
Political Geography:
China, Asia, and Chengdu

289. COSCO in Piraeus: Investment Embeddedness and the Question of Chinese 'influence'

Author:
Konstantinos Tsimonis and Andrew J. Nathan
Publication Date:
12-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
Professor Tsimonis will present his research around the landmark investment of China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) in the port of Piraeus and discuss its political, social, economic and environmental repercussions. The speaker will approach COSCO's investment as an embedded phenomenon and unpack the agency of local, regional and global actors in order to assess the question of 'Chinese influence'. This talk will introduce to the Weatherhead audience the context of Chinese activities and policies in Greece. The speaker will also discuss the challenge and the necessity for developing independent China expertise in countries with no China studies tradition, as a way to mitigate the political risks arising from the PRC's global economic outreach.
Topic:
Infrastructure, Economy, Investment, and Foreign Influence
Political Geography:
China, Greece, and Asia

290. And Now What? The Life, Status, and Education of Newly Fully Ordained Nuns in Bhutan

Author:
Dorji Gyeltshen and Lauran Hartley
Publication Date:
12-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
This talk communicates the findings of a research project on the evolution of monastic education in the 21st century, in particular, for contemporary nuns in Bhutan. On June 23, 2022, the 70th Je Khenpo, Tulku Jigme Chodrak, at the request of the king of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and in an event organized by the Bhutan Nuns Foundation, conducted a bhikṣuṇī ordination to 144 nuns, restoring the Mūlasarvāstivāda female lineage in the Himalayan tradition. It is difficult to understate the importance of this event since, by most accounts, bhikṣuṇī ordination had never been introduced to Tibet or Bhutan, and nuns have only had access to novice status since the introduction of Buddhism in the region in the 7th Century. The goal of this talk is to discuss how Bhutanese nuns were able to develop a pragmatic discourse that allowed them to achieve this historical accomplishment, and how the newly achieved bhikṣuṇī status has impacted the lives of Bhutanese nuns and nunneries.
Topic:
Religion, History, Buddhism, and Nuns
Political Geography:
Asia and Bhutan

291. PLA Views on US-China Relations

Author:
Yawei Liu and Andrew J. Nathan
Publication Date:
12-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
There is a wider range of views on U.S.-China relations, including how to handle the Taiwan issue, than is generally known. Dr. Liu will discuss the range of views on these issues among senior military officers.
Topic:
Bilateral Relations, Armed Forces, People's Liberation Army (PLA), and Perception
Political Geography:
China, Taiwan, Asia, North America, and United States of America

292. Public Interest and State Legitimation: Early Modern England, Japan, and China–Book Talk, Wenkai He

Author:
Wenkai He and Junyan Jiang
Publication Date:
12-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
Wenkai He is an associate professor of Social Science in the Division of Social Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He conducts deep and contextualized historical analysis of state formation in England, Japan, and China from the 16th to 19th century. He will give a talk on his second book, Public Interest and State Legitimation: Early Modern England, Japan, and China (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023), which investigates the connections between state capacity, state legitimation and the expansion of political participation. He demonstrates how in each case a public interest-based discourse of state legitimation provided a common platform upon which state and society collaborated to provide public goods such as famine relief and large-scale infrastructural facilities. Each discourse of state legitimation entailed ‘passive rights’ that allowed subordinates to justify their demands on the state to redress welfare grievances. Conflicts between domestic welfare and other dimensions of public interest, however, could instigate cross-regional and cross-sectoral mass petitions for fundamental political reforms that were likewise justified by the state’s proclaimed duty to safeguard the public interest; these mass petitions might ultimately transform the state. Such a political ‘great divergence’ occurred in England (1760s-1780s) and Japan (1870s-1880s), but not in China.
Topic:
History, State Formation, Book Talk, and Public Interest
Political Geography:
Japan, China, Europe, Asia, and England

293. Japan’s Role in Indo-Pacific Security

Author:
Satoru Mori and Ayumi Teraoka
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
Facing an ever-intensifying security environment and rapidly shifting diplomatic and economic landscapes in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan aims to minimize the risks of an armed conflict while maximizing opportunities for region-wide economic and social exchange in an era of enduring great power rivalry. What are Japan’s challenges in deterring an armed conflict over Taiwan? What is Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific and what are its implications for the region? How does Japan envisage the roles that the Japan-US alliance and security cooperation with other countries may play in the Indo-Pacific? These and other issues and questions will be explored in order to illuminate what role Japan can play in regional security.
Topic:
Security, Diplomacy, Armed Conflict, Regional Economy, and Regional Politics
Political Geography:
Japan, Asia, and Indo-Pacific

294. As Equals: The Oei Women of Java – A Book Talk by Daryl Yeap

Author:
Daryl Yeap, Lien-Hang Nguyen, and Jim Cheng
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
In this talk, Daryl Yeap presents her new book “As Equals: The Oei Women of Java”. The book tells the fascinating story of Oei Hui-lan (aka Madame Wellington Koo), Ida Oei and Lucy Ho Oei, daughters and wife of Asia's richest man at the turn of the 20th century -- Oei Tiong-ham. Born at the height of Sinophobic fears and at a time when the great majority of Chinese women continued to live under the Confucian veil, the three women defied social conventions and punctured through cultural stereotypes – showing to the world that they were the epitome of the modern woman - - sophisticated, educated, sexually aware, and above all, fiercely independent. The talk will focus on the early years and the circumstances that shaped their lives – from the elaborate social networks of the Chinese community in the Dutch East Indies to the colonial policies in South East Asia.
Topic:
Women, History, Colonialism, Book Talk, and Sinophobia
Political Geography:
China, Southeast Asia, and Rojava

295. Book Launch & Talk: Japan’s Quiet Leadership: Reshaping the Indo-Pacific

Author:
Mireya Solís and Gerald Curtis
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
Dr. Mireya Solís of the Brookings Institution will lead a talk and Q&A session on her new book Japan’s Quiet Leadership: Reshaping the Indo-Pacific scheduled for release on 1 September 2023. The book delves into Japan's transformation into a significant player in the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, highlighting its strengths in democratic resilience, social stability, and proactive diplomacy, while addressing pressing issues such as depopulation, rising inequality, and regional peace threats.
Topic:
Diplomacy, Democracy, Inequality, Leadership, Resilience, Social Stability, and Regional Politics
Political Geography:
Japan, Asia, and Indo-Pacific

296. Why Columbia Should Invest in Vietnam and Vietnamese Studies: Conversation with Peter Mach

Author:
Peter Mach and Lien-Hang T. Nguyen
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
Born and raised in Vietnam, Peter Mach graduated from Columbia University with a BA in 1995 and a Master’s degree in 1996 after migrating to the United States as part of the Amerasian Homecoming Act. He worked in finance as an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs in New York and Hong Kong between 1996 and 2002 and as a Managing Director at Credit Suisse in Hong Kong between 2002 and 2007. In 2007, Peter co-founded Vietbridge Capital, a fund management company that specialized in investing in equities and real estate development projects in Vietnam. In 2011, Peter was a partner at the hedge fund HDH Capital Advisors in Singapore, which specializes in M&A and investing with event-driven strategies across many sectors and instruments (equities, high-yield bonds, equity derivatives, etc.). In 2012, Peter established a non-profit educational organization called AMA Vietnam Ltd in Singapore, helping underprivileged students and teachers in Vietnam with scholarships and motivational work. In 2014, he co-founded Tanzanite International Ltd to invest in and develop luxury resort and residential properties in Vietnam. In 2022, Peter was a featured speaker at WEAI’s conferences in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, “Understand the Past/Transform the Future”. Peter is also a member of the Global Advisory Board of Fulbright University of Vietnam, as well as a board member of an educational foundation in Vietnam called “Technology For All,” which provides full scholarships and internships to underprivileged students at the prestigious Ho Chi Minh University of Technology. Peter will engage in a conversation with WEAI Director Lien-Hang Nguyen on the importance of Vietnam for Columbia on the higher education geopolitical landscape.
Topic:
Geopolitics, Investment, Higher Education, and Columbia University
Political Geography:
Vietnam and Southeast Asia

297. The Fruits of Opportunism: The Making of the World’s Largest For-profit Education Industry in China

Author:
Le Lin and Qin Gao
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
Supplemental education, such as test-preparation coaching and after-school tutoring, has become increasingly influential in shaping educational outcome and social inequality in China, U.S. and around the world. This study examines the last forty years’ making of the world’s largest for-profit education industry—China’s supplemental education industry (the Industry)—on the margin of China’s socialist education system. How and why has the Industry privatized, marketized and become globally financialized, despite the Chinese state’s restrictive policies? Drawing on in-depth interviews, internal archives, and participant observations on 28 leading supplemental education organization, the study finds that the ambiguity of the Industry empowered socially marginalized entrepreneurs to enter this previously state-dominated market and found opportunistic organizations. With their opportunistic practices being made effective and invisible under ambiguity, opportunistic organizations as a prototype of private enterprises expanded the boundaries of market operations, facilitated the retreat of the state and fostered the Industry’s privatization and marketization. This study illustrates that while opportunism leaves destruction in its wake, it can also drive the formation and evolution of a market. The study also has implications for institutional change and social stratification during China’s market transition. This event is part of the 2023-2024 lecture series on “Labor Market Transformations in China" and is hosted by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and cosponsored by Columbia's China Center for Social Policy.
Topic:
Education, Markets, Privatization, and Industry
Political Geography:
China and Asia

298. Why will Indonesia become more important and what does that mean for Japan and the US?

Author:
Masafumi Ishii and Gerald Curtis
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
Over the next 10-20 years Indonesia will become an increasingly important player on the international stage. Masafumi ISHII, former Ambassador of Japan to Indonesia, will clarify the reasons for Indonesia's growing importance and discuss what Japan and the US need to do to engage more closely with Indonesia and to align responses to regional contingencies such as the Taiwan straits.
Topic:
International Relations, Diplomacy, Emerging Powers, Regional Politics, and Strategic Engagement
Political Geography:
Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and United States of America

299. Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Environmental Management on the Tibetan Plateau

Author:
Yangjee Sherpa, Hung T. T. Nguyen, Eveline Washul, and Lauran Hartley
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
This roundtable brings together social science researchers working with Tibetan and Himalayan pastoralist communities and climate scientists who have worked in the Himalayas and Asia to discuss how interdisciplinary approaches might enrich understandings of climate change in the Tibetan and Himalayan regions and contribute to knowledge of global climate change and community resilience. Organized by the CU-IU Climate Research Initiative on the Tibetan Plateau, this event is sponsored by the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center at Indiana University and the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University.
Topic:
Climate Change, Environment, Pastoralism, Resilience, Community, Knowledge Systems, and Traditional Knowledge
Political Geography:
Asia, Tibet, and Himalayas

300. Ukrainian Organisations' Response to Russia's Full-Scale Invasion

Author:
Maryna Slobodyanuk, Lyudmila Cherkez, and Emma Mateo
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
Join the Harriman Institute for an event with Ukrainian activists discussing how their organisations have responded to the 2022 escalation of Russia’s war on Ukraine. We will be joined virtually by activists representing two organisations: Truth Hounds, and TAPS Ukraine. Both organisations were in operation prior to 2022, but their work was significantly impacted by the challenges associated with the full-scale invasion. Maryna Slobodyanuk will discuss the work of Truth Hounds, where she is the Head of the Analytical Department. Truth Hounds has been documenting war crimes and other serious human rights violations in Ukraine since 2014. Lyudmila Cherkez will share the work of TAPS Ukraine, where she is head of communication. TAPS Ukraine is based in Dnipro, 100km from the front lines, and has been supporting those affected by military loss since 2018. TAPS Ukraine was also involved in the creation of the Coordinating Headquarters of Dnipro Volunteers, one of the largest volunteer hubs established in Eastern Ukraine following 24 February 2022. This hybrid event is open to the public and you are welcome to join us online or in person. The event will be moderated by Emma Mateo.
Topic:
Civil Society, Activism, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:
Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe