Conversations about Foreign Policy and World Affairs
Libya today is arguably closer to a full blown civil war than at any time since the fall of Muammar Ghaddafi in 2011. A renegade general named Khalifa Haftar is on the March, seeking to upend an Islamist controlled parliament. Who is this man, what does he want, and why are conditions ripe for a civil war? Mark speaks with journalist Marine Casalis who puts the unfolding situation in Libya in some context.
Bill Richardson is a former UN ambassador, governor, presidential candidate, member of congress and energy secretary. But throughout it all he’s had a second career: hostage negotiator. Richardson discusses how he developed a reputation as the “undersecretary for thugs”; his visits to hostile countries to secure the release of political prisoners; and how a famed African dictator almost bludgeoned him with a cane.
The largest excerise in democracy in the history of humanity is coming to an end. Narendra Modi will cruise to victory, but what does his ascent mean for India’s relationship with Pakistan, China, the USA and the rest of the world? Mark speaks with Tanvi Madan of the Brookings Institution about the foreign policy implications of India’s elections.
Save the Children is one of the largest international aid and relief organizations in the world. CEO Carolyn Miles speaks with Mark about her unconvential path to relief work, which included studying animal behavior, a stint selling credit cards in Asia and opening a boutique coffee chain in Hong Kong.
Because this was published on Mother’s Day, they kick off with a discussion of Save the Children’s report on unsafe motherhood around the world. Have a listen!
Boko Haram is in the news for all the wrong reasons. A series of audactious attacks, including the kidnapping of hundreds of school girls, has provoked international outrage. But why would Boko Haram launch such an attack? Who are these people, what do they want, and how can they be defeated?
Mark Leon Goldberg catches up with Jacob Zenn of the Jamestown Foundation who offers insight, context and an explanation for the Boko Haram insurgency. Have a listen.
Iraq is in the midst of an unrelenting descent into violence. Every day brings news of another bombing or attack that leaves scores of people dead. This has been the case for the past several months, and it only seems to be getting worse.
I speak with Douglas Ollivant of the New American Foundation who helps put this current wave of violence in context. Ollivant served as a military officer in Iraq, then served on the Iraq team at the National Security Council under both President Bush and Obama. Ollivant offers an indepth analysis of what is driving this violence, what can be done to stop it and the regional implications (read: Syria) of it all. Have a listen.
Mark Leon Goldberg speaks with the demographer and economist Mark Montgomery about global population trends. It turns out that adolescent girls in the developing world hold a tremendous amount of demographic power.
The longtime executive director of Human Rights Watch is on the line this week. Kenneth Roth discusses some of the world’s most ignored human rights crises; how his father’s experience fleeing Nazi Germany propelled him to a career in human rights; and how the human rights movement is evolving as global centers of power shift.
The acclaimed actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador talks to Mark about her work for children in conflict zones around the world. Mia Farrow traces her committment to humanitarian causes from an early age and dicusses the role of celebrity in bringing to light the suffering of vulnerable people in oft-ignored parts of the world. Oh, and she also tells a crazy story about the time she beat up a man beating a woman on the side of the road in Chad! It’s a great conversation.
Mark Leon Goldberg speaks with Suzanne Nossel, author of the influential Foreign Affairs article “Smart Power.” Nossel served as a deputy assistant secretary of state during president Obama’s first term, and has served in leadership roles in high profile human rights NGOs. Suzanne tells Mark about how familty connections to South Africa shaped her dedication to human rights; how a cold call to Richard Holbrooke lead to a career in public service; and what American leadership can accomplish at the United Nations.
