Erica Chenoweth is a pioneering academic whose groundbreaking research on the strategic use of non-violence showed that movements that use non-violent tactics when fighting for the overthrow of a regime are twice as likely to succeed as movements that use violence as a tactic. Her book, Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Non-Violence, co-authored with Maria J. Stephan, provides an authoritative study of how and why non-violent movements succeed. Chenoweth discusses her book, some of the current uprisings she is studying and tells Mark how growing up in Dayton, Ohio during the crisis in the Balkans helped propel her to a career in international relations.
Episode 36: George Mitchell
Most people know George Mitchell for overseeing successful peace talks in Northern Ireland and his celebrated tenure in the United States Senate. He’s led an incredible life. He grew up in Maine in relative poverty, and emerged as one of his generations greatest politicians and peacemakers. Mitchell discusses his life story with Mark, including how a military posting in post-war Berlin led to law school in Washington, DC, and how his mentor Edmund Muskie helped launch his political career. Sen Mitchell and Mark kick off with a conversation about his work as President Obama’s special envoy for Middle East peace. This was a great episode.
How the UN Helps Fight Terrorism
The Security Council will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, chaired by President Obama, dedicated to stemming the flow of foreign fighters to the Syrian battlefield. The meeting demonstrates that the United States believes the United Nations has an important role to play in the global fight against terrorism. But what, exactly, does that mean? Here to discuss the Security Council meeting and the UN’s evolving involvement on terrorism issues (including its strengths and weaknesses) is Naureen Chowdhury Fink of the Global Center on Cooperative Security.
The Big UN Climate Summit
Hundreds of world leaders are descending on the United Nations for a one day meeting on climate change. This is a big deal for the United Nations, for diplomacy, and possibly for the planet. So who is showing up and what countries are snubbing the conference? What will be discussed? And how will this affect ongoing negotiations to construct an internationally binding climate change agreement? Mark speaks with Elliot Diringer of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions who helps put this historic meeting at the United Nations in the larger context of international climate change diplomacy. This is a very useful conversation for understanding the diplomatic contours of arguably the single most important issue facing humanity today.
Obama’s Syria Dilemma
It looks increasingly likely that the United States will expand its military operations against ISIS to Syria. Mark speak with William McCants of the Brookings Institution about the prospects and pitfalls of a US-led international military campaign against the Islamic State in Syria. They also discuss the role of another Islamist rebel group, al Nusra, in Syria’s conflict and what might befall about 40 UN Peacekeepers in the Golan who were abducted by this group. Have a listen!
Sex Slaves in Iraq
The United Nations released a grave warning this week that some 1,500 women have been captured as sex slaves by the Sunni extremist group that is rampaging through parts of Iraq and Syria. Mark speaks with Zainab Hawa Bangura the UN Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict about the situation in Northern Iraq and what can be done to help these women.
Episode 29: Chris Hill
Chris Hill was born into the foreign service…and he stayed there. He has served as Ambassador to Iraq and as the lead American negotiator in the six party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program. Ambassador Hill sits down with Mark to discuss managing US relations with key allies as the iron curtain fell, facing down Slobodan Milosevic, negotiating with North Korea and the current problems facing Iraq.
These stories are all fresh in his mind. Ambassador Hill just completed his highly anticipated memoir, to be published this fall. Have a listen!
Episode 27: Daniel Drezner
Daniel Drezner is on the line this week. You probably know him through his robust social media presence and as a long time blogger for Foreign Policy and the Washington Post. Now at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, Drezner talks with Mark about his life in and out of academia and how he first became interested in the global political economy as a young boy witnessing long lines at the gas station in the 1970s. It’s a fun conversation with interesting diverstions along the way.
Episode 25: Joseph Cirincione
Joseph Cirincione is on the line this week. The nuclear policy wonk and activist discusses Iran, Bush’s troubled non-proliferation record and why the jury is still out on President Obama’s nuclear legacy. He tells Mark about his first memories of living under the threat of nuclear war and how his life and career has tracked the ups and downs of American nuclear policy. It’s timely conversation, kicked off with a brief discussion of the Iran nuclear talks, and a timeless conversation about the history of America and the bomb. Enjoy!
A Child Migrant’s Perspective
There is a refugee crisis in the USA. Since October over 50,000 children and tens of thousands of families have streamed across the southern border of the United States. What is compelling this surge in migration, particularly of unaccompanied minors? Who are these children and families? And what is their journey like? I speak with Gary Shaye of Save the Children, which is running a relief operation in Texas for children and families that have made it across the border. He answers these questions and more.
