The World Unpacked

On January 18, opposition leader Alexei Navalny returned to Russia following his near fatal poisoning. Immediately after his arrival, he was arrested, prompting massive protests over the following weeks.  Alexander Gabuev, senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow center, joins Laura to discuss who took to the streets, what the protests mean for Putin’s regime, and what the future of the opposition movement looks like with Navalny in prison. To learn more:Follow Alexander Gabuev on TwitterOn GPS: Diplomatic Fallout from the Navalny Protests featuring Alexander GabuevOn GPS: Russians take to the streets featuring Alexander GabuevThe New Face of Russian Protest by Alexander BaunovRussian Protest in the Age of Online Transparency by Andrei Kolesnikov

Makila James was the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Swaziland and later served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Africa and the Sudans until her retirement from the Foreign Service last year. In this week’s episode, Makila and Laura discuss the Biden administration’s priorities in Africa, as well as recent elections in Uganda and upcoming elections in Somalia. The two take a close look at democratic trends and how Africa’s youthful population is looking for America to engage. 

On December 17, 2010, a Tunisian street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest corruption and poor economic conditions. His death sparked mass popular protests in Tunisia that quickly carried over to other countries in the Middle East.  Tunisia is often hailed as the success story of the Arab Spring. The protests that shook the country led to the ousting of long-time president Ben Ali in January 2011 and resulted in democratic elections. Sarah Yerkes, a senior fellow in Carnegie’s Middle East program, joins Laura to discuss the country’s progress – and challenges – over the last decade. 

In a special end of year episode, Laura examines the most significant developments of 2020 in three key regions: Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. First, Evan Feigenbaum and Laura talk about the development of regional trade deals, the India-China border dispute, and the shaky way forward for US-China relations. Next, Rosa Balfour joins Laura to discuss about European cooperation on coronavirus, the continued migration crisis, and the challenges 2021 may bring for UK-EU relations. Finally, Aaron David Miller and Laura look at how the pandemic impacted the Middle East, tensions between Iran and the US, and the glimmer of hope offered by the normalization between Israel and several Arab states. 

Despite close proximity, Latin America is a historically overlooked area of U.S. foreign policy. Muni Jensen, who co-hosts the Altamar podcast, joins Laura to discuss the incoming Biden administration’s likely priorities in the region, such as economic reform, climate change, and the impact of U.S.-China competition on Latin America. The two also talk about the unrelenting coronavirus pandemic, protests highlighting economic and social inequality in Argentina and Colombia, and political turmoil in Peru.

Tensions between the US and China have been escalating for years, with a downturn accelerating during the Trump administration. Given fundamental differences in worldviews and continued economic competition between the two countries, how likely are changes under President-elect Biden? Today, Laura speaks with Paul Haenle, the director of Carnegie-Tsinghua Center. They talk about Beijing’s view of the US election, Biden’s policy options, and the prospects for regional cooperation under new US leadership. Learn more:The World is Responding to A Changing ChinaChina in the World Podcast Programming note: The World Unpacked will take a short break to celebrate Thanksgiving. We’ll be back with a new episode on December 3rd. Stay safe and healthy! 

Democrats and Republicans are more divided than ever when it comes to assessing threats facing the United States and how America should engage in the world, according to findings of the 2020 Chicago Council Survey.  Ivo Daalder, the president of the Chicago Council, joins Laura for a discussion about the survey’s findings. The two talk about how coronavirus impacts foreign policy attitudes, the future of NATO and US global leadership, and how deep political polarization manifests in the way we view the world. Read more about the survey here.

On September 1, 2020, more than twenty journalists worldwide learned they had unwittingly joined a Russian influence operation. One of them was Laura Walters, a  journalist who had recently become a freelancer as she moved from New Zealand to London. Laura explains her interaction with Peace Data, the red flags she missed, and her reaction to learning that she had been involved in a Russian disinformation campaign. Then, Alicia Wanless, director of Carnegie's Partnership for Countering Influence Operations joins the show to do a deep dive into the world of foreign disinformation campaigns. Alicia and Laura discuss why influence campaigns have long targeted journalists, how non-experts can spot bots and trolls, and what the policymaking community should do to address this growing threat. Read more:"I was part of a Russian meddling campaign," by Laura Walters"How Journalists Become an Unwitting Cog in the Influence Machine," by Alicia Wanless and Laura WaltersVictim of Russian Influence Operation Offers Cautionary Tale video

Last month, Bahrain and the UAE moved to normalize relations with Israel, signing a peace deal dubbed “The Abraham Accords.” Veteran Middle East peace negotiator Aaron David Miller joins Laura to talk about what the newly signed deal really means for Middle East peace. Aaron and Laura discuss the likelihood of future deals in the region, how Iran views the move, and where the deal leaves the Palestinian cause. They also examine how U.S. policy toward the Middle East may change depending on the outcome of November’s election. Read more from Aaron:Arab-Israeli progress seemed impossible. That’s because of old assumptions.Good News for the Gulf and Israel Mean Bad Tidings for the PalestiniansDon’t let the United Arab Emirates play us the way Mohammed bin Salman didThe Middle East Just Doesn’t Matter as Much Any LongerSuccess in the UAE-Israel Accord Is Good News for Everyone Except the Palestinians

Rosa Balfour, the director of Carnegie Europe, joins Laura to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented to Europe by the coronavirus pandemic. In this wide-ranging conversation, Rosa and Laura talk about regional challenges facing Europe, including Brexit, rising anti-EU sentiments, and the protests in Belarus, along with foreign policy challenges, like Europe’s role in the U.S.-China standoff and countering a resurgent Russia. They also talk about Europe’s evolving leadership role in the world. Read Rosa’s piece on the future of Europe as part Carnegie’s new digital magazine, “The Day After: Navigating a Post-Pandemic World.”