The World Unpacked

Reports of China's repression of its Uighur minority have been trickling out for years, but recently leaked documents tell the story of sweeping and systematic campaigns of detention, cultural genocide, brainwashing, and forced labor. Jen talks to James Palmer about what he's learned about the situation on the ground, what the example of Xinjiang has meant for the Hong Kong protestors, and what consequences these two crises have had for China on the world stage.

The U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani has upended Iraq's already fragile political system. How do Iraqis see the escalating tension between the U.S. and Iran? Jen talks to Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad about how Iraqis see the conflict, and what it means for Iraqi society.Note: Ghaith called us from Istanbul, and was joined by his cat, who you'll hear on this recording.

Last week Donald Trump ordered a drone attack that killed top Iranian general Qassim Suleimani. On Tuesday, Iran retaliated by firing a dozen ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases hosting U.S. military forces. On Wednesday, President Trump declared an end to the escalatory spiral with Iran. But is it really over? Jen talks to Karim Sadjadpour about what Iran might do next. 

Jen talks with Jarrett Blanc about the blockbuster report by the Washington Post, revealing hundreds of scathing interviews with U.S. officials involved in the war in Afghanistan.The World Unpacked will be back in January. 

NATO played a pivotal role in the arms control treaties that kept a lid on the tensions of the Cold War. But arms control treaties are expiring, and recently, French President Emmanuel Macron described NATO as "brain dead". Jen talks to former NATO deputy secretary general Rose Gottemoeller about Turkey, Ukraine, New START, and NATO's future.

When Iranians took to the streets to protest an abrupt hike in gas prices, the government turned off the internet. When it came back on, the world saw the devastating aftermath of the deadliest crackdown in Iran since the 1979 revolution. Why was the crackdown so severe? And what role dis U.S. sanctions really play in bringing the protests about? Jen talks to Karim Sadjadpour about what the unrest means for the Iranian regime and for U.S. strategy. 

The World Unpacked is on hiatus this week. For our U.S. listeners, Happy Thanksgiving!If there's a topic in foreign policy you'd like us to unpack, tweet @CarnegieEndow with #WorldUnpacked.

Growing protests are raging across South America. From Ecuador to Bolivia to Venezuela to Chile, the region is experiencing the largest outbreak of unrest in decades.What is prompting these protests? Why are they happening now? And what does it say about leadership in the region? To help us better understand, Moisés Naím joined Jen in the World Unpacked studio.Go deeper: In a recent article for Foreign Affairs, Moisés explains why Latin America was primed to explode.

The Chinese government’s long held strategy to control dissent within their borders has had enormous impact on members of the media—particularly foreign media.Jen sat down Charles Hutzler, the former Beijing bureau chief at the Wall Street Journal, who has spent more than 20 years reporting in Beijing. He describes how even during massive social changes in China, the government’s view of media’s role has not changed.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi shaped and led ISIS, defining its brutal ideology and establishing himself as a "caliph of all Muslims". What does his death mean for ISIS? Jen talks to Carnegie expert H.A. Hellyer about how Baghdadi shaped the ideologies of extremism, and what can be done to reverse the tides of radicalization. Go further: https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/10/28/conditions-that-created-isis-still-exist-pub-80219