The World Unpacked

Protestors around Lebanon have already won many victories, including the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri. But can a deeply sectarian government really start afresh? Jen talks to Marwan Muasher about what the protestors are looking for and whether or not they're going to succeed. 

Carolyn Forché was an acclaimed twenty-seven year old poet in 1977 when a stranger persuaded her to travel to El Salvador, a country on the brink of war. What she saw there, recounted in her recent memoir, What You Have Heard Is True, changed her life and caused her to question everything she thought she knew about American foreign policy. Jen talks to Carolyn about what she saw, what she learned, and how the dynamics and dilemmas she so vividly portrays have re-emerged in Central America and U.S. immigration policy.

Interpol conjures up images of shady agents in sharp suits, jetting around the world to capture international criminals. But recently the international police agency has come under fire, as autocratic regimes around the world have used its Red Notice system to harass and arrest political exiles. Has Interpol become just an international extension of the regimes of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jin Ping? Should the organization be reformed? Or is the criticism too harsh for a one hundred year old organization with a history of tracking criminals across borders? Jen talks to New York Times reporter Matt Apuzzo about where things went wrong, and how they could get back on track.

Mohammad Bin Salman rose to power with the promise of reform and liberalizing Saudi society. The war in Yemen and the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi have changed his reputation dramatically - but has he suffered any real consequences? Jen talks with Yasmine Farouk about MBS's ambitions, recklessness, brutality, and miscalculations.

Tens of thousands of Indonesians took to the streets last week to protest a series of controversial moves undertaken by President Jokowi and his government. While Indonesians are no stranger to protests, these demonstrations come less than five months after Jokowi was re-elected with 55% of the vote. Jen talks to Dan Slater about why voters have turned against a seemingly popular, democratically-elected leader.

The United Nations General Assembly has gathered world leaders since 1945. But while presidents and prime ministers stage dramatic speeches in the hall, much of the real diplomatic work takes place on the sidelines. How does UNGA really work? What thorny issues are diplomats tackling this week? And what will we remember from this year's meeting? Jen talks to Carnegie expert Salman Ahmed, who has almost twenty years of experience at the UN. 

Hong Kong has been in turmoil for months, as residents in their millions continue to take to the streets. What started as a protest against an extradition bill has grown into a full blown movement for democracy. As the protests have grown, the central government has deployed disinformation strategies to shape public perception of what's happening on the ground, and has accused the United States of fomenting the unrest. How have the protests changed since they started this summer? How has the Chinese government's response evolved? And how do ordinary people in Beijing think about the protests? Jen talks to Steven Lee Myers of the New York Times, who has been reporting from the ground in both Hong Kong and Beijing, about what might change Beijing's calculations in the future.

Kashmir has been contested land since the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. It has been a flashpoint for political tension and the site of multiple wars. But last month, the Indian government made a bold move, changing the Indian constitution and revoking the special status of Indian-occupied Kashmir – which was also India’s only Muslim-majority state. At the same time, they shut down telecommunications, arrested political leadership, and moved in thousands of additional troops. What does all of this mean for Kashmiris? And will we see another armed conflict between India and Pakistan? Jen talks to Paul Staniland about where the conflict came from, and where it might go next. 

On Monday, U.S. negotiators signaled that they had nearly finalized a long-sought agreement that is a step toward ending the American conflict with the Taliban. What does the deal contain? And does it really mean that the war in Afghanistan is over? Jen talks to Jarrett Blanc and Frances Brown about the long peace process ahead. Read: Jarrett's Washington Post oped, "We Need to take the Best Deal We Can Get in Afghanistan"

Like most of DC, we're going to take a few weeks off this August. We'll be back in September with more episodes. If there's a topic in foreign policy you'd like us to unpack, tweet @CarnegieEndow with #WorldUnpacked.