The World Unpacked

On June 21, Ethiopia held a historic national election, but millions of Ethiopians couldn’t vote with the country in the midst of a civil war. Backed by Eritrean soldiers, Ethiopia’s military has been in conflict with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, a regional political party that broke off from Ethiopia last November. And just this week, Tigrayan forces have taken back the regional capital of Mekelle from the Ethiopian army. Both sides have been accused of violating human rights, and the war has forced thousands from their homes.  Joining Doug is Carnegie’s Africa Program director, Zainab Usman, to unpack what Ethiopia is facing after holding a national election. 

Iranians head to the polls tomorrow to elect a new president. While Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has largely favored one candidate, calls for a boycott have taken root among many grassroots Iranian activists. Meanwhile, the United States and Iran continue to negotiate the revival of the Iran nuclear deal.Iranian journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad joins Doug to unpack the Iranian elections and what they mean for the world.Masih Alinejad, The Wind In My HairMy Stealthy FreedomMasih’s Instagram profile

President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Geneva on June 16. Tensions between the United States and Russia are high in the aftermath of Russia’s involvement in Belarus’ hijacking of a commercial airliner and a string of devastating cyberattacks. Will the summit lead to progress, or will personal animosity and geopolitics continue to mire the bilateral relationship?Joining Doug for his first episode as host are Andrew Weiss and Alex Gabuev. Bringing both American and Russian perspectives, Andrew and Alex unpack what to expect from the summit.

The recent Colonial Pipeline attack was yet another example of the escalating threats in cyberspace as many Americans experienced long lines at gas stations amid fears of shortages after a ransomware attack. This incident just comes months after the likely Russian government-sponsored SolarWinds hack that compromised thousands of government and company platforms. Meanwhile, the Facebook Oversight Board recently upheld its ban on former President Donald Trump. With all these disruptions in the digital realm, the line between what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior online—and who should manage cyberspace—has never been blurrier. Companies are exercising their private authorities, paying off ransoms and managing challenging content moderation decisions. Have governments ceded too much ground to the private sector, and is there a way to build a more organized structure to make these groundbreaking decisions in cyberspace?Jon Bateman, a fellow at Carnegie’s Cyber Policy Initiative, joins Laura to tackle the growing governance challenges in the technology sector.

More the 100 days into his administration, President Biden has faced a fraught moment for democracy. Within the last year, protests for racial equity have underlined the challenge of systemic racism in the United States, while dubious claims of election fraud culminated in the shocking assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Across the globe, the military’s grip in Myanmar holds firm after a coup, while the Kremlin put political dissident Alexei Navalny behind bars. With Biden making democracy promotion a key element in his address to Congress last week, can democracy make a comeback?Ashley Quarcoo, a senior fellow at Carnegie, joins Laura to discuss the task of bolstering democracy at home in the United States and abroad.Read Ashley's latest work:"Can Biden Revive Democracy at Home and Abroad?""The Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. Democracy""Reversing the Tide: Towards a New US Strategy to Support Democracy and Counter Authoritarianism"

While the Biden administration has signaled an openness to reviving the Iran nuclear deal, whether that is possible  is far from certain. An alleged Israeli attack on the Natanz nuclear facility and Iran’s response pledging to enrich uranium at even higher levels have only raised the stakes for new talks in Vienna.Cornelius Adebahr, a nonresident fellow with Carnegie Europe, sits down with Laura to unpack the complex negotiations, European leaders’ vital role to revive the JCPOA, and the prospects for a deal.Read Cornelius' latest pieces:Europe Is Late but Crucial in U.S.-Iran Nuclear TalksWhere's Europe on the Iran Nuclear Deal?

Europe’s vaccine distribution has come under fire in recent weeks, jeopardizing the continent’s recovery and its relationships with important partners worldwide. Meanwhile, European leaders are reckoning with an emboldened China, while also welcoming the Biden administration’s new tone on the transatlantic alliance.Rosa Balfour, the director of Carnegie Europe, joins Laura to discuss how Europe can manage the pressures of the moment. Read Rosa's latest pieces:"Against a European Civilization: Narratives About the European Union""European Leaders Are Facing Their Armageddon"

As President Biden seeks to affirm America’s alliances and partnerships in Asia, countries in the region are jostling over maritime dominance in the Indo-Pacific. Marked by strategic choke points and vital shipping routes, the Indo-Pacific has long played a pivotal role in geopolitics and the flows of global trade. Darshana Baruah, an associate fellow and the director of Carnegie’s Indian Ocean Initiative, joins Laura to discuss the future of the Indo-Pacific and the power politics at play in the region.

Since his inauguration, President Joe Biden has put a hold on weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, sanctioned Saudi officials for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and pledged to end US support for Saudi-led offensive operations in Yemen. Taken together, these measures indicate that the administration is recalibrating the relationship between the US and its Gulf partners. Frederic Wehrey, a senior fellow in Carnegie’s Middle East Program and former U.S. Air Force officer with tours across the Middle East, joins Laura to discuss a rethink of security assistance in the Persian Gulf. The two also discuss how Fred’s experiences on the ground in Libya and Iraq have shaped his outlook on US military support in the region. Read more from Fred:“How Joe Biden Can Rein in Donald Trump’s Reckless Middle East Policy,” in Politiico“‘Our Hearts Are Dead.’ After 9 Years of Civil War, Libyans Are Tired of Being Pawns in a Geopolitical Game of Chess,” in Time“China's Balancing Act in Libya,” in Lawfare

The coup in Myanmar on February 1 took the world by surprise as the military arrested civilian officials, including Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections in November 2020. Many in the international community have condemned the coup, and thousands of protestors have taken to the streets this week.Sana Jaffrey, a nonresident scholar in Carnegie’s Asia Program, joins Laura to talk about how Myanmar got to this point and how the region and the West are responding.