FO° Podcasts

South Africa's history is a journey from colonization and racial injustice to resistance and the overthrow of apartheid. In this episode of FO° Podcasts, we peel back the many layers of the country’s past, make sense of the present and ponder the future.

Switzerland continues to navigate complex global challenges while maintaining its traditional neutrality and economic interests. The country's diplomatic efforts, economic partnerships, and strategic approach to international relations demonstrate its commitment to fostering peace, stability, and prosperity on the world stage.

The Horn of Africa is a region facing complex and interconnected challenges with potential conflict and instability. Understanding the historical context, current geopolitical landscape and the role of external powers is crucial for comprehending the dynamics of this volatile region.

Professor Haruko Satoh from the Osaka School of International Public Policy and Dr. Satu Limaye, Vice President and Research Program Director at the East-West Center in Washington, discuss the evolving role of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a strategic partnership between four of the most important democracies in the Indo-Pacific: Japan, the US, Australia and India.

Episode description not available.

Episode description not available.

In this episode, Atul Singh chats with Nadia Oweidat, a professor at Kansas State University and an intellectual historian. Nadia discusses her book "Reform and its Perils in Contemporary Islam," which delves into the challenges of reforming Islamic thought. The conversation highlights the work of Islamic philosopher Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd, exploring his contributions and the difficulties faced in modernizing Islamic perspectives.

In this episode of FO° Podcasts, host Atul welcomes back Flavius Mihaies to discuss the recent political unrest in the French overseas territory. Flavius explains that the crisis stems from the indigenous Kanak population's demands for greater autonomy and potential independence. The Kanaks, comprising 41% of the population, are concerned about proposed changes in voting laws by the French government, which they see as undermining their political power. The episode delves into New Caledonia's colonial history, its strategic importance, and the economic and healthcare benefits provided by France. Efforts at resolution and the island's divided stance on independence are also explored.

In this episode of FO Podcasts, Atul Singh and independent journalist Flavius Mihais discuss NATO's expansion and its implications, particularly in relation to Russia and Eastern Europe. They explore the historical context of NATO's formation and its growth from 12 to 32 members, emphasizing the shift towards Eastern Europe. The conversation delves into differing perspectives on Russia's actions, with some viewing them as a continuation of Soviet aggression and others seeing them as a defensive stance against NATO's proximity. They also highlight the varied responses of European countries, influenced by historical traumas and current geopolitical realities, that shape NATO's strategic direction.

In this podcast episode, Atul Singh and Gary Grappo examine the repercussions of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's death. They analyze potential causes, including challenging flight conditions and political motives, and discuss the impact on Iran's political landscape. Grappo offers insights into the country's autocratic structure, the IRGC's role, and religious councils' influence on governance. The episode also explores the succession of the supreme leader, the aspirations of the Iranian youth, and the nation's strained international relations. The conversation finally provides a deep dive into the complexities of Iranian politics and its global implications.

In this episode of the Fair Observer podcast, Anton Schauble and Nick Henninger discuss the significant economic repercussions of a bridge collapse in Baltimore. They cover the city's historical and industrial importance, the immediate effects on local communities, and the logistical challenges posed by the disruption of traffic. Nick also touches on bipartisan efforts to secure federal funding for bridge restoration and the regional and national consequences, including the rerouting of cargo and long-term implications for the port's business contracts. He concludes with a focus on the commitment to rebuilding a stronger port infrastructure, supporting workers, and leveraging the new bridge for the port's resurgence.

In this episode of FO Podcasts, Atul Singh and FO contributor Nasir Khiliji discuss remittances. They focus on Pakistan and Israel to explore the positive and negative effects of remittances on economies that rely heavily on them.

In this episode of FO Podcasts, Atul Singh sits down with Flavius Milhaes, who recently got back from Ukraine. They delve into a critical but often overlooked aspect of the war: the religious conflict. Flavius offers his firsthand observations on how the war is impacting religious communities, public attitudes, and the relationship between faith and society in Ukraine.

Josep Colomer explains why political polarization and infighting are so rampant in the United States. The framers of the Constitution designed it with more "checks" than "balances," making it far easier to stop rather than pass legislation. The framers did not anticipate how the two-party system would emerge and weaponize the mechanisms they created. Yet a few simple measures can go a long way in alleviating the worst of polarization.   You can follow Fair Observer on social media: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/fair-observer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FairObserver Twitter: https://twitter.com/myfairobserver Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairobserver/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairobserver   Credits:  "Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

French President Emmanuel Macron has taken a surprisingly aggressive stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. His recent pronouncements, including hinting at NATO intervention and calling Putin "evil," have sparked criticism.   You can follow Fair Observer on social media: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/fair-observer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FairObserver Twitter: https://twitter.com/myfairobserver Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairobserver/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairobserver

Episode description not available.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is the last woman standing against Donald Trump in the Republican primary elections. While most look at the race as a foregone conclusion, Trump’s legal headaches, including both civil suits and criminal charges, may catch up to him yet. The world is bracing for the possibility of another protectionist Trump presidency, which could destabilize the international system.   You can follow Fair Observer on social media: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/fair-observer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FairObserver Twitter: https://twitter.com/myfairobserver Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairobserver/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairobserver   Credits:  "Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Martin Plaut went from a part-time South African labor activist to the full-time Africa secretary for the British Labour Party. There, he got the inside scoop on the action between the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa, the Labour Party in Britain, and the Communist Party in the USSR. From its days as the vanguard of a coming revolution, the ANC has now become a corrupt ruling party that might finally be in trouble in the coming elections.   You can follow Fair Observer on social media: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/fair-observer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FairObserver Twitter: https://twitter.com/myfairobserver Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairobserver/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairobserver   Credits:  "Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Glenn Ojeda and Atul Singh discuss the recent referendum in Venezuela on the incorporation of the Essequibo territory in neighboring Guyana. Venezuela eyes Essequibo because it is oil-rich. Despite past agreements to settle the border dispute, Venezuela is testing the waters for the use of military force.   You can follow Fair Observer on social media: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/fair-observer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FairObserver Twitter: https://twitter.com/myfairobserver Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairobserver/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairobserver   Credits:  "Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Africa has had over 100 coups in the last 50 years. Ancient ethnic conflicts and post-colonial hangovers make African governments unstable. Now, Russia is exploiting the instability to expand its influence.   You can follow Fair Observer on social media: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/fair-observer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FairObserver Twitter: https://twitter.com/myfairobserver Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairobserver/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairobserver   Credits:  "Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/