Global Thread

An ancient civilization that's unfortunately come to be known for famine and civil war, the conflict in Ethiopia now threatens to destabilize the entire Horn of Africa.

Sudanese Interim Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was deposed in a military coup in October... only to be reinstated in November. The coup resulted in widespread protests, but the protests haven't stopped since Hamdok's return. Find out what the people of Sudan are protesting now and, of course, how we got to this point.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative is a massive infrastructure project that they’re rolling out across Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe. By investing in nations around the globe, China is effectively expanding its sphere of influence. What could this mean for the US and its allies, and what can be done, if anything, to counter China’s approach?

We’re back with Part 2 of our coverage of the situation in Afghanistan. In this episode, we discuss the Taliban, Osama bin Laden, the post-9/11 era, and the recent removal of US troops from Afghanistan.

To call the situation in Afghanistan “complex” is an understatement, so much so that I had to split this topic up into two episodes. In Part 1, we cover the history of Afghanistan, the Truman Doctrine, the Cold War, and the beginnings of the modern Afghan government. 

Belarus is a landlocked country that sits at the apex of several larger and more powerful nations. Under the authoritarian leadership of Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusians have suffered more than their fair share of crimes against humanity. After such a complex and sordid history, though, why is Belarus so relevant to geopolitics today?

China is currently readying its military in anticipation of reclaiming what they believe to be theirs - the island of Taiwan. However, with the US and Japan allied with Taiwan in an effort to curb Chinese aggression and ambition, the implications of a Chinese attack on Taiwan could be huge.

Haiti, a nation that's unfortunately come to be known for enduring incessant hardship, is currently experiencing political unrest primarily surrounding demands for its current president to step down amidst increased government corruption, police brutality, and kidnappings. Couple that with a citizenship/deportation issue (among other things), and you've got 2021 Haiti. What was the US' role in getting Haiti to this point, and is there anything that can be done for Haiti going forward?

After decades of conflict over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region, Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently re-ignited the fight. What led to this conflict, why are Russia and Turkey involved, and what outcome can any of us hope for?

Last week, the Biden administration launched their first foreign attack against Iranian-backed militia based in Syria. Why did they do this, what other options did they have, and what are the foreign policy implications of the decision?

The Central African Republic, or the CAR, is currently dealing with some post-election drama that was years in the making. Conflict between various rebel groups has decimated the land and displaced or killed large swaths of the population. Political unrest and instability have, in a direct way, contributed to the growing tensions over the years, with authoritarian administrations inflicting military force on the general populous. So how did we get from a newly independent nation in 1960 to a nation in turmoil contending with a highly contested democratic election?

Last week, the Texas power grid failed horribly as the result of deregulatory energy policies, lack of oversight, and lack of preparedness. When the state was hit with frigid cold temperatures, ice, and snow, millions of Texans were left without electricity or gas to heat their homes, without a reliable water supply, and without cell service. Dozens of Texans died in their homes and cars by way of freezing to death or from carbon monoxide poisoning. Meanwhile, state elected officials pointed fingers and evaded blame at a time when they should have been addressing the crisis. Can we expect next time to be any better?

Women's rights activist and advocate for women's right to drive, Loujain al-Hathloul, has been released from prison in Saudi Arabia. Her release was the direct result of the Biden administration's efforts to stand up against human rights abuses taking place in Saudi Arabia, but what does her release mean, and why was she imprisoned in the first place?

The Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar has suffered its fair share of one-party military rule interspersed with periods of attempted democracy. In the latest instance, the military police has overthrown the November 2020 election results claiming widespread voter fraud with little to no evidence. The leader of the National League for Democracy Party, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been detained and is currently under house arrest. Where is this heading, and how can President Biden respond against the coup without inflicting more suffering on the people?

The farmers in India are - and have been for some time - protesting against their government's recently released farming reform bills. The combined effects of the bills would make life significantly harder for the already troubled farmers while inviting large multinational corporations into India's agriculture industry. Are the bills all bad, though, and can they possibly be justified in the name of globalization? How have similar situations played out for American farmers?

Hello, I'm Yasmin Aliya Khan and I'm the host of Global Thread, a podcast that seeks to understand the world by digging into the past. Here's what you can expect from the pod - keep an ear out!