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Rethinking Democracy

Middle East Institute
Iran
Democracy
Syria
Israel
Turkey
Donald Trump
Foreign Policy
Trump Administration
Israel-Palestine
Human Rights
Islamic Republic
Middle East
Hamas
Islamic Republic Of Iran
Ekrem İmamoğlu
Russia
United States
Two-State Solution
Oslo Process
PKK

This is a critical time for the future of democracy as citizens in America and across the globe are losing faith in democratic institutions. We often view the rollback of democracy and threats to the liberal international order as separate problems, but in reality they are closely interlinked. In this podcast series, MEI Senior Fellow Gonul Tol examines the interplay between democracy's domestic a... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes25Foundeda year ago
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Government

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Artwork for Rethinking Democracy

Latest Episodes

In 2025, jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan made a historic call for the group to disarm and dissolve, raising hopes of ending a 40-year conflict that has shaped Turkey and the wider region. Months later, the PKK symbolically laid down arms in what ma... more

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Syria is in the midst of a fragile transition. Many observers see positive momentum, with new humanitarian initiatives underway and fresh funding beginning to flow. But the risks remain serious: regional spillover, deep humanitarian needs, funding sh... more

YouTube

Just weeks before President Trump's war began, Iran was in the midst of a powerful wave of anti-regime protests spreading across the country. But once the war started, that momentum largely came to a halt. The conflict shifted the focus from dissent ... more

YouTube

Israel's escalating campaign against Iran-backed Hizballah is rapidly turning Lebanon into one of the most unstable fronts in the wider US-Israel confrontation with Iran — pushing an already fragile state to the brink. The war is tearing at Lebanon's... more

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Recent Guests

Aliza Marcus
Kurdish Affairs expert
Author and scholar (Conversation with host)
Episode: Will the PKK Really Disarm?
Noah Bonsey
Senior Advisor at the International Crisis Group
International Crisis Group
Episode: Can Syria Hold Together?
Nazanin Boniadi
Iranian-British actress and political activist
Episode: Nazanin Boniadi: How the World Can Help Iran's Democratic Struggle
Mark Dow
Member of the Lebanese Parliament, reform advocate
Lebanese Parliament
Episode: Lebanon at the Brink: War, Hizballah, and the Fate of Democracy
Alain Hassanian
Senior Lecturer in Middle East Studies
University of Exeter
Episode: The Kurdish Card: Can Iranian Kurds Shape the War's Endgame?
Karabekir Akkoyunlu
Research associate in politics and international studies at Suas University of London; author of Guardianship and Democracy in Iran and Turkey
Suas University of London
Episode: Is Turkey the New Iran — Or Is that the Wrong Question?
Michael Schaeffer-Omerman
Director for Israel-Palestine-Espdoan, Democracy for the Arab World Now.
Democracy for the Arab World Now
Episode: Israel-Palestine: Is the Two-State Solution Dead?
Sarah Leah Whitson
Executive Director of Democracy for the Arab World Now.
Democracy for the Arab World Now
Episode: Israel-Palestine: Is the Two-State Solution Dead?
Nader Habibi
Professor of Economics at Brandeis University's Crown Center for Middle East Studies
Brandeis University
Episode: Can Iran's Regime Survive This?

Host

Gonul Tol
Host of the podcast series, MEI Senior Fellow

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#177
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#54
Belgium/Government
Apple Podcasts
#75
Poland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#81
Indonesia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#135
Switzerland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#137
Taiwan/Government
Apple Podcasts
#153
United Arab Emirates/Government
Apple Podcasts
#163
Israel/Government
Apple Podcasts
#172
Sweden/Government
Apple Podcasts
#209
Mexico/Government
Apple Podcasts
#210
Ireland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#224
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#247
Brazil/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Nazanin Boniadi: How the World Can Help Iran's Democratic Struggle
Q: Do you agree that internal divisions within the Iranian opposition are the main obstacle to democracy?
She acknowledges divisions as a factor but argues that a united opposition and smarter non-kinetic strategies are essential, suggesting that international support must help unify efforts without allowing external powers to dictate the movement.
Nazanin Boniadi: How the World Can Help Iran's Democratic Struggle
Q: Where do you stand on President Trump's war on Iran as of today?
Boniadi notes that while some on the ground fear further escalation, the strongest stance is a call for multilateral, humanitarian-oriented intervention rather than purely kinetic action, and she emphasizes protecting civilians while avoiding repetition of past intervention failures.
Lebanon at the Brink: War, Hizballah, and the Fate of Democracy
Q: What is the core three-track strategy to dismantle Hezbollah's influence and restore state control?
Engage in direct negotiations backed by regional and American support, ensure reconstruction and state-building to reduce reliance on Hezbollah-linked funding, and empower the security forces to suppress Hezbollah's military capabilities through arrests and intelligence enhancements.
Lebanon at the Brink: War, Hizballah, and the Fate of Democracy
Q: What concrete steps has the government taken to curb Hezbollah's military role and advance state sovereignty?
The government has pursued a sequence of landmark steps, including weapons demobilization, restricting Hezbollah's military activities to the state, and pressuring the Iranian ambassador to leave, along with efforts to strengthen the Lebanese army and rebuild state capacity.
Lebanon at the Brink: War, Hizballah, and the Fate of Democracy
Q: So my question to you is, were you as optimistic then about Lebanon's path to recovery?
I acknowledged optimism earlier but noted that the current war makes it difficult to maintain that stance; however, there is a shared sense that Lebanon is gradually moving away from the Iranian axis and that reforms and negotiations could open a real path to stabilize and eventually democratize the country.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rethinking Democracy

What is Rethinking Democracy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show consistently centers on democratic resilience, governance challenges, and regional dynamics in the Middle East, North Africa, and broader international contexts. Conversations orbit questions of how democracies confront internal pressures—economic strain, civil liberties, and political polarization—while navigating external pressures such as regional conflict, authoritarian competition, and international intervention debates. Guests range from policymakers and senior researchers to activists and journalists, offering a mix of on-the-ground analysis, historical context, and forward-looking proposals for safeguarding democratic practices and promoting accountability. A standout trait is the willingness to comp... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Rethinking Democracy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rethinking Democracy:

1. Middle East Focus
2. On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman
3. Turkey Book Talk
4. The Lede
5. Carnegie Connects

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Rethinking Democracy launched a year ago and published 25 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Rethinking Democracy?

Recent guests on Rethinking Democracy include:

1. Aliza Marcus
2. Noah Bonsey
3. Nazanin Boniadi
4. Mark Dow
5. Alain Hassanian
6. Karabekir Akkoyunlu
7. Michael Schaeffer-Omerman
8. Sarah Leah Whitson

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