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Rethinking Democracy

Middle East Institute
Democracy
Iran
Israel
Syria
Turkey
Middle East
Donald Trump
Ekrem İmamoğlu
Russia
Foreign Policy
Islamic Republic
Ukraine
Autocracy
Democracy Promotion
United States
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Arab World
U.S. Foreign Policy
Democratization
Pro-Democracy Movement

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 monthlyEpisodes22Foundeda year ago
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Government

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Artwork for Rethinking Democracy

Latest Episodes

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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The war against Iran has entered its third week with no clear endgame—and no clear strategy from Washington. At one point President Trump appeared to encourage Iranian Kurdish groups to rise up against the regime, before quickly walking it back. Mean... more

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The balance of power in the Middle East is shifting. Iran is on the defensive — its military capabilities were badly degraded by last year's 12 days of Israeli and US strikes, and growing protests at home have made the regime look more vulnerable tha... more

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Dramatic developments in Syria have delivered a major blow to Kurdish ambitions for self-rule. In a rapid offensive, Damascus moved into northeast Syria, forcing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) out and effectively dismantling the auton... more

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Recent Guests

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?
Alex Vatanka
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute
Middle East Institute
Episode: Can Iran's Regime Survive This?
Dr. Amanda Sloat
Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs
IE University
Episode: When the World's Oldest Democracy Goes Illiberal
Dr. Youssef Chahed
Senior Fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School's Middle East Initiative, and served as Prime Minister of Tunisia from 2016 to 2020.
Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: From Brightest Hope to Open-Air Prison: How Tunisia Lost Its Democratic Promise
Renad Mansour
Senior Research Fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Program and Director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House
Chatham House
Episode: From Ballots to Bargains: The Struggle for Iraqi Democracy

Host

Gonul Tol
Host and Senior Fellow focusing on democracy and political issues in the Middle East, with extensive knowledge of democratic transitions and authoritarianism.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#176
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#215
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#13
Indonesia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#38
Israel/Government
Apple Podcasts
#67
Mexico/Government
Apple Podcasts
#105
Ireland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#108
Poland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#122
Denmark/Government
Apple Podcasts
#123
Taiwan/Government
Apple Podcasts
#147
United Arab Emirates/Government
Apple Podcasts
#149
Japan/Government
Apple Podcasts
#161
Sweden/Government
Apple Podcasts
#166
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#173
Switzerland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#180
South Africa/Government
Apple Podcasts
#192
Austria/Government
Apple Podcasts
#205
Netherlands/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Kurdish Card: Can Iranian Kurds Shape the War's Endgame?
Q: What about the trust and risk involved in potential US support or air cover?
Trust is complicated and situational; Kurdish groups are cautious about unconditional partnerships and emphasize civilian protection, while viewing any potential US support as conditional and contingent on broader political realities.
The Kurdish Card: Can Iranian Kurds Shape the War's Endgame?
Q: Are these Kurdish groups militarily strong enough to challenge the regime?
Strength is described not merely in numbers but in mobilization capacity, the depth of grassroots support, and the ability to coordinate across border regions; external backing is viewed as a strategic option rather than a simple proxy relationship.
The Kurdish Card: Can Iranian Kurds Shape the War's Endgame?
Q: How should we understand the Kurdish question in Iran today?
The Kurdish question is presented as a long-running, multi-party, cross-border movement that seeks ethnic autonomy within Iran, supported by a network of parties with both political and military wings, and increasingly integrated with broader Iranian opposition dynamics.
Israel-Palestine: Is the Two-State Solution Dead?
Q: So the question is, why would Israeli Jews willingly give up those advantages?
It requires an internal transformation driven by a higher cost of the current situation.
Israel-Palestine: Is the Two-State Solution Dead?
Q: What do Palestinians want?
Support for any peaceful vision for the future declining due to the ongoing conflict.

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?

Exploring the intricate relationship between domestic and international threats to democracy, this podcast covers a range of pressing issues that challenge democratic institutions both in the U.S. and around the globe. Episodes feature insightful discussions with experts who analyze current events, historical contexts, and the ongoing struggles for democratic integrity, particularly in regions experiencing political turmoil such as the Middle East. Topics frequently include the deterioration of political structures, the role of civil society, protest movements, and the impact of foreign policy on democracy's health. A noteworthy focus is given to the implications of authoritarianism and how various countries' experiences can shape broader u... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Rethinking Democracy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rethinking Democracy:

1. Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
2. Middle East Focus
3. On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman
4. Recap radio
5. Turkey Book Talk

How many episodes of Rethinking Democracy are there?

Rethinking Democracy launched a year ago and published 22 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. Alain Hassanian
2. Karabekir Akkoyunlu
3. Michael Schaeffer-Omerman
4. Sarah Leah Whitson
5. Nader Habibi
6. Alex Vatanka
7. Dr. Amanda Sloat
8. Dr. Youssef Chahed

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