Stubborn beasts and seasonal fireside reflections
Dec 15, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Episode description
How do you fit a year into an hour? Impossible, surely? Not so. As the voice of Middle East Analysis, Dr Harry Hagopian is charged with defying the laws of physics for you on this podcast.
We're taking a different approach this time round. Rather than examining MENA matters at the top of the news agenda, we're taking you on a regional tour to discuss some of the key events of 2021 - from the Middle East, through the Gulf and then across to North Africa. Stylistically, this is more of a series of seasonal fireside reflections than a bash on the head with the 'news and analysis' stick.
Dr Hagopian talks about the changing of the guard in many countries - elections, failed elections and elections to come. Then we lament the humanitarian catastrophes of Lebanon and Yemen as well as the counter revolutions bubbling across the region. We take an overview of the realities of Israel / Palestine, particularly settlements, and whether the potential resurrection of the E1 project will finally kill off the two state solution.
Our next stop takes us to the Gulf and efforts at the rehabilitation of MBS the Saudi Crown Prince before we arrive in North Africa where Dr Hagopian covers that sweep of Arab countries giving us the last 12 months in a nutshell.
There's more trepidation than tinsel but expect the odd light moment or two. 'Crufts for Camels' - the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Saudi Arabia - for one.
Join us for 70 minutes of winging it with intelligence.
