The Global Jigsaw - podcast cover

The Global Jigsaw

BBC World Servicewww.bbc.co.uk

Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives, helping you get past the propaganda and misinformation. The Global Jigsaw comes from BBC Monitoring, which tracks, deciphers and analyses news media in 100 languages.

We reach across multiple time zones, from China and India, to Iran, Africa and Latin America.

We watch Russian state TV around the clock, giving unrivalled insight into the evolution of Kremlin propaganda.

But propaganda is just part of the information space we inhabit. In its more extreme form, we focus on disinformation that aims to defame enemies, sway elections, and undermine democracy.

We have been monitoring jihadist media for nearly two decades, following the chatter from al-Qaeda and Islamic State group, gaining extraordinary knowledge about their aims, their ideological differences and allegiances.

We watch the behaviour of Russia’s Putin, Iran’s Khamenei, Turkey’s Erdogan, China’s Xi Jinping, Hungary’s Orban and anyone else who might be challenging the established order, seeking to expand their global footprint or export their brand of ideology.

At BBC Monitoring, we don’t just speak the language, we understand the narrative. So we can help you untangle the context and single out rhetoric from reality, deception from truth.

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Episodes

Contested waters: Crimea

How water is used as a weapon of war following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. An irrigation system, once created at Stalin’s order as a project of grand Soviet social engineering, is now running dry. We dig into the history of the Crimean water dispute - the surprising twists and turns and the narratives constructed by both Russia and Ukraine. Presenter: Krassi Twigg Producer: Kriszta Satori

Mar 17, 202429 min

What hope for Haiti?

Gang violence has turned the small Caribbean nation into a “living nightmare”, with rapes, kidnappings and killings a daily occurrence. More than a decade after a devastating earthquake - and billions of dollars spent on recovery - Haiti is back on its knees. Plans for a new Kenya-led, UN-approved security deployment have stalled amid a debate about how much of a help or hindrance foreign assistance is. We check-in with the reality on the ground and take stock of the arguments.

Mar 09, 202428 min

Does Russia’s election matter?

Putin’s re-election is certain, but there is still a lot at stake for the Kremlin. We look into the efforts aimed at achieving unequivocal victory in what seems to be the most oppressive election in Russia for two decades. What are the stories state media can and cannot touch, how much of a headache does dissent from the mothers and wives of soldiers pose to the authorities and does Putin really have body doubles? *This episode was recorded before the announcement of Alexey Navalny’s death.* Pro...

Feb 15, 202436 min

Israel-Gaza war: Global perspectives

The Israel-Gaza conflict has commanded attention in every corner of the globe and has created what media present as unprecedented polarisation. Leaders seeking a bigger role on the world stage have used this as an “ideological purity test” and an opportunity to promote their own vision of a multi-polar world. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk Producers: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Twigg

Nov 17, 202340 min

Israel and Gaza special

The war of narratives reflecting power tilts in the Middle East. Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October, which is said to have killed at least 1,200* people, triggered a war in Gaza that has so far claimed more than 10,000 lives. A “Ground Zero” moment for Israel, “a golden opportunity” for Jihadists, a window for those opposing normalisation with Israel. We explore the narratives, and the driving forces behind them, to understand how this war could change the region. *Correction 27...

Nov 10, 202340 min

Who’ll be Argentina’s next president?

After a shock primary win, far-right libertarian economist Javier Milei is leading polls ahead of Argentina's presidential election. He's vowing to upend the status quo. With poverty rising, inflation into triple digits and recession looming, Argentinians are divided over who to trust to lead them out of the crisis. The intensifying virulence of the debate in the already polarised political landscape makes that choice even harder. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk Producer: Kriszta Satori ...

Oct 14, 202329 min

Wagner after Prigozhin

What next for the notorious Wagner group after the plane crash that wiped out its leadership? The Russian private military group that’s left boot prints in Europe, the Middle East and Africa is facing an uncertain future. We look at official movements and narratives - in Russia and abroad - to lift the deliberate veil of murkiness and find the clues. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg

Sep 29, 202342 min

Grain deal special

Russia and Turkey failed to reach an agreement to bring Ukrainian grain to countries that desperately need it, at a meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. What are the obstacles - and the implications for global food security? Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Sep 09, 202329 min

Niger coup special

Soldiers say they have taken control of the West African country. We unpick how events unfolded with BBC Monitoring’s Africa expert Beverly Ochieng. What can we learn from our media watch about what really happened and what could be the impications for the Sahel? This is a special episode of The Global Jigsaw. All of Season 1 is available to listen. Follow or subscribe so that you don’t miss future episodes.

Jul 28, 202321 min

The story of BBC Monitoring

The Global Jigsaw is brought to you by BBC Monitoring, a part of the BBC you may not have heard of. This team of journalists reports on media from 150 countries in up to 100 languages and provides information and analyses to BBC newsrooms and the UK government, as well as commercial clients including universities and thinktanks. It also has an intriguing and, at times, dramatic history dating back to the eve of World War Two. This bonus episode is all about us. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc....

Jul 25, 202328 min

Israel at a defining moment

Israel’s government is pressing ahead with an overhaul of the judicial system which would curtail the power of the Supreme Court, and give the government more. The proposals are seen by critics as an attack on democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and have been met by unprecedented popular protests. In this week’s Global Jigsaw, we look at the crisis in Israel through our media lens, for a glimpse of the ideas and forces dividing Israelis so deeply today. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc...

Jul 14, 202338 min

Wagner’s revolt: The world takes stock

Russia's once shadowy private military company Wagner hit the headlines around the world when the group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ordered his men to march on Moscow. Although the insurrection was short lived, the impact is felt far and wide. In a special edition, The Global Jigsaw examines the Wagner mutiny from the perspective of countries who have a reason to pay close attention. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Jul 04, 202334 min

Putin’s media marathon

The gradual dismantling of independent media in Russia, from the colour and vibrancy under Boris Yeltsin in the 90s, to the extreme crackdown under Vladimir Putin a quarter of a century later. The Global Jigsaw tracks the key milestones in the process that turned the media into a “barren landscape”. And we look into a new propaganda push targeting the youngest. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Jun 30, 202345 min

Bulgaria’s Russia conundrum

The fault line in Bulgarian politics helping Moscow’s interests in Europe. Kremlin narratives have been dividing politics in this arms-producing EU country. Some see it as Russia’s Trojan horse. The former Soviet ally is torn between old and new allegiances, resulting in polarised attitudes towards Ukraine. How is Russia driving its agenda in Bulgaria, and is it working? Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Jun 23, 202332 min

Russia’s propaganda firehose

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine intensified the Kremlin’s propaganda push. While independent media was defanged, TV talk shows multiplied to beam the state-sanctioned version of reality into living rooms. Alternative viewpoints are hard to find. Many Russians call their TV set the zombiebox - has it won the battle of narratives?

Jun 16, 202343 min

Ukraine’s media at war

Journalism under military censorship and state PR. The Russian invasion has dramatically transformed Ukraine’s media landscape. Speaking truth to power has become more of a challenge in an environment that has lost much of its vibrancy and pluralism. Some of the changes have been written into law. What happens when peace returns? Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Jun 10, 202337 min

TikTokking for God (and power)

Latin American evangelical preachers have been taking their conservative politics to TikTok. The mix can be dynamite. Left-wing parties have dominated in recent elections, but the phenomenon is growing, in an exceptionally lax social media environment. What does this tell us about religion and politics - and the media - in the region today? Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Jun 02, 202330 min

Russian flag operations in Mali

The African influencers amplifying Kremlin propaganda and disinformation. Russian influence operations have expanded from the CAR to Mali and other countries in the Sahel region. What drives local people to take to the streets with Russian flags, and what’s Moscow’s endgame in Africa? Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

May 27, 202332 min

CAR’s Wagner trouble

Russia looking for new friends in Africa spells new trouble for a turbulent region. The Central African Republic has in recent years become one of Moscow’s main hubs of influence operations on the continent. What drew the Kremlin-linked mercenary group Wagner to this resource rich country that was never part of the Soviet sphere of influence? Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

May 20, 202326 min

Masculinity with Chinese characteristics

The Communist Party weighs in on sexual politics, making noises about what it means to be a man. It says it needs to push back against foreign influences including K-pop and what it calls “sissy culture”. Where does that leave Chinese women - and feminism? And is there a connection with so-called Wolf Warrior diplomacy? Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk Producers: Lucy Bailey, Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg Editor: Judy King Main contributors: Tom Lam, Kerry Allen Original music: P...

May 12, 202327 min

Talking politics on Turkey’s streets

The heated vox pop debates going viral in Turkey. As the cost of living crisis bites, heated arguments play out in cities and online. The street-corner videos, watched by millions, debate everything from the price of cucumbers to sky-high rents. And they have become a powerful alternative to state-controlled media.

May 05, 202327 min

A jihadi on a charm offensive

The Syrian militant leader wanted by the West, but who wants to be its friend. With a bounty on his head, Abu Mohammed al Jawlani spins his propaganda machine in the rebel stronghold of Idlib, wearing western suits and taking selfies with the locals. What’s behind his transformation? Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@bbc.co.uk

Apr 28, 202329 min

Welcome to... The Global Jigsaw

What’s the story you are being told and why? We live in times of information wars, weaponised narratives, captured media, information spaces turned into halls of mirrors. How can we understand the world better and the agendas driving those narratives? We track and analyse media in up to 100 languages to show you the world through the eyes of its media - where powerful interests battle to influence your views. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier so you get the bigge...

Apr 11, 20233 min
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