Shortly after the beginning of the Arab Spring, major anti-government protest demonstrations rocked Libya's social fabric, peaking in early 2011. Mu'ammar Al-Qadhdhāfī, the leader of the country at the time, chose to crack down on these demonstrations violently. Today, we are joined with Joost Hiltermann, the MENA Program Director of the International Crisis Group. In this role, he leads the organization’s research, analysis, and advocacy in the region. We will discuss Al-Qadhdhāfī, transnational migration, and foreign intervention. This podcast was produced by Arda Aslan and India Soranson Way. The music is from Epidemic Sound. Thank you to the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies.

In 2011, mass demonstrations known as the Intifada of Dignity or Uprising of Dignity broke out in Lebanon. These protests were influenced by the Arab Spring, a collection of anti-government uprisings in the MENA region. In today’s episode, we interview Assistant Professor of Government, Hicham Bou Nassif Ph.D., from Claremont McKenna College. We will discuss the 2011/2019 Lebanese protests, political/economic corruption, Iranian power projection, Hezbollah, and actors in satellite states. This podcast was produced by Arda Aslan and India Soranson Way. The music is from Epidemic Sound. Thank you to the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies.

On the eve of 2011, a young Tunisian street vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire to protest the brutal societal oppression that was the Tunisian government. Tunisia's revolution was the first popular movement to topple an established government in the Middle East and North Africa; it’s also the spark that ignited and inspired other revolutions in the region. In today's episode, we sit down with Dr. Sarah Yerkes, a senior fellow in Carnegie's Middle East Program. We will discuss political, economic, and security developments since the initial revolution spark in 2011.  This podcast was produced by Arda Aslan and India Soranson Way. The music is from Epidemic Sound.  Thank you to the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College.