Middle East (Video)

The isolation of house arrest, film as a tool for political expression, and the serpentine nature of Iranian cinema all arise in this thoughtful conversation about Jafar Panahi’s documentary, This is Not a Film (2011) between Anna Brusutti (UCSB) and Hamid Naficy (Northwestern University). Naficy and Brusutti’s wide-ranging discussion explores the wit and creativity of the film, the state of Iranian filmmaking, and the importance of cinema to engage entrenched political power. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 35342]

Conflict and tensions in the Middle East have reached their highest point in years. Tensions and the risk of confrontation are growing between the U.S. and Iran, as well as between Iran and U.S. regional allies. Tzipi Livni, former Foreign Minister of Israel, reflects on whether increased tensions in the region can help create new opportunities for peace and stability. She explores, in particular, the threats Israel faces that may threaten an already fragile status quo. Tzipi Livni is the featured speaker for the 2019 Herb York Memorial Lecture, presented by UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at UC San Diego. Series: "Herb York Memorial Lecture" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 35319]

The Trump Administration has an anti-ISIS military policy but has zeroed out reconstruction support for areas that have been liberated from ISIS in Syria. It has an anti-Iranian policy both rhetorically and economically, but it leaves containing the spread of Iran and the Shia militias in Syria to Israel and to the Russians and leaves Israel on its own to deal with the Russians. It has declared it will present a peace plan for the Israelis and Palestinians but at this point is unable to deal directly with the Palestinian Authority. In all these areas, there are elements of a policy but inconsistencies as well. The gap between objectives and means remains wide. Can it be bridged? Will we see an effective strategy for the area? And, what would an effective strategy look like? Dennis Ross will cover all this in his lecture. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 34373]