Middle East Analysis

By: Middle East North Africa: An Analysis
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  • Summary

  • The Middle East North Africa region is complex - hardly breaking news. There are complicated religious, political and socio-economic realities. Our 'Middle East Analysis' podcasts feature the analysis of Dr Harry Hagopian, an international lawyer and commentator on the Middle East North Africa region and the Gulf States.
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Politics & Government
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Episodes
  • Assad time no more

    Assad time no more
    Dec 17 2024
    'Middle East Analysis' started in earnest in 2010-11 when a series of anti-regime uprisings took place across a large swathe of the Middle East North Africa region - what was termed the Arab Spring. Dr Harry Hagopian, an international lawyer, regional analyst - and the voice of these podcasts - helped us to understand the context and long advocated for the voice of the people to be heard rather than supressed. A semi-constant topic in the early 2010s was the turmoil and civil war in Syria and the oppressive, often brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad, himself the successor of his father Hafez al-Assad who ruled with an iron fist from 1971. That dynasty held a stranglehold on the country for over half a century. We spent years discussing government brutality, barrel bombing, international players, the descent into long-term civil war. Then, in 2014, we witnessed the rise of the violent, rampaging terror group IS, or Daesh, under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. IS shocked the world by setting up a caliphate across parts of Iraq and Syria. Once again, the Syrian people suffered and, somehow, Bashar al-Assad clung on. Fast forward a decade and on 8 December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed after opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept through Syria eventually taking the capital Damascus forcing the Assad family to flee to Moscow. So the main sentiment percolating through this episode is what Harry terms 'pessoptimism' surrounding the seismic shift in Syria. We all know vacuums are dangerous and what fills them can be worse than what went before so caution is necessary. Christmas cheer may be in short supply but we also have a segment on the Christians of the region and whether any peace or consolation can be found in these challenging days.
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    39 mins
  • Latin Patriarch | Cardinal Pizzaballa

    Latin Patriarch | Cardinal Pizzaballa
    Dec 3 2024
    Our studio guest for this special 30-minute Middle East Analysis podcast is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. Born in northern Italy, the Patriarch, a Franciscan, has spent 35 years of his ministry in the Holy Land. In this time he has seen many episodes of war and tension. The current cycle of violence is particularly devastating. However, it is the season of Advent and the eyes of the world slowly turn to Bethlehem. Hope prevails in the darkness, and the Patriarch clings to this when discussing the region’s Christians. Cardinal Pizzaballa talks about the intense and challenging situation facing the Catholics of Gaza, the West Bank and Israel. We talk in particular about the small community sheltering at the compound of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City. Our regular studio guest is the international lawyer, consultant and former Assistant General Secretary for the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr Harry Hagopian. Harry grew up in Jerusalem and his family has traditionally had close ties with the Patriarchate. He fondly reflects on how his father, a doctor, used to treat former Patriarchs at his GP surgery. Cardinal Pizzaballa and Dr Hagopian share thoughts on a number of subjects in the half-hour podcast: Gaza and the Christians sheltering at the Church of the Holy Family Parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli and his joy at being back in Gaza Memories of engagement with the various Churches of the Holy Land Hope and grassroots dialogue in the face of war and violence The Patriarch’s meditation on Advent and faith
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    29 mins
  • A hole in the soul

    A hole in the soul
    Oct 2 2024
    It's hard to put into words - let alone sensible ones - how one feels looking on at the multiple tragedies unfolding (rapidly) in the Middle East. Particularly in those lands referred to as 'holy'. It all seems rather unholy and, as usual, those caught in the eye of the storm of overlapping conflicts are the civilians trying to live their lives. The voice of 'Middle East Analysis', Dr Harry Hagopian, is usually a man of good humour, even in the darkest times. As an international lawyer, consultant and man of dialogue, he recently shared a digital 'bubble', as he called it, expressing how the recent escalation in hostilities has created a hole in his soul. So that's the title of this podcast. For just over an hour, Dr Hagopian discusses the current maelstrom of violence, bereavement, loss, suffering and displacement. He even asks whether we stand on the threshold of Sykes-Picot Mark II. Even he hopes he's wrong. NOTE: This MEA podcast was recorded prior to the escalation of regional hostilities on the evening of 1 October.
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    1 hr and 5 mins

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