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PODCAST

Rethinking Democracy

Middle East Institute

This is a critical time for the future of democracy as citizens in America and across the globe are losing faith in democratic institutions. We often view the rollback of democracy and threats to the liberal international order as separate problems, but in reality they are closely interlinked. In this podcast series, MEI Senior Fellow Gonul Tol examines the interplay between democracy"s domestic and international foes as well as how to counter them.

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All Episodes

42:42

Lebanon at the Brink: War, Hizballah, and the Fate of...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2026/03/31

Israel's escalating campaign against Iran-backed Hizballah is rapidly turning Lebanon into one of the most unstable fronts in the wider US-Israel confrontation with Iran — pushing an already fragile state to the brink. The war is tearing at Lebanon's sectarian and political fabric, displacing Shiite communities and deepening polarization between Hizballah and its rivals. The government that came to power in February 2025 on a wave of optimism now faces a perfect storm. What does this mean for

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39:48

The Kurdish Card: Can Iranian Kurds Shape the War's...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2026/03/17

The war against Iran has entered its third week with no clear endgame—and no clear strategy from Washington. At one point President Trump appeared to encourage Iranian Kurdish groups to rise up against the regime, before quickly walking it back. Meanwhile, some exiled Kurdish opposition figures say they already have an invasion plan and only need U.S. air cover. The Kurdish question is once again at the center of regional politics. In this episode, we examine the role of Iranian Kurds in the

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51:45

Is Turkey the New Iran — Or Is that the Wrong Question?

Rethinking Democracy ·

2026/03/03

The balance of power in the Middle East is shifting. Iran is on the defensive — its military capabilities were badly degraded by last year's 12 days of Israeli and US strikes, and growing protests at home have made the regime look more vulnerable than it has in years. As that balance changes, a growing number of commentaries suggest that Turkey may replace Iran as the region's next destabilizing force. Much of that argument rests on the assumption that Turkey under Erdoğan shares the same Islamist

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47:41

After Rojava: What's Next for the Kurds?

Rethinking Democracy ·

2026/02/17

Dramatic developments in Syria have delivered a major blow to Kurdish ambitions for self-rule. In a rapid offensive, Damascus moved into northeast Syria, forcing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) out and effectively dismantling the autonomous region the Kurds had built during the civil war. For the Kurds, this is more than a battlefield setback—it is a historic turning point. The Syrian uprising opened an unprecedented window: a long-repressed minority governed itself, gained

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51:02

Israel-Palestine: Is the Two-State Solution Dead?

Rethinking Democracy ·

2026/02/04

Long before the Gaza war erupted in 2023, a broad consensus had already taken hold across policymakers, activists, and foreign-policy circles: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was at a political dead end. The Oslo framework—and the promise of a two-state solution—had steadily lost credibility as a realistic path forward. Since Hamas's October 7 attacks, the devastation in Gaza and the accelerating realities on the ground have made a two-state outcome even harder to imagine. And yet, it remains the

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48:37

Can Iran's Regime Survive This?

Rethinking Democracy ·

2026/01/13

Iran is once again at a boiling point. For more than a week, nationwide protests have shaken the country, with tens of thousands pouring into the streets of major cities, including Tehran. As calls for the regime's removal spread, authorities responded with internet blackouts and force. Videos show government buildings ablaze across multiple cities, while human rights groups report at least 28 protesters killed since late December. These are the largest demonstrations Iran has seen since 2022,

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35:25

When the World's Oldest Democracy Goes Illiberal

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/12/16

The Trump administration has released its new National Security Strategy—and analysts say it signals a decisive break from America's role as the leader of the free world. Instead, the document advances an openly illiberal, strongman-centered vision of power. One former U.S. official goes further, arguing the strategy doesn't merely abandon democracy promotion—it puts Washington in the business of promoting autocracy. Democracy and human rights are pushed aside. Allies are treated more harshly than

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44:51

From Brightest Hope to Open-Air Prison: How Tunisia...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/12/02

Thousands of Tunisians marched in the capital last week against what they called 'injustice and repression,' accusing President Kais Saied of cementing one-man rule through the police and judiciary. The protest is part of a wider wave of unrest—journalists, NGOs, fractured political parties, doctors, bankers, and transport workers all say Saied has turned the country into an open-air prison and demand relief from Tunisia's deepening political and economic crisis. Fourteen years after Mohamed

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33:19

From Ballots to Bargains: The Struggle for Iraqi...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/11/18

Iraqis have just gone to the polls in a pivotal parliamentary election that could redefine the country's political trajectory. What do the results tell us about the state of Iraqi democracy? What happens next? And is there still space for meaningful democratic reform? In this episode of Rethinking Democracy, Gonul Tol speaks with Renad Mansour, Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House and Director of the Iraq Initiative, to unpack the election's aftermath, Iraq's deeply fragmented political

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47:01

From Protest to War: How October 7 Reshaped Israeli...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/11/04

For years, Israeli populist politicians have chipped away at the country's democratic guardrails. But the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023 accelerated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's drive to consolidate power. The kind of societal pushback that once blocked his efforts to expand executive authority is now under severe strain. Israel's multi-front conflict with Iran, Hamas, and other Iranian proxies has blunted protest movements and sidelined those who once filled the streets in defense of

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40:25

The US Role in Democracy Promotion: Continuity or...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/10/20

For much of the past eighty years, the United States has seen itself — and often acted — as a global champion of democracy. Through the power of example, and through its diplomacy, security alliances, and aid programs, Washington has sought to strengthen democratic institutions and push back against authoritarianism. The record, of course, has never been perfect. The US has at times backed autocratic leaders in pursuit of strategic or economic gain. But overall, it has been a net force for democracy

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53:27

Can Lebanese Democracy Be Saved?

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/09/23

Once hailed as a rare democracy in the Middle East, Lebanon has now slipped into the ranks of closed autocracies. Decades of corruption, sectarian rule, and foreign meddling have left the country reeling — and the past year brought assassinations, mass displacement, and Israel’s full-scale war against Hezbollah in the south. With its economy in free fall and its political system on life support, Lebanon stands at a crossroads: could shifts in regional power, efforts to disarm Hezbollah, and a change

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01:02:29

Markets, Mayors, and Crackdowns: Erdoğan’s...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/09/10

Turkey’s main opposition, the CHP, is facing its toughest test yet: mass arrests, sham court rulings, and the ouster of key leaders—including Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Erdoğan’s chief rival. With trials looming that could replace CHP leadership with government loyalists, the party warns of a legal ‘coup.’ What does this crackdown mean for Turkey’s fragile economy, its 2028 elections, and the future of democracy itself? We break it down in this episode of Rethinking Democracy with featured

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58:37

Iran at a Crossroads: War, Survival, and the Future...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/07/16

Could this be the beginning of a new chapter for Iran’s foreign policy—and for its pro-democracy movement? Gönül Tol speaks with Dr. Vali Nasr, one of the world's leading experts on the Middle East, to unpack the aftermath of the 12-Day War. Together, they examine the war’s domestic and regional fallout, the resilience of Iran's regime under fire, and the shifting public sentiment that may shape the country’s political future. Does survival alone count as success for Tehran? And what becomes of

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45:40

Syria After Assad: Transitional Justice, Governance,...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/07/01

With Bashar al-Assad ousted and Syria entering a new political chapter, what comes next for a country ravaged by war, repression, and sectarian divisions? Gonul Tol speaks with Steven Heydemann (Smith College) and Radwan Ziadeh (Arab Center Washington DC) about the challenges of transitional justice, prospects for democratic reform, and the role of Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharah. Can a centralized government model provide inclusive governance? What kind of support—or

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57:55

Deal or Deception: The Kurdish Card in Erdogan’s New...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/06/24

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has announced it will disband and end its decades-long armed insurgency. Is this a turning point in Turkey’s century-long conflict with its Kurdish population—or a political maneuver to secure President Erdogan's grip on power? Gonul Tol is joined by Kurdish MP Ceylan Akca and political scientist Murat Somer to unpack the stakes of this historic shift, the demands for constitutional recognition, and whether peace is possible in a country where democracy itself is

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58:57

Why has democratization bypassed the Arab world?

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/05/27

President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE reignited debate over U.S. ties to authoritarian regimes. But the controversy underscores a deeper question: why has democracy struggled to take root in the Arab world? In this episode of Rethinking Democracy, host Gonul Tol sits down with Dr. Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and author of "The Great Betrayal: The Struggle for Freedom and Democracy in the Middle East," to

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41:08

Illiberal Hegemony? Trump’s Foreign Policy and the...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/05/13

Neoconservatives and MAGA isolationists are locked in a battle for the soul of Republican strategy. Nowhere is the split more glaring than over the Middle East: hawks view it as a proving ground for American power and allegiance to Israel, while isolationists see only endless wars that have bled America dry. Where does Trump fall in this tug-of-war? What are the real-world consequences of this struggle—for Ukraine’s survival, Gaza’s future, and the fate of nuclear diplomacy with Iran? Recorded April

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54:56

Can Ukraine’s Fight for Democracy Survive Without US...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/04/29

Ukraine faces a pivotal year in its fight against Russian aggression — and for its democratic future. With fears mounting that President Trump could abandon peace talks with Kyiv and Moscow, the risk grows that US disengagement could tip the balance toward Russia and fracture the global democratic order. Is Ukraine’s resistance a last stand for democratic values in Europe? How should the democratic world respond as political will in Washington fades? In this episode of Rethinking Democracy, host

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56:45

The Protests and Political Crisis Shaping Turkey's...

Rethinking Democracy ·

2025/04/01

Turkey has plunged into turmoil after authorities arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, President Erdoğan's strongest opponent, on charges of corruption. Mass protests, the largest in over a decade, have erupted nationwide after İmamoğlu was removed from office and jailed just hours before the opposition was set to declare him its presidential candidate. Political scientists warn this is a defining moment for the future of democracy in the country. Is it indeed a turning point? How did we get here

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22 results

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