Culture wars have long been a popular topic for intellectuals, but over the past six years they have yielded ground to armed fanatics who use hammers and bombs to destroy ideas and heritage not to their liking. Will the so-called civilized world literally have to fight for its culture? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Mikhail Piotrovsky, General Director of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
The migration crisis in Europe has reinvigorated the integration debate, especially in predominantly mono-ethnic Christian societies. And though most recognize the need to take in refugees, many fear that they will stress the fabric of their societies and stretch their country's resources to breaking point. Can European countries find a balance between humanitarian needs and social pressures, and how much should the EU's role in creating those migration flows factor into its decision-making? Oksana is joined by Kristiina Ojuland, the former Foreign Minister of Estonia, to examine these issues.
The assault and robbery of scores of women in Cologne on New Year's Eve, allegedly perpetrated by groups of migrants, has fanned the flames of the refugee crisis in Europe. And while European leaders introduce stricter measures to deal with offending asylum seekers, many are questioning the wisdom of the policies that brought them there. What's behind the seemingly increasing wave of violence by migrants and is the predominantly male migration skewing the European demographic profile, thereby predisposing its societies to even more crime? Oksana is joined by Valerie Hudson, a Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University, to explore these issues.
The EU has been tackling crisis after crisis in recent years – from debt to terrorism, regional conflicts and migration. And while its leaders have tried to produce collective political responses, many members are struggling to reconcile their national interests with the bloc's policies. How has this turbulence challenged the idea of European values, and is it prudent to force Europe's diverse voices to sing as one chorus? Oksana is joined by Cyril Svoboda, the former Foreign Affairs Minister of the Czech Republic, to explore these issues.
The values of democracy, freedom, tolerance and human rights are at the core of the European project. But with populist parties making significant gains on the back of the Paris terrorist attacks, the migration influx and the European debt crisis, those core values are being left by the wayside. Can European democracy survive these challenges, and what role do nation-states have in both exacerbating and solving the problem? Oksana is joined by Ulrike Guerot, the director of the European Democracy Lab at the European School of Governance, to examine these issues.
The beheading of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff by the Islamic State sparked shock and outrage. What’s driving the ideology and rise of one of the world’s most notorious terrorist organisations, and will its Caliphate ever be able to coexist peacefully with the community of nations? Oksana is joined by Anjem Choudary, British imam and lawyer, to reflect on these issues.
The downing of a Russian jet in Syria by Turkish fighters has shocked both Russia and NATO. And though the motives for the action are unclear, the incident is bound to have significant geopolitical consequences. What was the reasoning behind the Turkish decision to shoot down the jet, and is it likely to jeopardize the fragile diplomatic effort to reach a peaceful settlement in Syria. Oksana is joined by Paul Vallely, a retired US Army Major General, to sift through these issues.
When disaster strikes, people set aside their differences and band together, in order to overcome adversity. But for others, catastrophes mean big business and even bigger profits. Has capitalizing on misery become an industry model? Oksana is joined by journalist Antony Loewenstein, author of Disaster Capitalism, to discuss these issues.
The Russian air campaign against ISIS has paved the way for another major push towards a political solution in Syria. And though the Obama administration has been raising its stake in the conflict while engaging in the Vienna talks, his critics back home argue it's too little too late. Could a deal be reached to satisfy the major stakeholders, and is it likely to be sustainable, considering the complex geopolitical factors at play? Oksana is joined by David Rothkopf, the CEO of FP Group and Editor of Foreign Policy magazine, to analyse these issues.
Competition between the great powers for influence in Central Asia is seen as the new Great Game of the 21st century. But with the weakening of security in the region and the strengthening of authoritarian regimes as a result, is it time to change the rules of the game? Oksana is joined by Alexander Cooley, a professor of Russian, Eurasian and Eastern European studies and Director of Columbia University's Harriman Institute, to discuss these issues.
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia offers a rare example of how radical social and political change can be brought about both peacefully and legally. What lessons from the Czechoslovak experience can be applied to the resolution of numerous conflicts besetting the EU, from the refugee crisis to the Ukrainian conflict? Oksana is joined by Vaclav Klaus, the former President of the Czech Republic, to discuss these issues.
The 2003 invasion of Iraq is widely considered to have been a mistake, even by many policy makers in the US. But despite that recognition, the lesson was not learned and the pattern of catastrophic interventions in the region continued in subsequent years. How can the international community tackle the product of that chaos - the Islamic State, and could an all-encompassing regional agreement bring stability to the troubled region? Oksana is joined by Dr Ali Allawi, an Iraqi Cabinet Minister from 2003 to 2006, to analyse these issues.
The 2003 invasion of Iraq is widely considered to have been a mistake, even by many policy makers in the US. But despite that recognition, the lesson was not learned and the pattern of catastrophic interventions in the region continued in subsequent years. How can the international community tackle the product of that chaos - the Islamic State, and could an all-encompassing regional agreement bring stability to the troubled region? Oksana is joined by Dr Ali Allawi, an Iraqi Cabinet Minister from 2003 to 2006, to analyse these issues.
The US has a disastrous history of intervention in foreign conflicts, and as the Obama administration tries to disengage, it leaves behind the chaos of poorly thought out foreign policies. Is the US ideology-driven approach the reason for its failures overseas? And what are the prospects for cooperation between Russia and the US in an environment of growing Russophobia and anti-Americanism? Oksana is joined by Dr Robert Freedman, Visiting Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University, to engage these issues.
Swedish and Finnish leaders have re-invigorated a push for their traditionally non-aligned countries to join NATO, in the face of what they say is a Russian threat. But does Russia really pose a threat to European security, or has it become a convenient scapegoat for growing militarism in Europe? How can Russia and the western world end the conflict in Ukraine, and rebuild peace by peace? Oksana is joined by the founder of the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research, Dr Jan Oberg, to examine these issues.
Egypt has been embroiled in turmoil amid the Arab Spring revolution and the coup that toppled its first democratically-elected president last year. And as the nation gears up for new elections in the shadow of a shattered economy, will it receive the same old result? Can Egypt establish a democracy or will it slide back into chaos? Oksana is joined by the Chairman of the Algomhoria Center for Political and Security Studies, Sameh Seif El-Yazal, to discuss these issues.
US-Saudi relations have long been grounded in an oil-for-security exchange. But with U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil diminishing and Saudi power rising, is there a growing gulf in the Gulf? Has the US spat with Russia affected this relationship, and could it lead to a change in the Syrian deadlock? Oksana is joined by Dr David Weinberg, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, to drill into these issues.
