Arab Tyrant Manual Podcast

By Arab Tyrant Manual Podcast

What's Arab Tyrant Manual Podcast about?

Iyad El-Baghdadi and Ahmed Gatnash study global authoritarianism, with a focus on the MENA region, and dive deep into universal strategies and tactics of authoritarians, as well as the best ways to resist.

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www.patreon.com/kawaakibi

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Arab Tyrant Manual Podcast episodes:

04.08.2022
043 - Ukraine is Dividing the Gulf States from the West
As Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused global energy prices to spike, the US looked to its traditional gulf partners to increase supply. However, Mohamed bin Zayed and Mohamed bin Salman chose not to - refusing President Joe Biden's calls and...
03.25.2022
042 - Working for Libyan Accountability, with Elham Saudi
In this episode, Ahmed Gatnash speaks to Elham Saudi, co-founder and director of Lawyers for Justice in Libya, about the fight for accountability and how human rights defenders can work towards accountability in areas that are ordinarily pushed to the...
03.11.2022
041 - Authors' Retrospective of the The Middle East Crisis Factory
In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed interview each other about their own book, The Middle East Crisis Factory. They discuss the origin and context of the book, detail various struggles that were overcome through the writing process, and share their...
02.25.2022
040 - The Middle East Crisis Factory: an Interview on Gaslit Nation
This is a repost of an interview on the Gaslit Nation podcast, hosted by Sarah Kendzior and Andrea Chalupa. Iyad discusses the origin of the Middle East Crisis Factory book, the context of the Middle East's struggle for democracy in...
02.11.2022
039 - The Changing Activism Paradigm
Iyad and Ahmed discuss human rights and political activism around the world, and why it seems to fail so often. Follow us on Twitter @ArabTyrantMan, and join our Patreon to support our work and gain access to exclusive clips and...
01.31.2022
003 - Optimism vs. Pessimism Around the World
In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss the concept of futurism and its relation to our work, as well as optimism versus pessimism in the spheres of religion, politics and human rights activism. Episode timetags: 00:30 - Futurism - tradition and modernity 05:50...
01.28.2022
038 - Changing Horizons
A continuation of the previous episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss new changes in world politics, human rights activism and the podcast! Follow us on Twitter @ArabTyrantMan and join our Patreon to support our work and gain access to exclusive clips...
01.14.2022
037 - The Podcast Returns
Iyad and Ahmed kickstart the podcast again after a long hiatus - with updates on various developments at the Kawaakibi Foundation, in their personal lives and in global human rights. Follow us on Twitter @ArabTyrantMan and join our Patreon to...
03.03.2021
036 - What does Justice For Jamal Khashoggi look like?
Iyad El-Baghdadi and Ahmed Gatnash discuss the release of the ODNI report confirming US intelligence's conclusion that MBS directly ordered the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Now that two years of gaslighting by the Trump administration are finally over, we can...
12.02.2020
035 - The Xinjiang Victims Database, with Gene Bunin
In this episode, Ahmed talks to Gene Bunin, founder of the Xinjiang Victims Database - a unique initiative to track the crimes being committed against individuals in the western region of China and investigate the fate of those missing. Find...
11.14.2020
034 - Reflections on the podcast, US elections and the future...
Ahmed Gatnash and Iyad El-Baghdadi reflect about the podcast, how far it's come, and plans for the future, as well as discussing Joe Biden's election victory and Trump's defeat, and what they mean for the MENA region and the global...
11.14.2019
033 - The Left's Tribal Anti-Imperialism
In September, Ahmed spoke to Joey Ayoub, Lebanese writer and researcher, about tankies, genocide denial, red-brown alliances and the uncomfortable affinity between large parts of the political left and authoritarianism. Find Joey on Twitter @joeyayoub, and us at @gatnash and @arabtyrantman....
11.04.2019
032 - Lebanon vs Sectarian Warlord Oligarchy
Ahmed talks to Timour Azhari and Joey Ayoub about the massive popular movement against the entire political order which has rocked Lebanon for over 2 weeks. It has led to the end of the government already, but can it achieve...
10.04.2019
031 - Lessons from Egypt's latest protests
Ahmed Gatnash speaks about the recent protests in Egypt, which surprised almost everyone but show that the lessons of 2011 have still not been fully absorbed. For a text version of the article: https://arabtyrantmanual.com/9-lessons-from-egypt/ Support our work: https://www.patreon.com/kawaakibi
09.20.2019
030 - Is Your Phone Safe? Inside Saudi's Phone Hacking Scandal
Human Rights Foundation and Arab Tyrant Manual present this panel from this year's Oslo Freedom Forum, in which Iyad el-Baghdadi and Karen Attiah discuss the Saudi government's use of surveillance software. They go into detail on Jamal Khashoggi and his...
08.29.2019
029 - Art vs Repression, from Egypt to Hong Kong - with Amr Waked & Denise Ho
Celebrities are notoriously shy of politics, advised to stay neutral for the sake of their careers. But what do you do when you can no longer be silent? Denise Ho, a singer and actress from Hong Kong, and Amr Waked, an...
06.02.2019
028 - In the Mirror: What Went Wrong with the Arab Spring?
At the Oslo Freedom Forum last year, 7 activists from the Arab region found ourselves in a room together. This is the discussion which followed - on identity, exile, activism, trauma and healing, whether the Arab Spring failed, and different...
05.20.2019
027 - Iyad's Statement on Saudi Threats
This episode is a recording of Iyad El-Baghdadi's recent press conference, in which he speaks about the recent revelations from intelligence agencies that the Saudi government potentially poses a threat to his life. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/07/cia-warns-arab-activist-of-potential-threat-from-saudi-arabia You can find a video version of the...
04.24.2019
026 - The Power of Nonviolence, with Jamila Raqib
What is the purpose of nonviolence? What are its limits? Surely it couldn't work against someone as brutal as the Nazis...could it? In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed speak to Jamila Raqib, Executive Director of the Albert Einstein Institution -...
04.15.2019
025 - Bombs, Ballots and Bullets: the Battle for Libya's Future
Ahmed Gatnash (@gatnash) discusses Libya with Nadine Dahan (@NadineDahan), a journalist and independent analyst focussed on Libya, human rights and transitional justice in the MENA region. As well as analysing the current crisis, started by Haftar's attempt to invade the...
03.31.2019
024 - Why There Are Few Ex-Presidents in Africa
Abderrahmane Weddady, the brother of regular Arab Tyrant Manual contributor Nasser Weddady, has been charged with "spreading fake news" and jailed pending trial in his home country of Mauritania. His crime? Revealing a massive Ponzi scheme which cost 7000 families...
03.18.2019
023 - Raed Fares: The Man Who Built a Civil Society in a War Zone
On Friday, November 23nd, Raed Fares was assassinated in northern Syria by masked gunmen suspected of being affiliated with al-Qaeda. This episode features an interview we recorded with him at the Oslo Freedom Forum in 2017, in which he told...
03.10.2019
022 - Fauré Must Go!
In Togo, protests are gathering steam against the 50-year rule of the Gnassingbé family. In this episode, Farida Nabourema, a blogger and human rights activist who has been a fearless critic of corruption, dictatorship and colonialism, tells Iyad and Ahmed...
02.23.2019
021 - Is There a Light at the End of 2019's Tunnel?
Ahmed and Iyad do a roundup of major news from 2018, and discuss the outlook for the world in 2019. Where were we vindicated over the last year? Which countries will have popular uprisings this year? Why are Arab countries...
01.27.2019
020 - Sudan, Mother of Arab Revolutions
Sudan is in the middle of an uprising. That alone is notable, but Sudan is also one of the most fascinating and under-studied countries in the region, and has had more successful uprisings than any other country in the MENA...
12.31.2018
019 - The Kawaakibi Foundation Story
In this very special episode, we go through the history of our project from the early days of the Arab Spring through to the present. Our project is a child of the Arab spring, and if you're interested in the...
12.17.2018
018 - The End Of Arab History
Ahmed and Iyad discuss the aftermath of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and current narratives around authoritarianism in the Middle East. Has Mohammed Bin Salman won? Is the Arab spring over? Is the current state of repression in the Arab...
10.06.2018
017 - Where is Jamal Khashoggi?
Jamal Khashoggi, the veteran Saudi journalist and former royal advisor, is missing and presumed kidnapped. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. In this episode we replay a conversation Jamal had with Ahmed, Iyad and Nasser at the...
09.23.2018
016 - Mauritania's Democratic Tipping Point?
Where in the world could you find out that your deceased grandfather voted in a constitutional referendum 3 years after he died? In this episode, Ahmed and Nasser discuss the recent elections in Mauritania, in which an empowered opposition threaten...
09.13.2018
015 - How Gary Lineker Once Helped an Innocent Iranian Prisoner
How do you get one of the world's most beloved ex-footballers to speak out about an innocent political prisoner in Iran? In this episode (part 2 of a 2-part show), Iyad El-Baghdadi and Maryam Nayeb Yazdi talk about a campaign...
08.18.2018
014 - Inside the Iran Bubble, with Maryam Nayeb Yazdi
In this episode (part 1 of another 2-part show), Iyad El-Baghdadi (Twitter: @iyad_elbaghdadi) interviews Maryam Nayeb Yazdi (Twitter: @MaryamNayebYazd), a Canadian-Iranian human rights activist, about her journey into activism, and she tells us more about the country since 2009. Maryam...
08.05.2018
013 - Can Debate Save the Arab World?
A discussion between Belabbes Benkredda, Founding Director of the Munathara Initiative, and Iyad El-Baghdadi, Nasser Weddady and Ahmed Gatnash, on the public sphere, what teaching young people to debate can do for the world, and how to normalise civilised exchange...
07.22.2018
012 - The Absentee Landlord of Cambodia's Internet?
Part 2 of the conversation with Buzzfeed News' Megha Rajagopalan, continuing the discussion on China but also touching on the effects of Facebook on various South Asian countries like Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, including amplifying communal violence, and inadvertently...
07.02.2018
011 - China: The Police State of the Future
Part 1 of a meandering conversation between Ahmed and Megha Rajagopalan, BuzzFeed News' China bureau chief and Asia correspondent, about surveillance and censorship in China - the high-tech police state they've built, WeChat and other tech companies, Chinese memes, the...
06.24.2018
010 - Dictators and Development Statistics
We attended the Oslo Freedom Forum last month. Ahmed (@Gatnash) sat down with Alex Gladstein (@Gladstein) to get an introduction to the forum, and speak about their goals and some of their achievements, as well as some of Alex's research...
06.05.2018
009 - The Catch-22 of Arab Economic Reform
In this conversation, Ahmed and Nasser discuss the Catch-22 of economic reform in the Arab World - the conflicting pressures on regional governments from established business interests and burgeoning youth populations create a true 'rock and a hard place' and...
05.21.2018
Alert: The Saudi Regime Declares War on Women's Rights Activism
An emergency episode about the 9 women's rights activists arrested in Saudi Arabia in the last week. They are: Dr Eman al-Nafjan, Loujain al-Hathloul, Dr Aisha al-Mana', Dr Madeha Al-Ajroush, Professor Aziza Al-Yousef, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Modaimeegh, Mohammad Al-Rabea and Abdulaziz...
04.29.2018
007 - Inside the UAE-Saudi Alliance
In this experimental episode format, Iyad gives his take on the dynamics of the UAE-Saudi alliance and the possibility of fractures appearing. Let us know your thoughts, and join the conversation on #ArabTyrantManual
04.16.2018
006 - The Arab World Won't Fix Itself
A wide-ranging conversation in which Ahmed Gatnash and guest Nasser Weddady, touching on American air strikes on Syria, coup-proofing, Syrian regime relations with Nazis, emergent models of digital surveillance in China and the gulf, the Arab league, the perks of...
04.04.2018
005 - Nonviolence
Iyad El-Baghdadi and Ahmed Gatnash discuss nonviolent resistance to oppression - realistic mechanism of change or idealistic and ineffective? What is it, and how does it apply to different struggles today? Got any thoughts or questions? Tweet us @iyad_elbaghdadi, @gatnash. #ArabTyrantManual
01.21.2018
004 -Scholars and Tyrants
Ahmed and Iyad talk about #globalpeace17 and Muslim scholars who legitimise and support tyrants. Why they do so, and what does this mean both for the Muslim world and for Islam? People mentioned in this episode: Womens rights activists Loujain alhathloul...
01.07.2018
003 - Iran Protests
Ahmed and Iyad discuss the protests in Iran, what they're about, and what they mean for the future. Mentioned in this episode: Jamal Khashoggi's article on Saudi's response: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/01/03/why-saudi-arabias-crown-prince-should-be-worried-about-irans-protests/?utm_term=.ac5f657069b0 And Iran activist Maryam Nayeb Yazdi: https://twitter.com/maryamnayebyazd Got any thoughts or questions? Tweet us: https://twitter.com/iyad_elbaghdadi https://twitter.com/gatnash #arabtyrantmanual
12.02.2017
002 – Saudi Reforms (Part 2)
In episode 2, Ahmed and Iyad continue the discussion on Saudi Arabia. Obama's legacy, what's behind it's regional rivalry with Iran, and how can their historical differences tell us more about their wordviews. How can we fix the crises we're...
11.14.2017
001 – Saudi Reforms (Part 1)
In our first episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss the recent events in Saudi Arabia, and what Mohammed bin Salman's reforms mean in context. Got any thoughts? Tweet us @iyad_elbaghdadi, @gatnash. #ArabTyrantManual

What's Arab Tyrant Manual Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Arab Tyrant Manual Podcast episodes:

043 - Ukraine is Dividing the Gulf States from the West

042 - Working for Libyan Accountability, with Elham Saudi

041 - Authors' Retrospective of the The Middle East Crisis Factory

040 - The Middle East Crisis Factory: an Interview on Gaslit Nation

039 - The Changing Activism Paradigm

003 - Optimism vs. Pessimism Around the World

038 - Changing Horizons

037 - The Podcast Returns

036 - What does Justice For Jamal Khashoggi look like?

035 - The Xinjiang Victims Database, with Gene Bunin

034 - Reflections on the podcast, US elections and the future...

033 - The Left's Tribal Anti-Imperialism

032 - Lebanon vs Sectarian Warlord Oligarchy

031 - Lessons from Egypt's latest protests

030 - Is Your Phone Safe? Inside Saudi's Phone Hacking Scandal

029 - Art vs Repression, from Egypt to Hong Kong - with Amr Waked & Denise Ho

028 - In the Mirror: What Went Wrong with the Arab Spring?

027 - Iyad's Statement on Saudi Threats

026 - The Power of Nonviolence, with Jamila Raqib

025 - Bombs, Ballots and Bullets: the Battle for Libya's Future

024 - Why There Are Few Ex-Presidents in Africa

023 - Raed Fares: The Man Who Built a Civil Society in a War Zone

022 - Fauré Must Go!

021 - Is There a Light at the End of 2019's Tunnel?

020 - Sudan, Mother of Arab Revolutions

019 - The Kawaakibi Foundation Story

018 - The End Of Arab History

017 - Where is Jamal Khashoggi?

016 - Mauritania's Democratic Tipping Point?

015 - How Gary Lineker Once Helped an Innocent Iranian Prisoner

014 - Inside the Iran Bubble, with Maryam Nayeb Yazdi

013 - Can Debate Save the Arab World?

012 - The Absentee Landlord of Cambodia's Internet?

011 - China: The Police State of the Future

010 - Dictators and Development Statistics

009 - The Catch-22 of Arab Economic Reform

Alert: The Saudi Regime Declares War on Women's Rights Activism

007 - Inside the UAE-Saudi Alliance

006 - The Arab World Won't Fix Itself

005 - Nonviolence

004 -Scholars and Tyrants

003 - Iran Protests

002 – Saudi Reforms (Part 2)

001 – Saudi Reforms (Part 1)