Displaced

Mandy Patinkin (Saul Berenson for Homeland fans) talks to Ravi and Grant about why he works with the IRC to lend his voice to refugees. Mandy reflects on his travels to various refugee camps and talks passionately about the need for everyone to be involved in working for the well-being of refugees. In this interview, they get into the challenges of generating empathy, the moral obligations of those who can help, and what individuals can do to make a difference.

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The definition of a refugee - and how we think about the entire refugee system - needs to be changed, says Alex Aleinikoff, who was UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees from 2010-15. He talks to Ravi and Grant about why the definition matters, what it needs to expand to include, and how to build a humanitarian system that responds to the needs of the day. As the nature of conflict and displacement has changed, Alex brings a historical perspective to the discussion. They dive into the challenging and important issue of 'burden-sharing': how do we decide who takes on the responsibility for helping refugees? Enjoy their discussion and also check out Alex’s upcoming book, “The Arc of Protection: Towards a New International Refugee Regime.

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John Prendergast founded the Enough Project, which has worked with the likes of George Clooney and Ryan Gosling, to bring attention to complex humanitarian crises in Africa. In this episode, he talks with Ravi and Grant about his model of political change underpinning Enough, how to work with celebrities, and the lessons he has learned through his advocacy. They reflect on the root causes of conflict, the role of advocacy, and what activists should make of South Sudan. 

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Stephen Hickey has a unique perspective: he was sent to Syria in 2010, as the UK's deputy ambassador to Damascus back when it was thought of as a "sleepy posting." The Assad regime kicked him out of the country a year later, as the protests intensified. Now, he's the political coordinator of the UK mission to the United Nations, and he talks to Ravi and Grant about how seven brutal years of war in Syria has created a humanitarian crisis on an immense scale. The discussion covers the roots of the conflict, how the West has responded and the potential danger of military action without a long-term diplomatic strategy.

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Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright reflects on her experience as a refugee and how it has shaped her views on America's role in the refugee crisis (or lack thereof). In this interview, Ravi and Grant dive into Madeleine’s Albright’s views on how humanitarian intervention has evolved, her disappointment in Aung San Suu Kyi over the treatment of the Rohingya, and the role of art in this dark political moment. 

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