Empire (2009) | Couchpile

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Empire (2009) | Couchpile

2010

13 Episodes

2010

E01

'War on terror' through Muslim eyes

1/28/2010

In this episode, Empire looks at how al-Qaeda is perceived in the Muslim world. Does the US' so-called 'war on terror' serve only to alienate Muslims, driving them into the arms of extremist groups? Can the US reverse the tide of military intervention in the region and instead try to reach political solutions that involve all political parties, including repressed Islamic parties? We will also discuss whether the Arab world has an answer to the al-Qaeda challenge.

E02

What future for capitalism?

2/23/2010

From New York to Dubai and Bangladesh, Empire looks at the impact of US-style capitalism and asks: What does the future hold for crony capitalism? And what are the alternatives to neo-liberal globalisation?

E03

US and Iran: The best of enemies?

3/31/2010

In this episode, Empire asks if US-Iranian relations have taken a turn for the worse. The time for hands extended in friendship has been replaced by menacing fists, as both sides ratchet-up the rhetoric. Will this mini cold war continue, giving both the US and Iran time and face to get back to the negotiating table, or will the bellicose words lead to a confrontation that neither side wants? Empire finds out.

E04

BRIC: The new world order

4/29/2010

Brazil, Russia, India and China are booming whilst many other countries are struggling economically, or even crashing. When their leaders recently convened in Brasilia for their second BRIC summit, they all underlined their commitment to a more democratic global governance. Will the emerging powers change the way the world works, or merely grab a bigger share of it? And what future for Brazil on the world's summit?

E05

The sun never sets

5/27/2010

It once ruled a quarter of the world, but what is so great about Great Britain? And what gives this faded island off the coast of Europe the right to act like a global power player?

E06

Running on empty?

6/29/2010

What happens when the world runs out of oil? Who and what will be the dominant power in the 21st century?

E07

Superclass

7/29/2010

"Should we be worried that the superclass seems to have an ever-expanding reach that bypasses governments and remains unchecked? A new breed has emerged. They set the global agenda, ride on Gulfstreams and manage the credit crunch in their spare time. They are anything but elected; they are entrepreneurs and entertainers, media moguls and former politicians - the self-made super rich who are using their money to lay down a new set of global rules. So where did this new global aristocracy come from and who is keeping them in check? Interviewees: Paul Theroux: Writer and novelist Paul Farhi: Journalist, The Washington Post Matthew Bishop: Author of ""Philanthrocapitalism"" Christopher Hitchens: Author of ""The Trial of Henry Kissinger"" Ken Silverstein: Author of ""How lobbyists plunder the nation"" Guests: David Rothkopf: Author of ""Superclass"" Jeff Faux: Author of ""The Global Class War"" Moisés Naím: Author of ""Illicit"" Janine Wedel: Author of ""Shadow Elite"""

E08

The US between two wars

8/26/2010

The US stands at a historic crossroads, redeploying its combat troops out of Iraq and surging them in Afghanistan. But are they really leaving Iraq - or just rebranding the occupation? Why is Iraqi Lieutenant General Zibari requesting a decade-long US military presence?

E09

The Peace Procession

9/6/2010

Empire looks at the Israeli-Palestinian talks and asks what it will take to reach the promised land.

E10

Islam and America

9/13/2010

On the 9th anniversary of 9/11, the fault lines between the US and the Muslim world seem to have expanded. As America's internal cultural wars begin to affect its foreign policy, what are the options for President Obama? Which is the real US: The one that fights for Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan, or the one that considers US Muslims as the enemy within? And have Osama bin Laden's hopes of driving a wedge between the US and the Muslim world become a reality?

E11

The UN - Tower of Babble?

9/30/2010

Empire asks if the United Nations is outdated and whether it can stand up to the challenges of the 21st century.

E12

The new arms race

10/28/2010

The world has entered a new arms race, but what justifies this global military addiction?

E13

Nato: Going Global

11/25/2010

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the largest military force ever assembled, with a potential armed force of more than seven million. But as its original enemies, communism and the Soviet Union, were defeated two decades ago, what is the alliance's new identity or new role?

2009

12 Episodes

2009

E01

Obama's Middle East Challenge

1/21/2009

In his new series analysing global powers and their agendas Al Jazeera's chief political analyst Marwan Bishara focuses on the challenges facing the new US president. With such antipathy towards George Bush's foreign policy, what can the world expect from Obama and his new team?

E02

Israel and the US

2/26/2009

"In this episode of Empire, Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera's senior political analyst, and his guests zero in on the special relationship between the US and Israel. They explore who benefits from the special relationship and whether the status quo will prevail."

E03

Arab unity in the shadows

3/26/2009

Marwan Bishara and his guests examine the past, present and future of Arab Unity in view of the historical processes, and geopolitical realities of the Arab World in the shadow of Empires.

E04

Obama and Afghanistan

4/30/2009

Empire examines the path from Iraq to Afghanistan and into Pakistan. With the Iraq operation apparently drawing to a close and a mini-surge underway in Afghanistan, people in the region are wondering what this will all mean on the ground and what will the repercussions be for the region. As locals worry that they will be caught in the crossfire or killed by drones, experts question whether the strategy is the correct one or if it is too little, too late. Empire investigates what went wrong and the plan to fix it.

E05

Sarkozy's France

5/28/2009

Marwan Bishara and guests discuss whether president Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to make France a key player on the world stage are all bubble and no fizz.

E06

Iran: Influence or Threat

6/25/2009

"Whatever the outcome of the recent troubles, Iran sees itself as a natural leader in the region. It is determined to follow an independent foreign policy, and regards the nuclear question as a matter of national pride, and nobody elses business. With war raging all around it, we ask: is Iran a regional influence, or an international threat? Empire examines a country torn between traditional values and modernity, between its imperial past and its relations with the region, between its universal pretentions and its moderate means, between its highly educated and globalised urban youth and its more conservative hinterland."

E07

Viva la Evolucion

7/30/2009·60m

"A new Latin America is emerging on the global political stage. Marwan Bishara and guests analyse how the Obama administration may deal with Latin America and what the relations will mean on a global level. Featuring an exclusive interview with Noam Chomsky."

E08

Media wars

8/27/2009

With global media now in the hands of supra-national players peddling their own agendas and internet giants in search of profit and influence, Empire asks what's the future for journalism in the age of media empires.

E09

The World's Most Powerful Club

9/30/2009

The United Nations Security Council is under attack. In a world threatened by wars, terrorism, nuclear proliferation and catastrophic climate change, the five veto-wielding permanent members are being challenged by emerging powers demanding a seat at the top table. Empire analyses past, present and future of this most powerful of clubs.

E10

The Long War: The US and al-Qaeda

10/28/2009

"Eight years after the launch of the 'war on terror,' how does the US view the al-Qaeda threat? Empire finds out."

E11

Europe: A Superpower on the Fast-track

11/26/2009·60m

As Europe adopts a new treaty to strengthen its union, and choses new authorities to speak with one voice for the continent, it confronts the fact that, with twenty seven countries, 500 million people, a combined economy bigger than the US, and almost 2 million soldiers under arms, the European Union is to all intents and purposes, a superpower. Will 27 nations be able to pull as one and become a dominant power in the 21st century?

E12

What future for 'Greater Israel'?

12/24/2009

The Middle East 'peace process' is seriously deadlocked. Israel is determined to press ahead with the expansion of settlements. Palestinians refuse to accept anything less than their total freeze, but they are divided on the best way forward - diplomacy or resistance. The diplomatic vacuum leads to more unilateral policies and radicalisation. So how can the international community help? Is a two-state solution still possible, or one state or no state?

2012

11 Episodes

2012

E01

Tunisia: A revolutionary model?

1/27/2012

A year after the Jasmine Revolution, can the country's new government ... herald a return to narrow, sectarian rule or consensual leadership?

E02

Egypt: The promise and perils of revolution

2/24/2012

With so much still undecided, did Egypt experience a popular uprising, Islamic revolution or military coup?

E03

Syria on the brink

3/25/2012

As global and regional powers fight their own battles, will Syria's revolution succeed before the country falls apart?

E04

Putin's Russia

4/27/2012

As Vladimir Putin won a third term as president, we ask if Russia can become a superpower once again.

E05

Europe: To Be or Not To Be

6/15/2012

As Europe's crisis worsens without any solution in sight is a shift in political power a sign of hope on the horizon?

E06

Egypt: A second republic?

7/13/2012

After the first truly democratic elections in a generation, will Egypt become a secular, religious, or military state?

E07

US Democracy: The Power of Money

9/14/2012

Just how much does money distort the political process? Marwan Bishara investigates the power of money and the true cost to democracy of campaign funding in the US elections.

E08

The post-American Middle East

10/19/2012

The Middle East has served as a setting for the grand narratives of American imperial power for generations. Empire examines the complications that shape Washington's Middle East doctrine following the Arab Spring.

E09

Choosing the American President

11/9/2012

The voters have chosen, but what will the next four years bring?

E10

Palestine: State of play

12/3/2012

The dawn of a Palestinian state has been a long time coming. After 65 years of dispossession, 45 years of occupation, and 20 years of failed peace attempts, on Thursday Palestine took one step closer to joining the community of nations. With a final vote of 138 to 9, an overwhelming majority of nations at the UN General Assembly voted to recognise Palestine as a non-member state. This upgrade puts Palestine on par with the Vatican, and also could allow Palestinian claims to be filed in the International Criminal Court. This recognition came just days after another in the long line of catastrophes Palestinians have faced. Under a brutal Israeli bombardment of Gaza, nearly 200 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more were wounded. Empire asks: Must the Palestinian dream of a state be Israel's nightmare? And what does the path to a just solution look like?

E11

Scoring Big: The global world of football

12/29/2012

Empire explores the politics and power of the world's most popular sport, and the global implications of the game.

2013

12 Episodes

2013

E01

Syria and the US: The complicity of silence

1/29/2013

As President Barack Obama begins his second term, will the US continue to give mixed messages about Syria?

E02

Iraq to Mali: The changing calculus of war

2/24/2013

As Africa becomes the new frontline in the so-called war on terror, have the Europeans learnt from America's mistakes?

E03

Diplomacy, Obama and the Middle East

3/31/2013

What are the real issues facing the region left unresolved by President Obama's visit?

E04

Fuelling geopolitics: The oil saga

4/28/2013

As the global competition for energy heats up, we examine how new players are rewriting the rules of the great oil game.

E05

The Vatican: A Wholly Roman Empire?

5/26/2013

With the Catholic Church at a crossroads, we examine the changes a new Pope from the global South could bring.

E06

The Debate: Empire of Secrets

6/30/2013

As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama promised transparency and open government yet his administration is one of the most closed governments in US history, described as being worse than even the Nixon administration.The technology and information revolution allows the government to cast its net wider than ever before; collecting data, watching, spying and analysing. As revelations of systemic snooping continue to hit the headlines, Empire asks: who is watching the watchers? Joining us as we unpack some of the known unknowns are Oscar-winning film director Oliver Stone, and war reporters Jeremy Scahill and Richard Rowley. We unravel the psychology of secrets with psychiatrist Justin Frank, the author of Obama on the Couch and Bush on the Couch. We look at the impact of state secrets brought to light with Dana Priest, a leading Washington Post investigative reporter on national security and author of two books, including her most recent Top Secret America: The Rise of the New American Security State. We are also joined by Michael Ratner, president emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights and an attorney representing Julian Assange and Wikileaks; as well as Evgeny Morozov, an expert on internet and privacy issues, and author of two books: The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom and his most recent: To Save Everything, Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism.

E07

Turning a page: Latin America and the US

7/28/2013

As geopolitical shifts grip Latin America, Empire examines what challenges may yet lie ahead.

E08

The Debate - The Peace Process: Never and Forever

8/26/2013

"Twenty years after the historic signing of the Oslo Accords, there is still no resolution in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Since Oslo, we have seen dozens more summits, countless initiatives and several more agreements. Empire asks, why are the talks long on process, and short on peace? Why have negotiations failed under the sponsorship of the US? And how likely will peace be achieved as long as the United States remains the broker?

E09

The US beyond Syria: A reluctant empire?

9/29/2013

Empire examines the role of the US in the Middle East as it contemplates its future and fate in the region.

E10

The Debate - A German Europe? The Union disunited

10/28/2013

In the shadow of the German elections, we travel across the continent to investigate the future of the European project.

E11

The US: A tale of three states

11/24/2013

Empire delves deep into the future of the US, and asks in which state's image will the country be cast.

E12

Iran and the US: Diplomatic enrichment

12/29/2013

Empire examines the complexities and big questions that lie ahead for US-Iranian relations.