))
Dr. James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, co-director of the University of Würzburg’s Institute for Fan Culture, and co-host of the New Books in Middle Eastern Studies podcast. James is the author of The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer blog, a book with the same title as well as Comparative Political Transitions between Southeast Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, co-authored with Dr. Teresita Cruz-Del Rosario and Shifting Sand ...
Radio Drama Revival is dedicated to showcasing the diversity and vitality of modern audio fiction. Now in our 13th year!
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
When is usury usury? Turkish fatwa casts doubt on Erdogan’s religious soft power drive
7:53
7:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:53
Turkey’s state-controlled top religious authority has conditionally endorsed usury in a ruling that is likely to fuel debate about concepts of Islamic finance and could weaken President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts to garner religious soft power by projecting Turkey as a leader defending Muslim causes.…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Egypt’s Search For A Fig Leaf - Its Not The Handball World Championship
9:44
9:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:44
Egyptian general-turned president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi sees the 2021 men’s handball world championship in Cairo and Alexandria as an opportunity to put his best foot forward at a time when Egypt’s relations with its closest regional and global partners are encountering substantial headwinds.By James M. Dorsey
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Gulf state religious moderation falls by the wayside in Pakistan
11:28
11:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:28
Silent about rising sectarian violence in Pakistan, Gulf states vying for religious soft power risk exposing the limitations of their concepts of an undefined ‘moderate’ Islam that is tolerant and endorses pluralism.By James M. Dorsey
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Erdogan positions powerful Turkish military as backbone of regional strategy
8:07
8:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:07
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ushered in the new year, pledging to employ his country’s military to secure Turkey’s place in a rebalanced new world order.By James M. Dorsey
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Indonesia potentially set to take on China and claim leadership of moderate Islam
9:40
9:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:40
President Joko Widodo’s recent cabinet reshuffle suggests that Indonesia may adopt a more critical attitude towards China and reinforce government support for efforts by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the world’s largest Muslim movement, to reform Islam and position the Southeast Asian state as a key player in a battle with Middle Eastern rivals for the sou…
In our last episode of the season, host Ely talks to Samy Souissi, creator of Desperado, about death gods, found families, urban fantasy, and more. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support Desperado on Patreon. Learn more about how to support Radio Drama Revival on our website. This episode of Radio Drama Revival was recorded in the unceded terr…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Turkey gambles in bid to rival China as a key supply chain node
9:08
9:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:08
A projected sharp reduction in trade between the United States and China in the next two years coupled with moves to diversify supply chains potentially position Turkey alongside Vietnam, Mexico, Taiwan and Poland as competitors in efforts to reduce dependency on the People’s Republic, according to a just published study.…
R
Radio Drama Revival
1
Desperado - `Something Older than Mexico', `Muhomono` & `Old Souls Like to Bargain`
1:04:00
1:04:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:04:00
Desperado is one part folklore, one part road trip, one part rag-tag team of death god champions learning more about themselves and each other. Join us for this showcase of a breakout audio drama of 2020. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support Desperado on Patreon. Learn more about how to support Radio Drama Revival on our website. This episod…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Turkish shadow boxing reflects growing rivalry with Iran
11:22
11:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:22
Turkey is leveraging its successful backing of Azerbaijan’s recent war against Armenia to counter Iran in the Caucasus and gradually challenge Russia in Central Asia, the heart of what Moscow considers its backyard.By James M. Dorsey
In this conversation between host Elena Fernández Collins and Ivuoma Okoro, creator of VEGA, hear conversations about moving to LA only to find the industry lacking, methods of storytelling, dystopias versus utopias versus protopias, and why Avatar: The Last Airbender rules. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support Ivuoma Okoro on Patreon. Learn…
Saudi Arabia appears to be drawing lines in the sand as the kingdom prepares for a new era in relations with the United States once President-elect Joe Biden assumes office in January.By James M. Dorsey
R
Radio Drama Revival
1
VEGA - 'The One with Dr. Drake Mukro' & 'The One Inside Inebrio's (Part I)'
50:37
50:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:37
A bounty hunter looks for her next target--and she's the best at what she does. But what happens when one of her marks gets away? Listen in to our showcase of Ivuoma Okoro's VEGA! Like what you hear? Us too. You can support Ivuoma Okoro on Patreon. Moment of Wil: Yhara Zayd's "Holes & The Prison-Industrial Complex" Learn more about how to support R…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
France,Belgium and Austria Move into the Frontline of a Battle for the Soul of Islam
10:10
10:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:10
Punching above its weight, the United Arab Emirates is wielding a combination of religious soft power, commercial and economic sway, and hard power in its bid to counter political Islam in ways that potentially could threaten pillars of Western democracy as well as US and European strategic interests.…
R
Radio Drama Revival
1
Midst - Third Person Productions (Matt, Ben, & Sara)
59:35
59:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:35
Listen in to Ely's conversation with the mysterious narrators of Midst--aka Matt, Ben, and Sara. Hear discussions about narration, improvisation, millennial struggles, and more. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support Midst on Patreon. You can read the essay from the Moment of Wil on LitHub. Learn more about how to support Radio Drama Revival o…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
The Muslim world’s changing dynamics-Pakistan struggles to retain its footing
8:09
8:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:09
Increasing strains between Pakistan and its traditional Arab allies, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, is about more than Gulf states opportunistically targeting India’s far more lucrative market.At the heart of the tensions, that potentially complicate Pakistan’s economic recovery, is also India’s ability to enhance Gulf states’ capacity…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads
1:11:33
1:11:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:11:33
David Rundell brings to his book, Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads (I. B. Tauris, 2020), a granular analysis and insider’s understanding of the inner workings of the kingdom garnered as a US foreign service officer who served a total of 15 years in the country.Rundell skilfully weaves history into a multi-layered portrait of the tra…
Fall into the strange world of Midst, where the moon is falling, the vibes are shady, and the narrators are unreliable. This week, we're showcasing the sci-fi podcast's first two episodes. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support Midst on Patreon. Learn more about how to support Radio Drama Revival on our website. This episode of Radio Drama Rev…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Saudi rushes to improve its image in advance of G20 and Biden
9:12
9:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:12
Saudi Arabia has taken multiple steps to polish its tarnished image in advance of this weekend’s hosting of the virtual summit of the G20 that groups the world’s foremost economies and in anticipation of an incoming Biden administration in the United States that is expected to be critical of Riyadh and potentially more conciliatory towards Iran and…
In this interview with two of Windfall's creators, siblings Adam and Bob Raymonda, hear details about music, sound, and texture--but also about family, cults of personality, and police states. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support Rogue Dialogue on Patreon. Learn more about how to support Radio Drama Revival on our website. This episode of Ra…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Subtly, China pressures Gulf states to reduce regional tensions
8:12
8:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:12
Public debates about China’s Middle East policy are as much internal Chinese discussions as they are indications of where Beijing’s thinking is going and efforts to nudge countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to accommodate potential policy changes.By James M. Dorsey
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
UAE and Israeli settlers find common ground in Jerusalem
9:11
9:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:11
Weakened by Joe Biden’s electoral defeat of US President Donald J. Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu risks being caught between a rock and a hard place as Jordan, the Palestine Authority and the United Arab Emirates manoeuvre for control of what is to Jews the Temple Mount and to Muslims the Haram ash-Sharif, the third most holy site…
R
Radio Drama Revival
1
Windfall - 'Bottom Feeder' & 'Pickpocket'
55:55
55:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:55
Things are dire in the city of Windfall. The childish monarch, Wanda, rules over her people with little care for who they are. A team of all-powerful police called the Wolfpack keep people "in line." Listen in to our showcase of Windfall and see how people cope in this high-genre, but all too real, podcast. Like what you hear? Us too. You can suppo…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Ceasefire in the Caucasus opens door to rebalancing of regional power
7:40
7:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:40
A Russian mediated-ceasefire in the Caucasus cements a Turkish-backed Azerbaijani military defeat of Armenia but raises tantalizing questions.By James M. Dorsey
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Conflict in Ethiopia extends the Greater Middle East’s arc of crisis
6:55
6:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
6:55
Ethiopia, an African darling of the international community, is sliding towards civil war as the coronavirus pandemic hardens ethnic fault lines. The consequences of prolonged hostilities could echo across East Africa, the Middle East and Europe.By James M. Dorsey
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Michael Q. Morton, "Masters of the Pearl: A History of Qatar" (Reaktion Books, 2020)
58:13
58:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:13
Michael Quentin MortonNov 3, 2020 / James M. DorseyMasters of the PearlA History of QatarREAKTION BOOKS 2020History is not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of young, energy-rich monarchies of the Gulf that often punch above their weight in geopolitics and geoeconomics. Yet, that is the rich, mostly unknown story of Qatar that Mich…
Join Ely in this conversation with NIGHTLIGHT creator Tonia Ransom, in which the two discuss the rise of Black horror, tension and suspense in fiction, what makes a good twist ending, and more. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support NIGHTLIGHT on the show's site. About Radio Drama Revival: Learn more about how to support Radio Drama Revival on…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
The Qatar World Cup-Dreaming of Bridging the Gulf Rift
5:04
5:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:04
With the 2022 World Cup in Qatar only two years away, and a resolution of the three-year-old Gulf rift nowhere in sight, government officials, soccer governance executives, and pundits are playing with the notion that the tournament could serve as an icebreaker in the dispute between Qatar and its detractors, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates …
R
Radio Drama Revival
1
NIGHTLIGHT - '307: Last Stop on Route Nine'
49:00
49:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:00
This Halloween season, we bring you a spotlight of NIGHTLIGHT, a podcast of Black horror fiction by creator and producer Tonia Ransom. Buckle in--it's going to be a wild, chilling ride. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support NIGHTLIGHT on the show's site. About Radio Drama Revival: Learn more about how to support Radio Drama Revival on our web…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
US Secretary of State Pompeo set to boost Indonesian religious reform efforts
10:11
10:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:11
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to boost efforts by the world’s largest Muslim movement to recontextualize Islam during a forthcoming visit to Indonesia as part of a three-nation Asian tour. The tour is likely to be the secretary’s last official trip prior to next month’s US presidential election.…
In this conversation with Muna Hussen and Jon Ware of I Am In Eskew, hear discussions of horrific architecture, isolation, greed and love, and creating about all of these topics . . . during a global pandemic. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support the team on their website. Moment of Wil: Jacob Geller's "Cities Without People": https://www.yo…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
War in the Caucasus-One more effort to shape a new world order
8:20
8:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:20
Fighting in the Caucasus between Azerbaijan and Armenia is about much more than deep-seated ethnic divisions and territorial disputes. It’s the latest clash designed, at least in part, to shape a new world order.By James M. Dorsey
R
Radio Drama Revival
1
Interview with the Writers Guild of America
1:50:17
1:50:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:50:17
In this special bonus episode, learn how the Writers Guild of America is helping provide resources for audio fiction creators! More about the WGA Audio Alliance: https://wgaeast.org/wgaaudio Get added to the database RSVP to the October 26th, 2020 panel About Radio Drama Revival: Learn more about how to support Radio Drama Revival on our website Su…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Alan Chong, "Critical Reflections on China’s Belt and Road Initiative" (Palgrave MacMillan, 2020)
54:07
54:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:07
ALAN CHONG AND QUANG MIN PHAMCritical Reflections on China’s Belt and Road InitiativePALGRAVE MACMILLAN 2020October 16, 2020 James M. DorseyPolitical scientists Alan Chong and Quang Min Pham bring with their edited volume, Critical Reflections on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (Palgrave MacMillan, 2020), originality as well as dimensions and pers…
Let's kick off Spooky Month with I Am In Eskew, a completed story filled with body horror and other creeping terrors. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support the podcast on their website. Moment of Wil recommendations: Junji Ito's Gyo (for the story "The Enigma of Amigara Fault): https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Gyo-Deluxe/Junji-Ito/978142157915…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
The Battle for Jerusalem-Turkey’s Erdogan stakes his claim
7:46
7:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:46
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan didn’t mince his words at this month’s opening of parliament. In his first assertion of a claim to a lost non-Turkic part of the Ottoman empire, Mr. Erdogan declared that Jerusalem is Turkish.By James M. Dorsey
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Changing attitudes towards religiosity-A double-edged sword for Arab rulers
9:14
9:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:14
Public opinion polling in the Arab world suggests that autocratic leaders like Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his UAE counterpart, Mohammed bin Zayed, have gotten some things right.By James M. Dorsey
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Saudi chairmanship of G20 proves to be mixed blessing
18:29
18:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:29
Saudi Arabia’s chairmanship of the Group of Twenty (G20) is proving to be a mixed blessing.By James M. Dorsey
In this interview with Moonface's James Kim, we tackle questions of emotional processing, collaboration, and the differences between public radio and indie podcasting. Like what you hear? Us too. You can find more about James Kim on his website. About Radio Drama Revival: Learn more about how to support Radio Drama Revival on our website Support El…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Chinas Belt and Road pinpoints fundamental issues of our times
10:20
10:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:20
Political scientists Alan Chong and Quang Min Pham bring with their edited volume originality as well as dimensions and perspectives to the discussion about the Belt and Road that are highly relevant but often either unrecognized or underemphasized.By James M. Dorsey
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Shaping Palestinian Politics - The UAE Has A Leg Up On Turkey
8:27
8:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:27
The United Arab Emirates may have the upper hand in its competition with Turkey in efforts to shape Palestinian politics. Similarly, the UAE’s recognition of the Jewish state gives it a leg up in ensuring that its voice is heard in Israel and Washington irrespective of who wins the November US election.…
Explore the discomfort of disconnect in identity with James Kim's MOONFACE, a realistic, semi-autobiographical audio drama mini-series about a gay Korean-American man's struggle to come out to his mother using the language they can both understand. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support James Kim on his website. About Radio Drama Revival: Lear…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
The UAE-Israel deal’s historicity is in the fine print
10:34
10:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:34
A close read of the agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel suggests that the Jewish state has won far more than diplomatic recognition. It won acknowledgement of its claim to historic Jewish rights. By the same token, the UAE has received a significant boost to project itself as a leader in inter-faith dialogue.…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Controversial Israeli soccer club may be litmus test for UAE soft power ploy
8:07
8:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:07
An Emirati offer to invest in Israel’s most controversial soccer club could serve as a figurative litmus test of hopes that Arab recognition of the Jewish state may persuade it to be more empathetic towards Palestinian national aspirations.By James M. Dorsey
In this week's interview, host Elena Fernández Collins talks with Temujin creator Roshan Singh about colonization, Shakespeare, the histories of storytelling, and how Temujin was created starting from its earliest inspirations. Moment of Wil: You can watch Sherliza Moé's video "Asian cultural app𝖗opriation : Star Wars & Avatar the last airbender PA…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
Will They or Won’t They? Saudi Recognition of Israel is the $64,000 Question
11:05
11:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:05
Will the Saudis formalize relations with Israel or will they not? That is the 64,000-dollar question.By James M. Dorsey
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
UAE Recognition of Israel Dents Emirati Religious Soft Power
9:45
9:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:45
The United Arab Emirates’ establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel is damaging its efforts to garner religious soft power by projecting itself as a model of Islamic moderation and tolerance and a force for peace. The UAE move has sparked splits within a key group, created and nurtured by the Gulf state, to project its image as a moderate r…
What if you were forced to tell your history at the end of an arrow aimed at your head? That's the onset for this adaptation of Temujin, known as The Secret History of the Mongols, a Mongolian epic saga about Genghis Khan's life. This is a showcase that will grip your heart and squeeze. Like what you hear? Us too. You can support find more about Te…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
China could signal increased engagement with Iran but doesnt
8:58
8:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:58
Here are two potential indicators of Chinese interest in moving ahead with a proposed US$400 billion economic and military cooperation agreement with Iran: a Chinese push for Iranian membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and renewed interest in a China-Pakistan-Iran-Turkey energy pipeline. China has moved on neither.…
T
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
1
The Tumultuous Decade: Arab Public Opinion and the Upheavals of 2010-2019
1:10:30
1:10:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:30
JAMES ZOGBYThe Tumultuous Decade: Arab Public Opinion and the Upheavals of 2010–2019STEUBEN PRESS 2020September 4, 2020 James M. DorseyJames Zogby’s The Tumultuous Decade: Arab Public Opinion and the Upheavals of 2010–2019 (Steuben Press, 2020) takes the reader on a decade-long tour of the Middle East as the region reverberates from popular revolts…
R
Radio Drama Revival
1
Childish - Rye Dorsey and Zachary Goldberg
49:17
49:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:17
In this episode of Radio Drama Revival, join host Ely as they talk with Rye Dorsey and Zachary Goldberg, the creators of Childish, about everything from racism and satire to their own wild times as college RAs. Like what you heard? You can find more of Childish on their website at: [https://www.whalebus.net/childish-episodes] (https://www.whalebus.…
