13 Things To Keep You Informed On Global Affairs
The Making of the Modern Middle East: A Personal History by Jeremy Bowen
You’ve probably seen Jeremy Bowen, international editor of BBC News, covering events in the Middle East on TV. His recent book is a good place to get some essential context. In it, he meets ordinary men and women on the region’s front lines, as well as their leaders, to explore the power games that have wreaked devastated civilian lives. Bowen has a deep understanding of the political, cultural and religious differences between countries as diverse as Erdogan’s Turkey, Assad’s Syria, Netanyahu’s Israel, and Palestine, whether Hamas-controlled Gaza or the West Bank.
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A Message from Ukraine by Volodymyr Zelensky
With a foreword from Zelensky himself, this book is a selection of the Ukrainian president’s most powerful war speeches. Tracking the war through its initial year, the book recounts Ukraine's story through the words of its president. It’s the story of a nation defending itself from Russian forces, as Ukrainians around the country fight for democracy while the cities they built are bombed beyond recognition. A powerful insight into the tactics and mindset of a government and country at war.
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Putin's People by Catherine Belton
A handful of people have access to Putin – and fewer have earned his trust. Award-winning journalist Catherine Belton’s book won numerous awards for its exposé of the Russian leader and his criminal associates. The former Moscow correspondent reveals the untold story of how Putin and his entourage of KGB men seized power in the country and built a new league of oligarchs. Through exclusive interviews with key inside players, the book explains how Putin’s people took over the economy, siphoned billions, blurred the lines between organised crime and political powers, shut down opponents, then used their riches and power to extend influence in the West.
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Born in Syria, Netflix
Following years of political instability, civil war and mass displacement, Syria is unrecognisable compared to the country it was 30 years ago. This documentary shows how the conflict has affected civilians, particularly children growing up during war, and why families choose to make a treacherous journey across borders in the hope of reaching safety. Reporters follow a group of young Syrian refugees who narrowly escape a life of torment and integrate into a foreign land, risking their lives in the process. A gut-wrenching but important watch.
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World in 10 by The Times
If you prefer quick updates on the world’s most pressing stories, The Times has an excellent podcast from its network of journalists and correspondents. Ten-minute episodes offer snapshots of breaking stories, ongoing conflicts and more. From the latest news from Pakistan to updates on the US presidential campaign, episodes are varied and informative. A good option for bitesize updates on the go.
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Rage by Bob Woodward
Bob Woodward, one of the two men who uncovered the Watergate scandal that brought down Richard Nixon, has devoted most of his adult life to reporting on American politics. Few people have spent more time interviewing Donald Trump over the years. An essential read during this year’s presidential campaign, Rage examines the early days of Trump’s presidency and the months leading up to the pandemic. The book draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with first-hand witnesses as well as emails, diaries and confidential documents.
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Conflicted
This podcast covers a wide range of conflicts in the Middle East. The series is presented by an unlikely duo: Aimen Dean, an ex-Al Qaeda jihadi turned MI6 spy, and Thomas Small, a monk turned filmmaker. Together, they unpack the realities of war and fundamentalism, and their global implications, through first-hand experience. Discussing tensions across Yemen, Iran, Lebanon and Algeria, theirs is a 360º approach to the rising tensions in and around those nations.
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The War Came To Us: Life and Death in Ukraine by Christopher Miller
When Vladimir Putin launched his unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it marked his latest and most overt attempt to brutally conquer the country, and reshaped the world order. Christopher Miller, Ukraine correspondent for the Financial Times, was there on the ground when the first Russian missiles struck. This is the inside story of Ukraine’s long fight for survival. Told through Miller's personal experiences, front-line dispatches and interviews, The War Came To Us takes readers on a journey through Ukraine's modern history.
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Yemen In Crisis: Devastating Conflict, Fragile Hope by Helen Lackner
The democratic promise of Yemen’s 2011 uprising quickly unravelled, triggering a shocking political and social crisis with serious implications for the future of the country and region. Fuelled by Arab and Western intervention, the infighting in Yemen descended into civil war, with hundreds of thousands of Yemenis killed, and millions facing starvation and deep social and political fragmentation. Academic Helen Lackner uncovers the roots of the conflict in her meticulously researched book – with a recently added chapter on the problems of humanitarian aid in the country.
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The Trouble with Taiwan by Kerry Brown and Kalley Wu Tzu Hui
Taiwan is a place with its own flag, currency, government and military. So why does China call it a ‘rebellious province’ and not recognise it as a sovereign country? With China a major power on the world stage and ally United States looking increasingly inward, Taiwan’s position has never been more precarious. Experts Kerry Brown and Kalley Wu Tzu-hui reveal how the island’s shifting fortunes have been shaped by centuries of conquest and by a cast of dynamic characters, Cold War intrigue, and the rise of its neighbour as a global power. How did this tiny island get caught between the agendas of two superpowers?
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Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice by Bill Browder
Political activist Bill Browder released this exposé in 2015, but it’s still just as relevant today. In November 2009, young lawyer Sergei Magnitsky (one of Browder’s close friends) was beaten to death by eight police officers in a freezing cell in a Moscow prison. His crime? Testifying against Russian officials who were involved in a conspiracy to steal $230m of taxes. Only ten years after his death did the European Court condemn the murder. This book details how Browder tirelessly fought for justice, and in doing so, exposed oligarchs, financiers and those at the heart of the Kremlin.
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Intercepted
The Intercept is a non-profit media company that covers the latest stories on world politics and technology. Its podcast is hosted and researched by a team of journalists who discuss the crucial issues of our time: national security, civil liberties, foreign policy and criminal justice. Weekly hour-long episodes have covered everything from President Biden’s involvement in Yemen to the challenges of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
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Politics On the Edge by Rory Stewart
Over the course of a decade from 2010, Rory Stewart went from being a political outsider to standing for prime minister – before being sacked from the Conservative party. Tackling ministerial briefs on flood response and prison violence, engaging with conflict and poverty abroad as a foreign minister, and Brexit as a Cabinet minister, Stewart became disillusioned with democracy. In his mind, ignorance and sheer incompetence ran rampant, while individual politicians laid the foundations for the political and economic chaos of today. A fascinating read on the realities of political life and a must for anyone who listens to his The Rest Is Politics podcast.
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