Sibylline Insight Podcast

Discussing the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the unfolding crisis have dominated the global headlines in recent days. While the eventual fall of the civilian government in Kabul had been foreseen, the speed of the Taliban's advance and the capitulation of the Afghan National Army shocked the international community. As many foreign governments struggle in the chaotic evacuation operations, the Taliban continues to assert its authority, and seeks to bolster its political legitimacy and international recognition by pledging for an "inclusive Islamic government". However, many remain sceptical about the sincerity of the group's promises, dismissing them as a mere "PR campaign". Others are pondering what the return of Taliban rule in Afghanistan means for the country and the wider region.

In this week's podcast, join your host Dr Guo Yu, Lead Asia-Pacific Analyst along with Supriya Ravishankar, our South Asia Analyst, and Aedan Mordecai, our Asia-Pacific Analyst to discuss the latest situation in Afghanistan and the possible political and security implications under a Taliban government.

Discussing the IPCC's 2021 Climate Change Report

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 2021 report has garnered significant attention since this week's publication, heralding a grim warning of a 'code red for humanity'. What do the findings of the report mean in practice for firms operating across Europe and Eurasia, and which regions will be most at risk?

Join Liana Semchuk, our Europe-Eurasia Lead Analyst, Louis Cox-Brusseau, Europe Analyst, and Alex Lord, Europe-Eurasia Analyst, for the key takeaways from the IPCC's 2021 report.

Hungary and Poland: In the wake of the Pegasus scandal, tensions with the EU rise over rule-of-law and media freedoms

Join your host Liana Semchuk, Lead Europe & Eurasia Analyst, along with Louis Cox-Brusseau and Zsofia Wolford our Europe Analysts to discuss the ongoing tensions between Hungary, Poland and the European Commission.

Tensions increased recently as the Commission initiated legal proceedings against Hungary over a controversial anti-LGBTQI+ law. This comes as revelations from the Pegasus surveillance scandal suggested independent media and opposition figures in Hungary were overwhelmingly targeted by state surveillance.

Elsewhere in the Visegrad region, concerns remain over the independence of the judiciary in Poland and media freedoms in the Czech Republic, ensuring that tensions with Brussels are set to increase in the long term.

Mounting Political Crisis Threatens Tunisia's Democracy

Join this week’s host, Alex Parsons, Lead Analyst of the Americas, along with Eloise Scott, Lead Analyst for the Middle East and Africa, and Rhiannon Phillips, Associate Analyst for the Middle East and North Africa to discuss Tunisia's deepening political deadlock, which has recently come to a head, with President Kais Saied dismissing Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and suspending parliament.

The impact this governmental crisis has on the already stagnant policy will be significant, as Tunisia faces fresh waves of Covid-19 infections and mounting socio-economic strife. President Saied's actions could also threaten Tunisia's democracy, with the 2014 constitution at the heart of the crisis.

Socio-economic unrest threatens to disrupt South Africa's recovery

On 9 July violent protests broke out across Kwa-Zulu Natal, quickly spreading to Gauteng, resulting in widespread looting and arson, with clashes resulting in hundreds of deaths. Following the deployment of 25,000 soldiers, calm was eventually restored, but not before an estimated ZAR 50 billion in damages was caused, impacting around 40,000 businesses. While the initial flashpoint may have been the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma, economic unrest was the key factor impacting the intensity and characteristics of the unrest.

 

This week's podcast discusses the events and drivers around the unrest and the long term implications this may have on the country's economic health with your host Alexander Parsons, along with Sub Saharan Africa Analyst Benedict Manzin and Edie Lipton, Associate Sub Saharan Africa Analyst.

Impact on US-China Relationship in conjunction with Covid-19 Origin Investigations

US President Joe Biden is expecting a 45-day update on a US investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. The investigation, led by the US intelligence services, is drawing widespread media attention, with scientists, political scientists and health experts weighing in on the polarising hypothesis of whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus may have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.

While evidence to support the lab leak theory remains purely circumstantial, the US investigation comes amid strained relations between Beijing and Washington, particularly as the Biden Administration considers further actions in response to Beijing’s crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, and its treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.

How may Washington's virus origin investigation shape the direction of travel for already fraught Sino-US relations? With Covid-19 still affecting much of the world, how will the ongoing feud between the two world's largest economies affect our response to this and future pandemics?

Join your host Justin Crump, CEO of Sibylline, along with Guo Yu, our Lead Analyst for Asia-Pacific and resident China expert, James Hannan, our Americas Analyst and avid Covid-watcher, and John Breen, Lead Analyst for Global Risks.

Concerns Surrounding the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

With less than 15 days to go to the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Japanese capital has been placed under a fourth state of emergency amid a fresh surge of Covid-19 infections. The ever-changing pandemic situation has characterised the uncertainty that has shrouded this flagship sporting event, having been already postponed once and attracted notable opposition among the Japanese public. This week's podcast discusses the political and security dynamic concerning the upcoming Tokyo Olympics with your host, Amy Reynolds, along with Hans Horan, Asia-Pacific Analyst and Dr Guo Yu, Lead Asia-Pacific Analyst. 

Security Tensions in Colombia

In recent weeks, a car-bomb attack against an army base hosting US military personnel and an apparent attempt to assassinate President Iván Duque Márquez have raised concerns over the security environment in Colombia. Meanwhile, the country has also witnessed a surge in violent protests in Bogotá and several other cities. In this week's podcast, we discuss the latest security situation in Colombia and assess how it may pan out heading into 2022.

Regional Elections in France

The first round of regional elections in France has yielded startling results, with both the far-right under Marine Le Pen and the ruling party of President Emmanuel Macron seeing significant setbacks nationwide as traditional left- and right-wing parties surge forward. In our latest podcast, Liana Semchuk, Lead Europe-Eurasia Analyst, is joined by Louis Cox-Brusseau, Europe Analyst, and Alex Lord, Europe-Eurasia Analyst. Together they assess the preliminary results of the French regional elections, ahead of an electoral runoff next week which is likely to prefigure a close race in the French presidential elections in 2022.

Presidential Elections in Iran

In our latest podcast, Alex Parsons, Lead Analyst for the Americas is joined by Eloise Scott, Lead Analyst for the Middle East and Africa and James Hannan, Associate Analyst for Americas, to discuss the presidential elections in Iran.

Iranian elections held on 18 June are almost certain to return a hard-line president, allowing hardliners and conservatives to consolidate their power over the country and its institutions. This podcast explores how the polls might affect Iran's internal affairs and ongoing nuclear talks with the other JCPOA signatories and wider regional dynamics.