039 - The Changing Activism Paradigm

039 - The Changing Activism Paradigm

Author: Arab Tyrant Manual Podcast February 11, 2022 Duration: 1:04:53

Iyad and Ahmed discuss human rights and political activism around the world, and why it seems to fail so often.

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Episode Time tags:

2:00 – Feelings of pointlessness in human rights activism

4:30 – "Folk politics"

6:00 – Trump, pandemic & a new phase in geopolitics

10:00 – How do we continue human rights work into the future

16:30 – Creating solutions & tools

20:00 – Incrementalism vs radical change

26:00 – Centring people, not policy

31:30 – Outdated outlooks & ineptitude

36:00 – Climate change as a global crisis

41:00 – Changing politics & spheres of influence

43:00 – Legal challenges, boycotts & sanctions

50:00 – Establishing a theory of change

56:00 – Raising awareness vs creating change

59:00 – Thinking systemically rather than specifically

1:01:00 – Demonstrating leadership in human rights


Hosted by Iyad El-Baghdadi and Ahmed Gatnash, the Arab Tyrant Manual Podcast is a detailed examination of how power is consolidated and abused across the world. While grounded in the complex political realities of the Middle East and North Africa, the analysis extends far beyond, dissecting the universal playbook used by authoritarian regimes. Each episode breaks down a specific strategy or tactic, from propaganda and surveillance to coercion and legal manipulation, explaining not just how these mechanisms function but why they are so effective. This isn't merely an academic exercise; the conversation consistently turns toward the practical methods of resistance and resilience employed by citizens and movements pushing back against repression. Listening to this podcast provides a clearer lens through which to understand current events, framing the headlines within the deeper, often hidden, structures of control and dissent. The discussions are informed, nuanced, and directly engaged with the stakes of political freedom, offering listeners a vital toolkit for deciphering the actions of modern governments. You'll find the Arab Tyrant Manual Podcast to be an essential resource for anyone seeking to comprehend the enduring struggle between authoritarianism and the human desire for self-determination, all through candid, expert analysis that connects regional expertise to global patterns.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 45

Arab Tyrant Manual Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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021 - Is There a Light at the End of 2019's Tunnel? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:11
Ahmed and Iyad do a roundup of major news from 2018, and discuss the outlook for the world in 2019. Where were we vindicated over the last year? Which countries will have popular uprisings this year? Why are Arab countri…
020 - Sudan, Mother of Arab Revolutions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:59
Sudan is in the middle of an uprising. That alone is notable, but Sudan is also one of the most fascinating and under-studied countries in the region, and has had more successful uprisings than any other country in the M…
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018 - The End Of Arab History [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:56
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017 - Where is Jamal Khashoggi? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:51
Jamal Khashoggi, the veteran Saudi journalist and former royal advisor, is missing and presumed kidnapped. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. In this episode we replay a conversation Jamal had wit…
016 - Mauritania's Democratic Tipping Point? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:17
Where in the world could you find out that your deceased grandfather voted in a constitutional referendum 3 years after he died? In this episode, Ahmed and Nasser discuss the recent elections in Mauritania, in which an e…
015 - How Gary Lineker Once Helped an Innocent Iranian Prisoner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:30
How do you get one of the world's most beloved ex-footballers to speak out about an innocent political prisoner in Iran? In this episode (part 2 of a 2-part show), Iyad El-Baghdadi and Maryam Nayeb Yazdi talk about a cam…