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Fault Lines

Breaking Chains: Democracy’s Role in Countering Authoritarianism

This week, we discuss what organizations like the International Republican Institute are doing to help curb the malicious actions of states who repress their people. 

 

What are the roles of interests and values in the context of America's foreign policy? What can democratic countries do to counter authoritarian regimes? What is the role of the U.S. Congress in shaping foreign policy, and how this arrangement uniquely American? 

 

Dr. Daniel Twining is President of the International Republican Institute. Previously, Dr. Twining directed the German Marshall Fund’s Asia program, was a member of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff and served as a foreign policy advisor to the late U.S. Senator John McCain. We are thrilled to have him join to answer these questions!

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  • 311. Episode 311: Is Niger Giving America the Boot?

    11:57
    Today, Les, Jess, John, and Morgan discuss this weekend’s announcement by Niger’s junta that it was suspending military cooperation with Washington and ordering U.S. troops to leave the country.  This comes upon the heels of a coup last summer in Niger, the resulting restrictions on U.S. aid to the country, and recent stories that U.S. and Western intelligence show that Niger is exploring a deal to allow Iran access to its uranium reserves.What did last week’s visit to Niger by U.S. officials seek to accomplish? How can the United States refresh its approach to foreign policy with African states? Do the events in Niger indicate a diminishing influence of the United States in the region?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.wsj.com/world/africa/niger-once-key-u-s-counterterrorism-ally-ends-military-ties-7db66dbe https://apnews.com/article/niger-junta-us-military-base-b70bfba835a567d5f3439a32c9c82836https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/17/world/africa/niger-orders-american-troops-out.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/niger-says-announces-end-to-military-cooperation-with-us/7530719.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/iran-says-it-is-willing-to-help-niger-overcome-sanctions/7455787.html https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/west-african-ecowas-bloc-mulls-new-strategy-towards-junta-states-2024-02-24/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@morganlroach@NotTVJessJones@JohnCLipseyLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, watch today's episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVN5gzkIKiw 
  • 310. Episode 310: Appeasement at Home and Abroad?

    09:54
    Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss this week’s Financial Times report that broke the news that the Biden Administration held secret talks with Iran this year to convince Tehran to use its influence to end Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. They also discuss Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s calls for Israel to hold new elections. Were Senator Schumer’s comments driven by the upcoming election? Can the United States truly have productive negotiations with Iran? Is the United States undermining a democratically elected government in Israel?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/schumer-netanyahu-israel-palestinians-elections-1ebf21e4c9c0f6f42478bb26e1db7a9b https://www.ft.com/content/89b01990-7657-45ea-baaa-1f214b40f1cbhttps://www.nbc4i.com/news/washington-dc/schumer-calls-for-new-elections-in-israel-criticizes-netanyahu/ https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/03/14/u-s-grants-iran-sanctions-waiver-worth-10-billion Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@morganlroach@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/UNPYQE2Hg0g
  • 309. Episode 309: President Duda in Washington

    10:35
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  • 308. Episode 308: Haiti on the Brink

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    Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the deteriorating situation in Haiti where criminal gangs have burned police stations, closed the main international airports, and raided the country’s two biggest prisons releasing thousands of prisoners, while acting Prime Minister and President of Haiti, Ariel Henry, remains in Puerto Rico after being unable to return to Haiti after recent trip to Kenya to build support for a peacekeeping mission. Should the United States intervene directly in Haiti to restore order? Who will eventually come to power in Haiti? How will the situation in Haiti impact U.S. policy in the Western Hemisphere?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/the-ex-convict-aiming-to-take-power-in-haiti-f97e36e2https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/chaos-in-haiti-leaves-u-s-with-few-options-1a73b744https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/09/haiti-corpses-gangs/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/blinken-talks-kenyan-president-about-haiti-crisis-says-state-dept-2024-03-09/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/10/haiti-crisis-gangs-attack-police-stations-as-caribbean-leaders-call-for-emergency-meetinghttps://apnews.com/article/blinken-haiti-jamaica-prime-minister-gangs-ff6b76b6ba9a9d7b8f95fbf95a1d462c Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@morganlroach@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/zCICTzne2_s
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  • 305. Episode 305: Guyana and Cuba - a Diplomatic Dance?

    07:59
    Today, Les, Morgan, and Jamil discuss Guyana’s recent diplomatic overtures towards Cuba amidst the ongoing Crisis between Guyana and Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region. These overtures include the Guyanese President Irfaan Ali calling for the dismantling of sanctions against Cuba, to the University systems of both countries agreeing to collaborate, among many others. Are these diplomatic overtures a play to counter Venezuela with their ally Cuba, or is this an attempt by Guyana to cozy up to Venezuela? Is the threat of Venezuela invading Guyana real, or just domestic messaging? Should the Biden Administration be playing a more active role in the region? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines!Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://newsroom.gy/2024/03/01/president-ali-calls-for-dismantling-of-u-s-embargo-against-cuba/ https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/en/articulo/guyanas-media-publishes-support-international-community-cuba-un https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/en/articulo/universities-guyana-and-cuba-agree-cooperate https://havanatimes.org/features/cubas-curious-silence-on-the-essequibo-conflict/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/world/americas/venezuela-guyana.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/1JeH1XK60zM
  • 304. Episode 304: Protecting Americans - From Chinese EV’s?

    12:01
    Today, Les, Morgan, and Bishop discuss the recent announcement by the Biden Administration that the Department of Commerce will begin an inquiry into the national security risks posed by connected vehicles from or containing technology from countries of concern, including the People’s Republic of China. Is industrial policy under the guise of National Security the right approach to address this issue? Should the United States be concerned about China’s position as the largest producer of Electric Vehicles? Is this inquiry a way to implement protectionist policies against foreign automakers? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines!Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/china-electric-vehicles-privacy-personal-data-biden-844f2406512b94212ee1a92a61e5a33ahttps://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/02/29/us-investigation-chinese-vehicles/https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2024/02/citing-national-security-concerns-biden-harris-administration-announceshttps://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/29/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-takes-action-to-address-risks-of-autos-from-china-and-other-countries-of-concern/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@morganlroach@BishopGarrisonLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/qNPYKhuCQxc
  • 303. Episode 303: The Talk of Europe - Troops and Nukes?

    08:54
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