Matter File

In this episode, we look at the story of the heavily contested region of Nagorno Karabakh. Ms. Anush Ghavalyan served as the former advisor to the president of the national assembly of the Republic of Artsakh. With her help, we understand the conflict from the lens of the region that has faced the wrath of Azeri troops for decades and still managed to develop independently. We look at the history behind Azerbaijan's claim to this territory and get a glimpse into the devastation caused by this war. For now, the situation seems stable and we can only hope for peace and security for the citizens of Artsakh. https://artsakhpress.am/eng/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we take a closer look at how the relationship of Armenia with its neighbours shaped its present political state. We cover the horrifying numbers behind the Armenian genocide and the continuous partitioning of the state. We further examine the development of Armenian nationalism in an era where large populations of Armenians were forced to migrate due to oppressive policies of ruling states. We finally look at the Nagorno-Karabakh question and understand how the conflict has progressed since the independence of the Republic of Armenia. The situation along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border is still volatile with protests in Armenia, and this episode provides the context to help understand why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've hit 25 episodes and this one is an incredibly interesting interview on the insurgency in the south of Thailand! Mr. Shintaro Hara is an analyst and a translator who lives in Patani and has been interacting with people and communities that are affected daily by the insurgency in Thailand. The conversation talks about the concerns of individuals who inhabit the region and the importance of self-determination. We also talk about the various groups that were created to represent the interest of the Muslim population in Patani, why the struggle became armed, and how these groups might earn money to fund their struggle. We finally touch on why Thaification has adversely harmed the region and how the region is coping economically given the current pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first of three episodes on Armenia, we take a look at the ancient and medieval history of the Armenian plateau. The episode covers Stone and Iron age cultures on the plateau and the early regional influences of Persia and Rome. It introduces a millennia-old conflict between Persia and Byzantium which converged on Armenian solid and how that conflict evolved to one between Turkish kingdoms, Arab influences, and European powers. It also looks at the Cilician Armenian Kingdom and the decision to align with Russia as a means to fend off Ottoman and Persian colonizers. The episode chronicles the wars fought on Armenian soil through the ages up until the first Russo-Persian war in the early 19th century and sets the stage to understand the Nagorno-Karabakh war of today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we speak with the management consultant Mr. Zaid Basha. Zaid has authored several papers and been on projects that explore the mismanagement of Yemen's public infrastructure and look at Yemen's public policy reform. In our conversation, we talk about what caused the current famine in Yemen and what steps need to be taken to combat the terrible hunger that is being felt across the country. We also touch on the mismanagement of water resources that have contributed to the famine and the importance of subsistence agriculture in the country. The conversation is a great addition to our growing English audio repository of the current state of Yemen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we were delighted to have with us the author of the book A Kingdom in Crisis: Thailand's Struggle for Democracy in the Twenty-First Century, Andrew Marshall. The conversation covers the public reverence and deification of the Thai monarchy and a shift in attitude with the ascension of Rama X. We cover the Lesse Majeste law and look at the interaction of the monarchy with other facets of Thai society including the judiciary and ruling elite. Finally, we speak a bit about the ongoing protests in Thailand to understand public sentiment and the importance of reforming the monarchy in Thailand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we spoke to Dr. Claudio Sopranzetti, anthropologist and author of the book Owners of the Map: Motorcycle Taxi Drivers, Mobility, and Politics in Bangkok. We cover Thailand's urbanisation and urban migratory patterns and what problems they bring. We also have a very interesting chat about the genealogy of social movements and the role of symbolism and students in the success of movements. We focus on the current Thai protests and the massive divide between conceptions of centre and periphery in Thailand and what the asymmetric development of Bangkok has meant to its political environment today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we had the pleasure of talking to Mr. Baraa Shiban. Mr. Shiban is a caseworker at the NGO Reprieve, a vocal human rights activist and the first Yemeni to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Mr. Shiban was the youth representative at Yemen's National Dialogue in 2014 and has served as an advisor to the Yemeni embassy in London. The conversation examines the obstacles to the peace building process in Yemen and looks at steps that need to be taken in order for a transition out of the crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final episode of Thailand, we trace its economic progress from the 1950s till today. The episode examines the phases of import substitution and export promotion that helped catalyze growth in the latter half of the 20th Century. We further explore the causes and effects of the Asian crash of 1997 in Thailand as well as the current state of the Thai economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode looks at the historic roots of present-day Thailand. It explores the Funan dynasty and the founding of Sukhothai. It further elaborates on the Ayutthaya kingdom and the foundation of the Chakkri dynasty. The Chakkri dynasty's founding was the creation of the modern ruling house of Thailand in the late 18th century and the episode seeks to outline the pre-20th century history of Thailand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our second episode on Paraguay, we explore the state of the country after the Chaco War. In particular, we take a look at Stroessner's dictatorship, their alliance with the USA and Paraguay's current geopolitical leanings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last of three episodes on Poland, this takes a quick look at Poland's geography and economy. It focusses on the transition of the Polish economy in a post-communist state and on the market conditions that underline how Poland managed to avoid a recession after the 2008 crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we begin with the first of three episodes on Poland. This episode traces the history of the Polish state from the Bronze Age and Antiquity, through the period, leading up to the first World War. It looks closely at the relations of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth as well as the history of religious tolerance within the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices