The Orientalist Express Podcast

Episode 21, Map Shaming The Golan Heights The Orientalist Express This episode takes a deep dive into America’s recognition of the area known as the Golan Heights as part of Israeli territory. Stephen and Nicholas debate the importance of this measure and discuss the impacts (if any) that this will have on the average listener. Is this the sign of more change to come, or merely a recognition of th...

Episode 20, Another Brick in the Wall The Orientalist Express On this episode, Nicholas and Stephen tackle the immigration debate. In particular, we break down the main solutions being pursued by various nations to the problems of immigration including the benefits and risks of each. These include walls, temporary asylum, permanent citizenship, deportation, and refugee camps. Then, the team pivots...

Episode 19, Parenting Tips For International Intervention The Orientalist Express On this episode, Nicholas, Stephen, Valida, and Matthew debate the criteria and preconditions needed to justify international intervention. In other words, when would the United States be justified to conduct a military intervention in a dictatorship or humanitarian crisis? Is there ever a justification, or should po...

The Next War To End All Wars The Orientalist Express On this episode, Stephen and Nicholas discuss the possibilities of World War III and what that might look like. For decades, the world seems to have taken for granted the idea that large scale wars by great military powers is over. But what are the prospects for a global war? The team also takes a deep dive into current nuclear weapons technolog...

Episode 17, One Strategy To Rule Them All The Orientalist Express On this episode, Stephen, Valida, and Nicholas discuss America’s grand national strategy (or lack thereof). First, the gang breaks down the importance of having an overarching policy strategy and how the United States can benefit from a more focused global policy. Then, the team offers their own ideas for what should become America’...

Episode 16, Trade, Tariffs, & Tacky Pick-up Lines The Orientalist Express Puns and bad pick-up lines abound in this episode of The Orientalist Express podcast. This time, the team analyzes America's increasingly aggressive trade policies and how effective they may be in achieving the administration's stated goals. Nicholas, Stephen, Matthew, and Toms also consider how national sovereignty is facto...

Episode 15, The Clash Of Civilizations The Orientalist Express On this episode of The Orientalist Express, Nicholas, Stephen, and Valida analyze the classic theory by Samuel Huntington known as the "Clash of Civilizations." Written at the end of the Cold War, this theory stated that global conflict would start to fall along cultural lines rather than purely ideological or economic ones. After thre...

Flashpoints, Episode 1 The Orientalist Express This is the inaugural episode of our new mini-series Flashpoints. On this series, The Orientalist Express team will provide their quick takes on a variety of hot conflicts around the world. On this episode, Nicholas, Stephen, Valida, Matthew, Daniel, and Sebastien discuss the following topics: Israel/Palestine South China Sea Yemen Ukraine Syria Venez...

Episode 14, The OE Goes Global The Orientalist Express On this episode, the Orientalist Express goes global as we introduce two new contributors and try desperately to avoid talking about the British royal wedding.  Sebastien Mouret joins the team as a student of international affairs from France, while a Latvian specialist under the name Daniel Storm also makes a debut appearance. They join...

Episode 13, Better Call Cohen The Orientalist Express On this episode, The Orientalist Express welcomes a special guest to discuss the recent raid on the law office of Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen.  Criminal defense lawyer Grant Miller joins Nicholas Hayen, Stephen Howard, and Matthew Spencer-Kociol to discuss the implications of attorney-client privilege and how it could relate to a...

Episode 12, Hey Let's Cyber The Orientalist Express This episode is all about "the cyber." Nicholas. Matthew. Stephen, and Valida team up to discuss the emerging problems of cyber warfare. How is cyber warfare different from conventional warfare and is any deterrence possible? Then, the team breaks down the issues surrounding the proliferation of social media, Cambridge Analytica, and the role of...

Episode 11, A Clockwork Democracy The Orientalist Express On this episode, Stephen, Valida, and Nicholas are joined by our newest contributor Matthew Spencer-Kociol. The discussion this time is all about the process of democratization, or how a nation chooses to adopt democratic governance over authoritarian rule. Stephen also reveals a telling secret about his true reptilian identity. Rentier Sta...

Episode 10, The Great Games Nicholas Hayen, Stephen Howard, Valida Azamatova This episode is all about the Olympic Games, or at the very least the international relations drama behind them. Nicholas, Stephen, and Valida discuss the North Korea situation, Russia's meddling in the Olympic doping scandal, and the value of the Games in foreign policy. 

Episode 9, Someone Called The Police Nicholas Hayen, Stephen Howard, Valida Azamatova On this episode, we continue our back to basics approach by looking to further understand the Liberal International Order. Nicholas, Stephen, and Valida discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of the order as it pertains to the everyday American. From economics, to human rights, to global security, there ar...

Episode 8, Explaining The Liberal International Order Nicholas Hayen, Stephen Howard, Valida Azamatova In our first podcast of 2018, we introduce our newest contributor Valida Azamatova. She joins other South Dakota State University grads Nicholas Hayen and Stephen Howard to begin our back to basics approach to educating people about foreign policy and international relations. We begin by talking...

Episode 7, Tehran Up The Nuclear Deal Nicholas Hayen & Stephen Howard With the international agreement over Iran’s nuclear weapons program in doubt, Nicholas Hayen and Stephen Howard discuss the possible impact of re-imposing sanctions. They also debate the larger impacts of this decision on the Middle East and the possibility of that the U.S. Congress will try to stall on the question of Iranian...

Episode 6, Totally Not Rational Security Nicholas Hayen, Stephen Howard, Kurt Guner, Brandon Kenney As a tumultuous summer draws to a close, Stephen, Kurt, Brandon, and Nick discuss the active debate surrounding ISIS fighters and their future in a post-caliphate world. Should nations attempt to rehabilitate returning fighters who have surrendered, or deny them re-entry into their home countries? T...

Episode 05, Democracy Inaction Nicholas Hayen, Stephen Howard, Kurt Guner At the 101st day of the new administration, Stephen, Kurt, and Nick react to America's increasingly cozy relationship with dictators, authoritarians, and leaders who project strength.  Is this policy just a reflection of realism, or should the U.S. do more to promote democracy and human rights throughout the world? &nbs...

Episode 04, Bans & Brotherhoods Nicholas Hayen, Kurt Guner, Stephen Howard, Brandon Kenney In Episode 04, the usual team is back together to discuss reactions to the Trump administration's travel ban against seven Muslim majority nations.  In the second half, the team finally disagrees about something when confronting rumors that the Muslim Brotherhood may be designated as a terrorist organiz...

Episode 03, Settlers of Canaan Nicholas Hayen, Kurt Guner, Stephen Howard In Episode 03, we react to the first days of the Donald Trump administration and its impacts on Middle East policy.  First, we take a critical look at Israeli settlement policy and the prospects of peace between Israelis and Palestinians.  Then, Kurt explains the rise of authoritarianism in Turkey and the constitut...

Episode 2, From Russia with Contempt Nicholas Hayen, Stephen Howard, Kurt Guner, Brandon Kenney In this week's episode, the team discusses the intersection of American foreign policy and the Russian government.  We begin with a continuation of last week's debate about likely Russian policy under the coming Trump presidency and then transition into a general discussion about Trump's picks for...

Episode 01, Trumping Iran & Syria Nicholas Hayen, Stephen Howard, Brandon Kenney, Kurt Guner In our first ever podcast, the Orientalist Express team takes a look at the future of several key Middle Eastern issues in light of the recent election of Donald Trump to the American presidency.  Our main focus includes the likely breakdown of the Iran nuclear deal and the future of the Syrian Civil...