The Inquiry

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

The Church, which traces its history to the fourth century, was once the biggest denomination in Ethiopia with nearly 44 percent of the population calling themselves Orthodox Christians, but now its centrality in Ethiopian spiritual and political life - once unquestioned - appears to hang in the balance, with a steady increase in the number of people joining other denominations and the number of people calling themselves Orthodox Christians diminishing.

Ethiopia is a modern state, with the second largest population in Africa, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019. But months after he took power, Ethiopia was ripped apart by a civil war which broke out in November 2020 and left tens of thousands of civilians dead. In May 2021, four archbishops in Tigray announced that they were forming an independent structure. They accused the church of not opposing the war - and of being too close to Abiy Ahmed's government.

Although a ceasefire was agreed in 2022, the recent splits highlight historic ethnic and religious tensions in Ethiopia.

Contributors:

Ralph Lee: Oxford Centre for Mission Studies in the UK.

Mebratu Kelecha: London School of Economics. His research focuses on conflict, peace building and democracy.

Yohannes Woldemariam: US-based academic specialising in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.

Jorge Haustein: Associate Professor of World Christianity at the University of Cambridge.

CREDITS

Presenter: Audrey Brown

Producer: Philip Reevell.

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards.

Production Coordinator: Tim Fernley

Editor: Tara McDermott

Main Image: Ethiopian Orthodox priests walk around the church during the Saint Michael's anniversary celebration at St. Michael church in Mekele, the capital of Tigray region, Ethiopia

Image Credit: Yasuyoshi Chiba\AFP via Getty

Audrey Brown asks if Ethiopians are losing faith in their Orthodox Church?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Are Ethiopians losing faith in their Orthodox Tewahedo Church? This follows splits in the church after the recent civil war in Tigray, on top of existing historic tensions.

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

It's very unusual behaviour for this particular mammal, but orcas are under a lot of threat from man-made hazards. Factors like underwater noise pollution, overfishing, toxic waste and climate change to name a few are making orca life extremely difficult. Could all of this have caused this change in behaviour?

Contributors:

Billy Heaney, zoologist, wildlife tour guide and presenter

Dr Jeremy Kiszka, professor of biology at Florida International University in Miami

Hannah Strager, marine biologist and director of exhibitions at the Whale Museum in Norway

Nicola Hodgins, researcher with the global charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier

Producers: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, Jill Collins, Matt Toulson

Editors: Tara McDermott and Tom Bigwood

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Sound designer: Nicky Edwards

Production co-ordinator: Jordan King

Image: An orca showing its teeth (Credit: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Coordinated attacks from orcas have left fishing vessels destroyed

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Coordinated attacks from Orcas have left fishing vessels destroyed. This is unusual behaviour for the mammal.

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

At the same time, scientists have recently discovered a link between MS and a common virus that the majority of us carry in our bodies. It had been known for years that there was a link between Multiple Sclerosis and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). But then, a study finally proved the link.

Now, trials are underway on potential vaccines against EBV and scientists are hopeful that this could be a gateway to preventing MS.

This week on the Inquiry we are asking: Are we close to a breakthrough for Multiple Sclerosis?

Contributors:

Tim Coetzee, Chief Advocacy, Services & Science Officer for the National MS Society, US

Tjalf Ziemssen, Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Head of the Multiple Sclerosis Center and Neuroimmunological Laboratory, University Clinic Carl-Gustav Carus, Germany

Jeffrey Huang, Associate Professor of Biology, Georgetown University, US

Claire Shannon-Lowe, Associate Professor in Virology, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy at the University of Birmingham, UK

Production team:

Presenter: Tanya Beckett

Producer: Matt Toulson

Researcher: Ajai Singh

Editor: Tara McDermott

Studio Manager: Hal Haines

Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey

Image Credit: Shidlovski\Getty

Are scientists close to a breakthrough for multiple sclerosis?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Scientists are hopeful that they could better treat and even prevent multiple sclerosis. Are they close to a breakthrough?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

Some governments, who are concerned that not enough people are being born to keep their economies functioning in the long term are spending billions on incentives and policies to try and reverse the trend. But even in the Nordic countries, which are noted for some of the best family focused policies, these are proving ineffective against a markedly high drop in fertility rates over the last decade.

Society's attitudes on when or whether to start a family are shifting, so does this mean that we need to change the way we approach the issue or even adapt to a future with fewer people?

On this week's Inquiry, we're asking ‘Can Europe reverse its falling fertility rates?

Contributors:

Anna Rotkirch, Research Director, Population Research Institute, The Family Federation of Finland, Helsinki

Michael Herrmann, Senior Advisor on Economics and Demography, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Turkey

Arnstein Aassve, Professor of Demography, Political Science Centre, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy

Tomas Sobotka, Deputy Director, Vienna Institute of Demography, Austrian Academy of Sciences

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier

Producer: Jill Collins

Journalism Researcher: Matt Toulson

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical Producers: Nicky Edwards and Toby James

Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey

Image Credit: PA via BBC Images

Why are people not having babies?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

How can people be encouraged to start a family?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

There have been years of disagreements over migration amongst the member states of the European Union, which have caused damage to the bloc's unity. In recent months, however, it looked like some progress had been made towards a fairer and more uniform migration system, but a proposal to relocate people to different parts of Europe was met with opposition.

As the flow of people into frontline countries like Italy, Greece and Spain looks set to continue in the future, it appears that collective action from the member states, looks further away.

This week on The Inquiry we're asking ‘Can Europe solve its migrant crisis?

Contributors:

Hanne Beirens, Director, Migration Policy Institute Europe, Brussels

Cathryn Costello, Full Professor of Global Refugee and Migration Law, UCD Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin, Ireland

Charles Kenny, Senior Fellow, Centre for Global Development, Washington DC. USA

Martin Ruhs, Chair in Migration Studies and Deputy Director of the Migration Policy Centre at the European University Institute (EUI), Florence, Italy.

Presenter: Tanya Beckett

Producer: Jill Collins

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Technical Producer: James Bradshaw

Production Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Editor: Tara McDermott

Photo: MSF Ship GEO Barents rescues migrants off the Libyan coast in the central Mediterranean Credit: Reuters

Is there a way forward for European countries to work together on a fair migration policy?

Can European States overcome their fundamental differences on how to deal with the issue of mass migration?

The project has been deemed necessary as Jakarta is considered no longer fit for purpose. Located on the island of Java, it ranks as one of the most densely populated cities in the world and it is reported to be sinking by around 17 centimetres a year in some areas, due to a combination of environmental pollution and climate change.

With four more phases to go, around two million people are expected to inhabit Nusantara by the planned completion date of 2045, but that remains dependent on a number of factors and the schedule has already hit some challenges.

Future development is reliant on billions of dollars from foreign investors and currently the Government is struggling to secure much commitment. Furthermore, with Presidential elections due next month, there are concerns about whether a new leader will be inclined to continue with the vision announced by the outgoing President Joko Widodo.

So this week on The Inquiry, we're asking ‘Can Indonesia pull off relocating its capital?

Contributors:

Dr Athiqah Nur Alami, Head of Research Centre for Politics, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia.

Dimas Wisnu Adrianto, Assistant Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Brawijaya University, Indonesia

Sulfikar Amir, Associate Professor of Science, Technology and Society, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang University, Singapore

Julia Lau, Senior Fellow and Co Coordinator, Indonesia Studies Programme, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier

Producers: Matt Toulson and Jill Collins

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards and Toby James

Production Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley

Image credit: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg/Getty.

How realistic is Indonesia's long term plan to relocate its capital?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Indonesia is moving its capital city – but will it be able to complete the challenge?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

The gun companies, which include some of America's oldest established names in the firearms business, deny any wrongdoing. Since 2005, these companies have being granted immunity from prosecution under the ‘Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act'. This law protects the firearms manufacturers and dealers from being held liable when crimes have been committed with their products. But Mexico's argument is that PLCAA, as it's also known, only applies within the United States and therefore doesn't protect the companies from liability.

It's a case which is also resonating with other Latin American countries who have been impacted by illegal gun trafficking from the United States. Some of these countries have supported Mexico's claims in the courts. And they will be watching closely to see if Mexico's lawsuit, the first by a sovereign state, can set a precedent.

So on this week's Inquiry, we're asking ‘Can Mexico win its battle with US gun companies?

Contributors:

Ioan Grillo, journalist and author focusing on Organised Crime, Mexico

Adam Winkler, Cornell Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law, California, USA

Robert Spitzer, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Political Science, SUNY Cortland; Adjunct Faculty Member, College of William and Mary School of Law, USA

Dr. León Castellanos-Jankiewicz, Senior Researcher, Asser Institute for International and European Law; Academic Supervisor, International Law Clinic on Access to Justice for Gun Violence, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier

Producer: Jill Collins

Journalism Researcher: Matt Toulson

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical Producer: Cameron Ward

Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey

Image: Reuters via BBC Images

Will Mexico's lawsuit against US gun companies be successful?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

What is Mexico's legal case against US gun companies and will it succeed?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

It's the latest development in a relationship between Nicaragua and the Holy See that has grown increasingly tense. President Ortega has had a complicated relationship with Nicaragua's Catholic clergy ever since he first came to power in the 1979 revolution. It was with the help of the Church that Daniel Ortega returned to power in 2006, but as his rule became increasingly more authoritarian he steadily repressed any sort of opposition, including critical voices from within the clergy.

Mass peaceful protests over social security reforms in 2018 ramped up the repression from the Ortega government in the following years. Opposition leaders, journalists, and prominent leaders from within the R.C.Church were amongst those expelled or advised to leave the country and some like Bishop À?lvarez were even imprisoned.

The situation has left the Catholic Church in a difficult position. There are no diplomatic ties now between Nicaragua and the Holy See and since the end of the Cold War it appears that the international community has found more pressing concerns. Nicaragua's Catholic neighbours may have the country on their radars, but how willing they are in supporting the Pope over his concerns for Nicaragua's Catholic population remains to be seen.

So, this week on The Inquiry we're asking ‘Can the Vatican stop Nicaragua's Catholic crackdown?

Contributors:

Brandon Van Dyck, Associate Director of the Princeton Initiative in Catholic Thought, The Aquinas Institute, New Jersey, USA

Bianca Jagger, President of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, Executive Directors Leadership Council of Amnesty International, London

Andrea Gagliarducci, Vatican Analyst, EWTN /ACI Group, Rome, Italy

Ryan Berg, Director, Americas Programme, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC, USA

Presenter: Tanya Beckett

Producer: Jill Collins

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical Producer: Cameron Ward

Broadcast Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley

Image Credit: Mireya Acierto\Getty

Is Pope Francis doing enough to help Catholics in Nicaragua?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

How can the Vatican make its voice heard in Nicaragua?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

Toyota has unveiled a revolutionary electric car battery, able to travel 1,200 kilometres in one go and can be charged in just ten minutes.

Toyota’s CEO Koji Sato said that “commercialisation of solid state batteries is a thing of the future... now within reach, changing the future of cars". The company also claims to be on the brink of being able to manufacture them.

So is this, as some are claiming, a ‘watershed moment’ in car making? Can these new batteries now be produced at scale? What impact will this have on the popularity of electric cars and their uptake?

Has Toyota solved the electric car battery problem?

Contributors:

Paul Shearing, chair in sustainable energy engineering and director of the Zero Institute at the University of Oxford.
Shirley Meng, Professor of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago.
Jeff Liker, Professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Michigan for 35 years.
Dr Evi Petavratzi, a mineral commodity specialist from the British Geological Survey.

Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Bob Howard
Editor: Tara McDermott
Sound Designer: Gareth Jones
Production Coordinator: Jordan King

Image: Olga Rolenko via Getty Images - 1403000871

Toyota has unveiled a revolutionary electric car battery.

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

What impact will this have on the popularity of electric cars and their uptake?

Contributors:

Paul Shearing, chair in sustainable energy engineering and director of the Zero Institute at the University of Oxford.

Shirley Meng, Professor of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago.

Jeff Liker, Professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Michigan for 35 years.

Dr Evi Petavratzi, a mineral commodity specialist from the British Geological Survey.

Presenter: Tanya Beckett

Producer: Bob Howard

Editor: Tara McDermott

Sound Designer: Gareth Jones

Production Coordinator: Jordan King

Image: Olga Rolenko via Getty Images - 1403000871

Toyota has unveiled a revolutionary electric car battery.

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

There are drugs which can help those struggling with the condition like anti-depressants and anti-convulsants. However, they weren't developed specifically for migraine and can come with quite a lot of side effects or simply not work.

For a long time migraine medication has been a process of trial and error.

But a new class of drugs called anti-CGRPs are being hailed as a breakthrough migraine medication. Anti-CGRPs have a small side effect profile and were designed specifically to target migraine. They work by blocking CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) from building up in the body and triggering a receptor in the brain which turns on a head pain pathway causing the migraine attack.

Earlier this year the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence - or NICE – in England cleared the use of an anti-CGRP called Rimegepant to use as both a preventive and acute treatment. Clinicians are hoping this will massively improve the lives of those living with the condition.

So this week on The Inquiry were asking ‘Have we reached a turning point with migraine medication?

Contributors:

Dr. Amaal Starling, neurologist and headache specialist at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, in the US state of Arizona.

Dr Faraidoon, researcher at the Georgian Institute for Global Health at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Peter Goadsby , Director of the NIHR King's Clinical Research Facility and a professor of neurology at King's College London, England.

Dr Lise Rystad Oie, researcher at the government funded Norwegian Centre for Headache Research - also known as NorHead.

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier

Producer: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty

Editor: Tara McDermott

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Technical Producer: Craig Boardman

Broadcast Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Image: eternalcreative - Getty Images: 1372323487

Could a new class of drugs change the lives of those living with migraine?

Could a new class of drugs developed specifically to target migraine, change the lives of those living with the condition?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

For centuries chocolate has had a global appeal, the key ingredient of this confectionery is derived from the dried and fully fermented seed of the Theobroma cacao, whose origins began in northern Amazonia. From this tree, both cocoa solids and cocoa butter can be extracted to form the basis of chocolate.

Today, it’s the West African countries of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana that produce the bulk of the world’s supply of cocoa beans. But in recent years hotter temperatures and shifts in rainfall patterns have impacted cocoa harvests particularly in this region. And now the global price of this key ingredient has roughly doubled since the start of last year, fuelling concern that demand could outweigh supply.

Cocoa farming itself is mainly small scale and these farmers are at the bottom end of the value chain when it comes to profits. But whilst many of the major chocolate manufacturers do invest in the industry, with support for improved planting and harvesting techniques, farming sustainably is just one of a number of challenges that these small farmers face.

So on this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Is climate change impacting chocolate production?’

Contributors:
Dr Katie Sampeck, British Academy Global Professor of Historical Archaeology, University of Reading, England
Philip Antwi-Agyei, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
Steffany Bermúdez, Policy Advisor, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Canada
Yunusa Abubakar, Project Manager, International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), Côte d’Ivoire

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Matt Toulson
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Hal Haines
Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey

Image by grafvision via Getty Images

Is the global chocolate market under threat?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

For centuries chocolate has had a global appeal, the key ingredient of this confectionery is derived from the dried and fully fermented seed of the Theobroma cacao, whose origins began in northern Amazonia. From this tree, both cocoa solids and cocoa butter can be extracted to form the basis of chocolate.

Today, it’s the West African countries of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana that produce the bulk of the world’s supply of cocoa beans. But in recent years hotter temperatures and shifts in rainfall patterns have impacted cocoa harvests particularly in this region. And now the global price of this key ingredient has roughly doubled since the start of last year, fuelling concern that demand could outweigh supply.

Cocoa farming itself is mainly small scale and these farmers are at the bottom end of the value chain when it comes to profits. But whilst many of the major chocolate manufacturers do invest in the industry, with support for improved planting and harvesting techniques, farming sustainably is just one of a number of challenges that these small farmers face.

So on this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Is climate change impacting chocolate production?’

Contributors:
Dr Katie Sampeck, British Academy Global Professor of Historical Archaeology, University of Reading, England
Philip Antwi-Agyei, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
Steffany Bermúdez, Policy Advisor, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Canada
Yunusa Abubakar, Project Manager, International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), Côte d’Ivoire

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Matt Toulson
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Hal Haines
Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey

Image by grafvision via Getty Images

Is the global chocolate market under threat?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

For centuries chocolate has had a global appeal, the key ingredient of this confectionery is derived from the dried and fully fermented seed of the Theobroma cacao, whose origins began in northern Amazonia. From this tree, both cocoa solids and cocoa butter can be extracted to form the basis of chocolate.

Today, it’s the West African countries of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana that produce the bulk of the world’s supply of cocoa beans. But in recent years hotter temperatures and shifts in rainfall patterns have impacted cocoa harvests particularly in this region. And now the global price of this key ingredient has roughly doubled since the start of last year, fuelling concern that demand could outweigh supply.

Cocoa farming itself is mainly small scale and these farmers are at the bottom end of the value chain when it comes to profits. But whilst many of the major chocolate manufacturers do invest in the industry, with support for improved planting and harvesting techniques, farming sustainably is just one of a number of challenges that these small farmers face.

So on this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Is climate change impacting chocolate production?’

Contributors:
Dr Katie Sampeck, British Academy Global Professor of Historical Archaeology, University of Reading, England
Philip Antwi-Agyei, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
Steffany Bermúdez, Policy Advisor, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Canada
Yunusa Abubakar, Project Manager, International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), Côte d’Ivoire

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Matt Toulson
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Hal Haines
Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey

Image by grafvision via Getty Images

Is the global chocolate market under threat?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

So how can we deal with the dual challenges of increasing urbanisation and extreme weather caused by climate change? Perhaps we should look downwards.

For millennia, humans have taken refuge underground from the elements, predators and from war. Even today, bomb shelters exist under major cities like Beijing and Seoul. Many cities across the world have subway systems for easy transportation – and some are integrated seamlessly with below-ground business and shopping centres.

But what are the future challenges for urban planners and architects in this subterranean space, and how can we overcome the social stigma against those who live underground?

This week on the Inquiry, we ask: is our future underground?

Contributors:

Martin Dixon, trustee of Subterranea Britannica, a society devoted to the study and investigation of man-made and man-used underground places.

Jacques Besner, architect and urban planner; co-founder and general manager of Associated Research Centres for Urban Underground Spaces.

Antonia Cornaro co-chair of ITACUS, the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association's Committee on Underground Space.

Professor Clara Irazábal, Director of the Urban Studies and Planning Program at the University of Maryland, USA.

Presenter: Tanya Beckett

Producer: Ravi Naik

Editor: Tara McDermott

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Production Coordinators : Janet Staples & Liam Morrey

Photo by BEHROUZ MEHRI via Getty Images

Will extreme heat driven by climate change force our cities underground?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

By 2050 the UN says nearly 70 percent of the world's population will live in cities. With a lack of space and extreme heat caused by climate change, should they expand underground?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

In less than a year, France will play host to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The opening ceremony will be played out along the River Seine in the nation’s capital city Paris. The Seine is also set to be the scene of the open-water swimming events and work is now being done to make sure the polluted waterway will be clean and safe enough for the Olympic participants.

To accommodate the expected influx of visitors to the Games, new transport links are been built. Whilst its already been acknowledged that some of the network is planned to link up a number of Olympic sites, it won’t be ready in time for the Games. There are plans to provide extra river boats and cycle lanes.

In addition to all this is the question of whether the French themselves are in the mood to celebrate the Games. This summer saw waves of social and political unrest in the country, but traditional sporting events like the Rugby World Cup have played a role in bringing the country together.

This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Is Paris Ready for the 2024 Olympics?’

Contributors:
Jean-Marie Mouchel, Professor of Hydrology, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
Florence Villeminot, Journalist and Presenter, France 24, Paris, France
Bill Hanway, Global Sports Leader, AECOM, Dallas, Texas, USA
Rainbow Murray, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London

Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Matt Toulson
Technical Producer: Kelly Young
Production Co-ordinator: Jordan King
Editor Tara McDermott

Photo: Olympic Rings to celebrate the IOC official announcement that Paris won the 2024 Olympic bid are seen in front of the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero square in Paris, France, September 16, 2017. Credit: Reuters

Are Paris\u2019s Olympic preparations on track for the Games next Summer?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

To accommodate the expected influx of visitors to the Games, new transport links are been built. Whilst its already been acknowledged that some of the network is planned to link up a number of Olympic sites, it won't be ready in time for the Games. There are plans to provide extra river boats and cycle lanes.

In addition to all this is the question of whether the French themselves are in the mood to celebrate the Games. This summer saw waves of social and political unrest in the country, but traditional sporting events like the Rugby World Cup have played a role in bringing the country together.

This week on The Inquiry, we're asking ‘Is Paris Ready for the 2024 Olympics?

Contributors:

Jean-Marie Mouchel, Professor of Hydrology, Sorbonne University, Paris, France

Florence Villeminot, Journalist and Presenter, France 24, Paris, France

Bill Hanway, Global Sports Leader, AECOM, Dallas, Texas, USA

Rainbow Murray, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London

Presenter: Tanya Beckett

Producer: Jill Collins

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Technical Producer: Kelly Young

Production Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Editor Tara McDermott

Photo: Olympic Rings to celebrate the IOC official announcement that Paris won the 2024 Olympic bid are seen in front of the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero square in Paris, France, September 16, 2017. Credit: Reuters

Are Paris's Olympic preparations on track for the Games next Summer?

Can Paris complete it's ‘to do list', in time to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games next year?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

Melting ice opens up the possibility of new trade routes making the region more valuable.

Tensions in the area are rising as Russia turns to China for cooperation. China in return wants to position itself as a major power in the region.

Geopolitical tensions mean that any disputes become harder to resolve and potentially more dangerous. And in a region that's vulnerable to climate change science is also suffering – without cooperation between countries valuable data is being lost.

Contributors:

Andreas Østhagen, Senior Researcher at Fridtjof Nansens Institute

Stefan Hedlund, Professor of Russian and East European Studies at Uppsala University in Sweden

Matthew Funaiole, senior fellow of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

Sophie Arts, from the Geostrategy North team at the German Marshall Fund of the United States

Presented by Emily Wither

Produced by Louise Clarke and Ravi Naik

Researched by Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty

Mixed by Craig Boardman

The Editor is Tara McDermott

The production co-ordinator is Jordan King

Image: Tourists with Russian nuclear icebreaker on way to North Pole - Per Breiehagen (Getty Images)

The war in Ukraine and an isolated Russia means rising tensions in the Arctic.

The war in Ukraine and melting ice is raising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic. Russia is no longer cooperating with the West and moving closer to China.

He explains that using drones and remote surveillance equipment in battlezones means each side knows what the other is doing. That slows down troops advancing, and creates a standoff. In a separate essay offering solutions, the general states that fresh tech innovation is the key to cracking it.

President Zelensky disagreed, and his office accuses the general of making “the aggressor's job easier. ? The Kremlin also denies there's a deadlock. But with the world's attention also focused on the Middle East, has attention drifted away from the Ukraine conflict – and if it has, what does that mean for Ukraine's campaign?

Charmaine Cozier explores the current state of fighting which continues on the eastern frontline, and whether Ukraine's recent attacks on Crimea demonstrate the country's capacity to fight back against Russia's forces. Meanwhile, Moscow has been building up an ‘axis of the sanctioned' – countries including Iran and North Korea, which are providing armaments and sharing technology to support Russia's military in Ukraine in a war of attrition.

And as the war heads towards its second year, is international support for Ukraine holding up? In the United States, some Republican lawmakers have delayed the latest package of military aid to Ukraine as they raise questions about the cost of the war for Americans. One year out from the next Presidential election, support for Ukraine may become an election issue. In Europe, support for Ukraine has been signalled by the European Union as it recommends formal talks should begin.

Contributors:

Tymofiy Mylovanov is president of Kyiv School of Economics. He's also a former member of the Ukrainian government. Before leaving it in 2020, his roles included minister of economy, international trade and agriculture.

Dr. Hanna Notte is director of the Eurasian programme at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. It focuses on research and training around preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and technologies. She's also senior associate with the Europe, Russia and Eurasia programme at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Natasha Lindstaedt is a professor of government at the University of Essex in England

Mark Katz is a professor of government and politics at the George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government in Virginia in the US.

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier

Producer: Philip Reevell.

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical producer: Richard Hannaford.

Image credit Getty Images

Charmaine Cozier asks is Ukraine's war at a stalemate as fighting makes slow progress?

Charmaine Cozier asks if the Ukraine war has reached a stalemate. Where are the frontlines, is Russia playing a long game, and is international support for Ukraine holding up?

Tensions between South American neighbours Venezuela and Guyana have ratcheted up a notch in recent weeks over the disputed oil rich region of Essequibo. The territory, which is roughly the size of Florida, currently makes up around two thirds of Guyana and vast oil reserves were discovered here in 2015 which have helped make Guyana’s economy one of the fastest growing in the world.

Essequibo has come under the authority of Guyana and before it British Guiana for more than a century, but Venezuela has always disputed that decision made by an international tribunal back in 1899. The issue is currently with the International Court of Justice in the Hague, who are expected to make a decision next year. But Venezuela does not recognise their jurisdiction.

And now President Maduro has used the results of a recent referendum claiming rights over Essequibo, as evidence to support his threat to move forward with plans to annexe the region.

So this week on The Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Is Venezuela about to invade its neighbour?’

Contributors:
Phil Gunson, Senior Analyst, Andes, Caracas, Venezuela for International Crisis Group
Alejandro Velasco, Associate Professor of Latin American History, New York University, author of ‘Barrio Rising: Urban Popular Politics and the Making of Modern Venezuela
Dr Christopher Sabatini, Senior Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, London
Dr Annette Idler, Associate Professor in Global Security, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Presenter: David Baker
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: George Crafer
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Mitch Goodall
Broadcast Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Image credit: Anadolu\Getty

Does President Maduro really have a right to claim Essequibo as a new Venezuelan state?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Essequibo has come under the authority of Guyana and before it British Guiana for more than a century, but Venezuela has always disputed that decision made by an international tribunal back in 1899. The issue is currently with the International Court of Justice in the Hague, who are expected to make a decision next year. But Venezuela does not recognise their jurisdiction.

And now President Maduro has used the results of a recent referendum claiming rights over Essequibo, as evidence to support his threat to move forward with plans to annexe the region.

So this week on The Inquiry, we're asking ‘Is Venezuela about to invade its neighbour?

Contributors:

Phil Gunson, Senior Analyst, Andes, Caracas, Venezuela for International Crisis Group

Alejandro Velasco, Associate Professor of Latin American History, New York University, author of ‘Barrio Rising: Urban Popular Politics and the Making of Modern Venezuela

Dr Christopher Sabatini, Senior Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, London

Dr Annette Idler, Associate Professor in Global Security, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Presenter: David Baker

Producer: Jill Collins

Researcher: George Crafer

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical Producer: Mitch Goodall

Broadcast Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Image credit: Anadolu\Getty

Does President Maduro really have a right to claim Essequibo as a new Venezuelan state?

Will Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro carry through his threat to annexe the Essequibo region of Guyana?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

In a very public embrace of Israel, he reinforced a relationship that goes back decades to Israel's foundation.

But does the US have the diplomatic influence to bring peace to the region?

This week on the Inquiry: what can US diplomacy achieve in the Middle East.

Contributors:

David Sanger, White House and national security correspondent and senior writer for The New York Times

Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations

Emma Ashford, senior fellow at the Stimson Center

Brian Katulis, vice president of policy at the Middle East Institute

Presented by Gary O'Donoghue

Produced by Louise Clarke

Researched by Matt Toulson

Co-ordinated by Jordan King

Image: (Photo by GPO/ Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Joe Biden has offered Israel unequivocal support, but can the US help negotiate peace?

President Joe Biden offered Israel unequivocal support, as he rushed to Tel Aviv - but does US diplomacy have the power to negotiate future peace in the region?

There have been missile strikes. Iran targeted militant bases in western Pakistan leading to a retaliatory back-and-forth with Pakistan. With attacks on Iraq and Syria, Tehran said it was targeting Islamic State and Israel's Mossad spy agency - both of whom it claimed were behind the deadliest domestic attack on Iranian soil since the Islamic revolution – an attack in early January that killed almost a hundred people in the southern city of Kerman.

Iran has been using proxy groups too - the so-called “Axis of Resistance ? – to carry out attacks on Israel and its allies to show solidarity with the Palestinians. The axis is a grouping of Iran-backed militant groups including Houthi militants in Yemen who have been responsible for disrupting shipping in the Red Sea and have been targeted by US and UK air strikes aimed at deterring them. Other members of the axis include Hezbollah in Lebanon and various groups in Syria and Iraq. Tehran insists that the groups act independently but that the coalition shares its goals. Iran's stated aim is to roll back US influence in the Middle East and it stands ideologically opposed to Israel.

Iran's grown closer to China and Russia too, the latter more so since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. What does Iran hope to gain from these relationships?

We also ask how Iran wants the current Israel-Gaza conflict to end.

So this week on The Inquiry we're asking ‘What does Iran want?

Experts:

Negar Mortazavi, Iranian journalist and Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy.

Kirsten Fontenrose is a non-resident fellow at the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative in the Atlantic Council's Middle East Programs.

Professor Maryam Alemzadeh, Associate Professor in History and Politics of Iran at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) and a Middle East Centre Fellow.

Suzanne Maloney is the vice president and director of the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, where her research focuses on Iran and Persian Gulf energy.

CREDITS:

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier

Producer: Philip Reevell

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Production Coordinator: Tim Fernley

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards

Image: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei

Image Credit: Anadolu/Getty

Amid growing tensions in the Middle East, Charmaine Cozier asks what Iran wants?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Against the background of the Israel/Gaza conflict, what part is Iran playing in the region through proxies and direct attacks? Charmaine Cozier asks ‘What does Iran want?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

The idea is that an interactive map of the body will be created. It will be a reference for what every kind of normal human cell should look like. But that will also vary depending on who you are and where you live.

It will give doctors a tool to measure illness and disease and make diagnosis and treatment much quicker.

The database will enable any doctor, anywhere in the world, with the right kind of interface, to access the information.

It could be ground-breaking for the treatment of disease and the democratisation of healthcare.

Contributors:

Dr Aviv Regev, one of the co-chairs of the Human Cell Atlas

Dr Sarah Teichmann from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge

Dr Piero Carninci, Geneticist, Transcriptome Technology and RIKEN Centre

Sean Bendall, Associate Professor of pathology and immunology at Stanford University

Presented by Tanya Beckett

Produced by Louise Clarke

Researched by Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty

Edited by Tara McDermott

Technical Producer is Richard Hannaford

Production Co-ordinator is Jordan King

Image: Medical Technology Stock Photo by Kentoh via Getty Images

Why are thousands of scientists collecting biological data from people all over the world?

The Human Cell Atlas is a study of all the different types of cells in our body. It could lead to the democratisation of diagnosis and treatment of disease and illness.

This was an opportunity for the establishment of an advisory body to Parliament that would allow Indigenous Peoples a voice on the issues affecting their own communities and for them to be recognised in the Australian constitution.

The ‘YES' campaign said their proposals outlined in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, requested a modest yet profound change, allowing Indigenous Australians to take their ‘rightful place' in their own country.

Whilst the ‘NO' campaigners argued that the ‘Voice to Parliament' would be racially divisive, giving Indigenous Peoples greater rights over other Australians.

In the end Australia voted ‘NO' to changing the status quo, by an overwhelming majority.

This week on The Inquiry, we're asking ‘What went wrong with Australia's Indigenous call for a voice?

Contributors:

John Maynard, Emeritus Professor, Aboriginal History and Research, University of Newcastle, NSW Australia.

Tim Soutphommasane, Chief Diversity Officer, Professor of Practice in Human Rights and Political Theory, University of Oxford, UK and a Former Race Discrimination Commissioner for Australia

Andrea Carson, Professor of Political Communication, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

Thomas Mayo, Indigenous Rights Advocate, Maritime Union of Australia Official and Author

Presenter: David Baker

Producer: Jill Collins

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford

Production Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Editor: Tara McDermott

Image: Voice Referendum in Australia: Credit: Reuters.

Audio for this episode was updated on 20th November 2023.

Why didn't Australians listen to the voice of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders?

Why did the majority of Australians vote ‘NO' to giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders more political rights in their own country?

Sargassum seaweed was recorded as far back as the 15th century when Christopher Columbus wrote in his expedition diaries about miles and miles and miles of dense seaweed as he crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

In 2011, a great mass of this seaweed emerged, stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, a phenomenon known as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. Since then it’s been washing up on coastlines in massive amounts, causing a big impact on communities whose economy relies heavily on the tourism industry. As the seaweed decays it releases hydrogen sulphide which has a strong odour of rotten eggs.

Various research projects are looking into ways of containing this seaweed, as no one has found a viable solution on an industrial scale. But whilst it is causing problems onshore, offshore in the deep ocean of the Sargasso Sea, the sargassum provides a unique ecosystem for a variety of marine life including turtles and swordfish.

So, this week on The Inquiry we’re asking, ‘What’s going on with sargassum seaweed?’

Contributors:

Dr. Chuanmin Hu, Professor of Oceanography, University of South Florida College of Marine Science, USA

Dr. David Freestone, Executive Secretary, The Sargasso Sea Commission, Washington DC, USA

Dr. Marie-Louise Felix, Marine Biologist and Lecturer, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Consultant to the Department of Fisheries, St Lucia

Ajit Subramaniam, Biological Oceanographer, Lamont Research Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, New York, USA

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: George Crafer
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Image: Miami Beach, Florida, North Beach Atlantic Ocean shoreline, large quantity of arriving seaweed sargassum macroalgae, tourist trying to swim. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Why is sargassum seaweed causing so much controversy?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Sargassum seaweed was recorded as far back as the 15th century when Christopher Columbus wrote in his expedition diaries about miles and miles and miles of dense seaweed as he crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

In 2011, a great mass of this seaweed emerged, stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, a phenomenon known as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. Since then it’s been washing up on coastlines in massive amounts, causing a big impact on communities whose economy relies heavily on the tourism industry. As the seaweed decays it releases hydrogen sulphide which has a strong odour of rotten eggs.

Various research projects are looking into ways of containing this seaweed, as no one has found a viable solution on an industrial scale. But whilst it is causing problems onshore, offshore in the deep ocean of the Sargasso Sea, the sargassum provides a unique ecosystem for a variety of marine life including turtles and swordfish.

So, this week on The Inquiry we’re asking, ‘What’s going on with sargassum seaweed?’

Contributors:

Dr. Chuanmin Hu, Professor of Oceanography, University of South Florida College of Marine Science, USA

Dr. David Freestone, Executive Secretary, The Sargasso Sea Commission, Washington DC, USA

Dr. Marie-Louise Felix, Marine Biologist and Lecturer, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Consultant to the Department of Fisheries, St Lucia

Ajit Subramaniam, Biological Oceanographer, Lamont Research Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, New York, USA

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: George Crafer
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Image: Miami Beach, Florida, North Beach Atlantic Ocean shoreline, large quantity of arriving seaweed sargassum macroalgae, tourist trying to swim. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Why is sargassum seaweed causing so much controversy?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

In 2011, a great mass of this seaweed emerged, stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, a phenomenon known as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. Since then it's been washing up on coastlines in massive amounts, causing a big impact on communities whose economy relies heavily on the tourism industry. As the seaweed decays it releases hydrogen sulphide which has a strong odour of rotten eggs.

Various research projects are looking into ways of containing this seaweed, as no one has found a viable solution on an industrial scale. But whilst it is causing problems onshore, offshore in the deep ocean of the Sargasso Sea, the sargassum provides a unique ecosystem for a variety of marine life including turtles and swordfish.

So, this week on The Inquiry we're asking, ‘What's going on with sargassum seaweed?

Contributors:

Dr. Chuanmin Hu, Professor of Oceanography, University of South Florida College of Marine Science, USA

Dr. David Freestone, Executive Secretary, The Sargasso Sea Commission, Washington DC, USA

Dr. Marie-Louise Felix, Marine Biologist and Lecturer, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Consultant to the Department of Fisheries, St Lucia

Ajit Subramaniam, Biological Oceanographer, Lamont Research Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, New York, USA

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier

Producer: Jill Collins

Researcher: George Crafer

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards

Production Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Image: Miami Beach, Florida, North Beach Atlantic Ocean shoreline, large quantity of arriving seaweed sargassum macroalgae, tourist trying to swim. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Why is sargassum seaweed causing so much controversy?

Sargassum seaweed acts as an offshore haven for marine life, but what impact is it having onshore?

But not everyone believes such a restoration is in keeping with the demands of proper archaeological preservation.

The plans met with opposition from archaeologists and Egyptologists both inside and outside the country. The project has now been paused after recommendations from a scientific committee commissioned by the Egyptian authorities.

So what's going on with the pyramids?

Presenter: Gary O'Donoghue

Producer: Louise Clarke

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical producer: Nicky Edwards

Production co-ordinator: Liam Morrey

Contributors:

Aidan Dodson, honorary Professor of Egyptology at Bristol university in the UK

Dr Jennifer Hellum, senior lecturer in classics and ancient history at the University of Auckland in New Zealand

Heba Saleh, Cairo correspondent for the Financial Times

Salima Ikram, professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo

Photo by KHALED ELFIQI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock via BBC Images

Why did Egypt announce plans to renovate one its most famous pyramids?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

Egypt recently announced plans to restore one of its pyramids. The project was then paused after concerns were raised. What was the plan? And why was it so controversial?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

The mission has already been pushed back and is widely expected to be delayed again.

But America is not alone. Both China and India also have ambitions to land people on the lunar surface.

Who is next to walk on the moon is driven by geopolitics and a desire to harness the moon's resources. Different countries, and even the private companies involved, all have different agendas. Who gets there first may even determine the political ideology of any future permanent human settlement.

Contributors:

Oliver Morton, Senior Editor at The Economist and author of The Moon, A History for the Future

Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica

Christopher Newman, Professor of space law and policy at Northumbria University

Namrata Goswami, Professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University

Presenter: Tanya Beckett

Producer: Louise Clarke

Journalism Researcher: Matt Toulson

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford

Production Coordinator: Liam Morrey

Image: U.S. Flag On The Moon by Encyclopaedia Britannica via Getty Images

Credit: NASA Youtube Channel

Over fifty years since the last moon landing, who will win the race to get there again?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

The last time any human set foot on the moon was 1972. Over fifty years later the US, China, and India, all have plans to set foot on the lunar surface. Who will get there first?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

In recent months there has been an increase in political protests calling for a neutral interim government ahead of the polls opening. But these protests have only resulted in increasing numbers of senior leaders of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party being rounded up and put in jail.

Historically, the country has had a fractured relationship with democracy since its birth in 1971, but the government for their part has denied accusations of democratic backsliding.

So this week on the Inquiry we're asking ‘Why is Bangladesh in turmoil?

Contributors:

Sabir Mustafa, a former Editor of the BBC Bengali Service, now based in Washington DC, USA

Dr. Avinash Paliwal, Reader in International Relations, Department of Politics and International Relations, SOAS University of London

Ali Riaz, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Politics and Government, Illinois State University, USA and non-resident Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council

Dr. Geoffrey MacDonald, Visiting Expert in the South Asia Programme, United States Institute of Peace, Washington DC, USA

Presenter: Tanya Beckett

Producer: Jill Collins

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford

Broadcast Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Photo: Bangladesh Nationalist Party protest for Sheikh Hasina's resignation, Dhaka -28th Oct 2023. Credit: Photo by MONIRUL ALAM/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock(14171078p)

Can the Bangladesh government guarantee a free and fair election in January?

As Bangladesh prepares for elections in January, we look at what lies behind the current political protests.

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

But, recently, of the four major branches which make up the US armed services, only the Marines have achieved their target for new recruits. And the biggest force, the Army, has been struggling most of all. In the past two years its missed its recruiting target by several thousand.

In this edition of the Inquiry, Sandra Kanthal looks at the myriad reasons the American Army is failing to enlist enough new soldiers, and why this may affect what impact it can have on global security.

Guests:

Nora Bensahel – Professor of the Practice at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Mark Cancian - Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

Peter Feaver – Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, Duke University and author of Thanks For Your Service: The Causes and Consequences of Public Confidence in the US Military

Beth Asch – Senior Economist, The Rand Corporation

Production Team:

Presenter: Sandra Kanthal

Producer: Sandra Kanthal

Editor: Tara McDermott

Technical Producer: James Beard

Production Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley

Image Credit: Bo Zaunders\Getty

The US Army faces challenges enlisting enough new troops.

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

For the past two years the US Army has failed to achieve its target for new recruits. What challenges does it face attracting new soldiers?

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

In February this year, El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele won re-election with nearly 85% of the vote. His flagship policy after he came to power in 2019 has been the mass arrest of thousands of alleged gang members, mainly young men.

It is estimated that over 100,000 people are now behind bars as part of his crime crackdown. The round-ups have been hugely popular with El Salvador's people as it has improved security and neighbouring countries are taking note.

But critics say following Bukele's approach could threaten democracy, not just in El Salvador but across the continent.

So on this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking: Will neighbouring countries follow El Salvador's lead on crime?

Contributors:
Carlos Dada, director of El Faro, an online newspaper based in El Salvador
Katherine Saunders-Hastings, a lecturer in Latin American Studies at the University of London's Institute of the Americas.
Will Freeman, Fellow for Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York.
Monica Pachon , a political scientist and professor at the University of the Andes in Bogotá, Colombia.

Presenter: David Baker
Producer: Farhana Haider
Journalism Researcher: Matt Toulson
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley and Liam Morrey

Image Credit:
Alex Peña / Stringer via Getty Images

Is El Salvador\u2019s crackdown on crime inspiring its neighbours?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world

In February this year, El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele won re-election with nearly 85% of the vote. His flagship policy after he came to power in 2019 has been the mass arrest of thousands of alleged gang members, mainly young men.

It is estimated that over 100,000 people are now behind bars as part of his crime crackdown. The round-ups have been hugely popular with El Salvador's people as it has improved security and neighbouring countries are taking note.

But critics say following Bukele's approach could threaten democracy, not just in El Salvador but across the continent.

So on this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking: Will neighbouring countries follow El Salvador's lead on crime?

Contributors:
Carlos Dada, director of El Faro, an online newspaper based in El Salvador
Katherine Saunders-Hastings, a lecturer in Latin American Studies at the University of London's Institute of the Americas.
Will Freeman, Fellow for Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York.
Monica Pachon , a political scientist and professor at the University of the Andes in Bogotá, Colombia.

Presenter: David Baker
Producer: Farhana Haider
Journalism Researcher: Matt Toulson
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley and Liam Morrey

Image Credit:
Alex Peña / Stringer via Getty Images

Is El Salvador\u2019s crackdown on crime inspiring its neighbours?

Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world