A journal of ideas. Expert analysis of geopolitics, the arts, and economics. In print, online, and now on Substack too: https://xitter.cf/t.co/KIRvseLW6z

Joined October 2014
After years of bullying its neighbors, Turkey is suddenly making nice with Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. What explains the new charm offensive — and is there any substance to it? Read @stevenacook on Turkey's new tactics. octavian.substack.com/p/the-…
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What explains Erdogan's new charm offensive in the Middle East? Read @stevenacook on Turkey's new tactics. octavian.substack.com/p/the-…
The Octavian Report retweeted
“It’s not enough to stand for the right things; anybody can do that. Our task is to change governments, to change their behavior, to stop abuses.” @KenRoth on his 3 decades leading Human Rights Watch, @OctavianReport: octavian.substack.com/p/play…
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We asked @KenRoth, who is stepping down from @hrw after a legendary 30-year career, how an NGO with no power can have an impact. "Governments always want something," he said — the trick is keeping them from getting it unless they stop abusing human rights. octavian.substack.com/p/play…
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We asked @KenRoth, who is stepping down after almost 30 years leading @hrw, how he's managed to push so many governments to stop abusing human rights. "We’re not just a bunch of do-gooders who stand for the right thing," he said. "We play hardball." octavian.substack.com/p/play…
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After almost 30 years leading @hrw, @KenRoth is stepping down. We spoke about his legendary career leading the world's pre-eminent human rights organization. Read the interview! octavian.substack.com/p/play…
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20 or 30 years ago, even US conservatives cared about the UN; they hated it, but they cared. Today Americans seem indifferent. But @BobRae48 argues that #Ukraine shows how UN still matters—just not in the way it founders intended. octavian.substack.com/p/the-…
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The UN was designed to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war"—but seems unable to help in crises like Ukraine. But @BobRae48 argues that we should look past the body's design flaws to the quiet but crucial ways it's helping on the ground. octavian.substack.com/p/the-…
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What can the UN do in a crisis like Ukraine, where one side (Russia) holds a veto on the Security Council? A whole lot, says @BobRae48, Canada's UN ambassador. The organization works a lot better in practice than it does it theory, he explains. bit.ly/38L9cFp
As countries look for new ways to help #Ukraine, few (at least in the US) are looking to the organization created to solve problems like this: the UN. To find out why, we spoke to @BobRae48, Canada's UN ambassador. Read the interview: octavian.substack.com/p/the-…
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The Octavian Report retweeted
Thanks @j_tepperman and @RichardHurowitz . And thanks for having shared my bhl.substack.com This is the place where, since the first day, I say and repeat that #Zelenskyy’s #Ukraine will not only resist #Putin, but will win.
For 50 years, @BHL has relentlessly highlighted some of the world's worst atrocities. The Will to See, a new film released this week, documents his one-man battle against indifference. We spoke Sunday night about his film and his career: ow.ly/Ug3E50IRuaV
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Why is Israel's government on the brink of collapse yet again? We asked veteran Israeli journalist @alufbenn. "All that unites [the coalition] is the feeling that Netanyahu and what Netanyahu represents is bad for the country." bit.ly/3rVNgy8
Only one thing unites the 8 parties in Israel's shaky coalition government: they all hate Netanyahu. Now, with @naftalibennett's alliance on the ropes, we asked @alufbenn of @haaretzcom what to expect. Short answer: don't count the PM out yet. bit.ly/3rVNgy8
Israel's government is once again on the brink of collapse. Can @naftalibennett survive? And why does Israel seem to be trapped in permanent gridlock? We asked @alufbenn, who runs @Haaretz, to explain. Read the interview. bit.ly/3rVNgy8
Apologies to all who tried to follow this link and found it broken. Here's the one that works: octavian.substack.com/p/figh…
For 50 years, @BHL has relentlessly highlighted some of the world's worst atrocities. The Will to See, a new film released this week, documents his one-man battle against indifference. We spoke Sunday night about his film and his career: ow.ly/Ug3E50IRuaV
Visiting the US for the premiere of his new documentary, THE WILL TO SEE, we asked @BHL if the world has improved over his 50-year career. "We are making progress. We care more. Even dictators and the worst criminals feel themselves being watched." bit.ly/38sQ8eU
The Octavian Report retweeted
Our amazing @OctavianReport conversation with @BHL on #Ukraine, the French elections, and bearing witness in his new film THE WILL TO SEE. Must read! octavian.substack.com/p/figh…
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For 50 years, @BHL has relentlessly highlighted some of the world's worst atrocities. The Will to See, a new film released this week, documents his one-man battle against indifference. We spoke Sunday night about his film and his career: ow.ly/Ug3E50IRuaV
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How can the U.S. help Ukraine get justice? We asked Harold Koh, a top expert at @YaleLawSch. Among his answers: send money, U.S. prosecutors, and real-time intel to whatever court tries Russia's war crimes. And don't let Putin bargain for amnesty. bit.ly/37yXm11
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