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Today, a number of major companies have bigger balance sheets than the GDPs of entire nations. With that money comes an extraordinary amount of power. At the same time, across almost every country, governmental laws and regulations have insinuated their way into nearly every element of our lives. So who’s really running the world—governments or corporations? Or is the global power structure far more complex, changeable and interdependent? This episode asks where the true power lies, and what the answer means for all of us.  💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  Featuring:  - Antara Haldar: Professor of law and economics, University of Cambridge - Mark Littlewood: Director, Popular Conservatism - Sophie Scott-Brown: Political philosopher, University of St. Andrews - Henry Wang: Founder and president, Center for China and Globalization Moderated by international journalist and media executive Soraya Salam

Most of us spend our lives thinking about money—how we’re earning it, how we’re spending it, how much we have and how to get more. But we rarely think about the bigger picture: What is money? How did we agree on the concept in the first place? How is it regulated, and who are those regulatory systems built to serve? This episode asks one of the most fundamental questions in economics and politics: Who controls your money? Is it the government? The ultra-rich? The free market? And should any of these organizations or individuals have that much power, or should our economic systems be totally democratic? 💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  Featuring:  Saifedean Ammous: Economist and author Jason Hickel: Professor of political economy, Autonomous University of Barcelona Pavlina R. Tcherneva: President, Levy Economics Institute Moderated by award-winning journalist and writer Mohamed Hassan

We usually think of language as a tool to express who we are and what we believe. But what if it’s the other way around? What if language actually shapes us? In this episode, we explore whether the language(s) we speak can influence our culture, our values and even our perceptions of the world. Two pivotal questions run through the conversation: Can language actually determine the way we think? And, as the English language becomes more and more global, is it spreading cultural influence along with it? 💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  Featuring:  Lera Boroditsky: Professor of cognitive science, University of California Safwan Masri: Author, “They Told Us We Were Arab” (forthcoming) Helen Pluckrose: Author; political and cultural commentator David Shariatmadari: Journalist and author Moderated by presenter, filmmaker and producer Nadir Nahdi

Work has long been tied to social value and identity. We are told it builds character and is essential to a functional society. But in an age of hustle culture, economic insecurity and burnout, many are asking whether work is meaningful or just a means of survival. This episode explores the meaning, value and future of work. Has its soul been lost to corporate profit and relentless productivity, or has social and economic innovation made it better? And as AI expands and evolves, will work need to be redefined altogether? 💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  Featuring:  Hoda Alkhzaimi: Professor of engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi Federico Campagna: Philosopher; lecturer, Royal College of Art Yanis Varoufakis: Professor of economics, University of Athens Robert C. Wolcott: Cofounder and chair, The World Innovation Network Moderated by award-winning journalist and writer Mohamed Hassan

Journalism was built on a promise: uncover the truth and hold the powerful to account. Today, media company ownership is in flux, news goes global—and viral—at the touch of a screen and everyone has a platform to tell their version of events. Is that promise becoming more or less possible to keep? In this episode, we ask: Is the journalism industry in a necessary evolution or is it in crisis? Has social media democratized the news, or made it harder to trust? How has the role and responsibilities of a journalist changed over the years, and how do they capture the respect (and attention) of the next generation? 💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  Featuring:  Dima Khatib: Managing director of digital projects, Al Jazeera Media Network Marc Owen Jones: Associate professor of media analytics, Northwestern University in Qatar Peter Oborne: Associate editor, Middle East Eye Richard Sambrook: Emeritus professor of journalism, Cardiff University Moderated by award-winning journalist and writer Mohamed Hassan

International law was built on a simple idea that even the most powerful nation-states should be bound by the same rules. But today, that idea is being challenged: Rulings go unenforced, institutions are unable or unwilling to act, and some are questioning whether the rules were truly globally applicable to begin with. This episode asks what's left of international law, and whether it still holds significance. Does it still matter when the rules are broken? Is there consensus on what the rules mean in the first place? And what sort of system do we want the next generation to inherit? 💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  Featuring:  - Charli Carpenter: Professor of political science, University of Massachusetts Amherst - Victor Gao: Vice president, Center for China and Globalization - Balakrishnan Rajagopal: Associate professor of law and development, Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Curtis Yarvin: Political philosopher Moderated by international presenter and host Dareen Abughaida

For years, Western vision and values have shaped the global order. Now, China is on the rise, championing a different model. Who will lead us into the future? In this episode, we explore these competing visions of the world and ask which one will end up on top. Is the West actually losing influence, or is something more complicated happening? Does China's rise offer a real alternative to the Western order, or a new kind of dependency? And as tensions simmer over Taiwan, Ukraine and the global AI race, can the world’s major powers find a way to coexist, or are we headed toward deeper division? 💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  Featuring:  - Renata Ávila: CEO, Open Knowledge Foundation - Arnaud Bertrand: Entrepreneur - Isabel Hilton: Visiting professor, Lau China Institute, King’s College London - Henry Wang: Founder and president, Center for China and Globalization Moderated by international journalist and media executive Soraya Salam

Who controls our money? Will China or the West lead us into the future? Is work even meaningful anymore? We’re back with a new season of the Doha Debates Podcast, featuring global experts tackling some of the world’s most complex questions. Guests include Yanis Varoufakis, Saifedean Ammous, Jason Hickel, Tariq Ali, Dima Khatib and many more. Watch or listen to the first episode September 22.

Football (or soccer) is more than just a game; it's a global phenomenon. Today, as football club ownership, team talent and the fandom all evolve, have the meaning and merits of the sport also changed? What can we learn about ourselves and our world by examining the current state of the “beautiful game”? This episode uses football as a lens to explore questions of capitalism, nationalism, power and identity. 💬 Join the conversation in the comments. Featuring: - David Goldblatt: Sociologist, sports writer, broadcaster and author - Tony Karon: Editorial lead, AJ+ - Honey Thaljieh: Co-founder, women’s football in Palestine Moderated by international journalist Imran Garda

In many places around the world, birth rates have dropped to historic lows. Some argue this is a good thing in a world grappling with environmental crises and waning resources. Others fear the loss of legacy and even the extinction of humanity.   In this episode, we explore the meaning and the impact of falling birth rates. Is it a sign of liberation from outdated norms? Is it proof that individualism has gone too far? Or is it the inevitable result of modern-day challenges?   💬 Join the conversation in the comments.   Featuring:   Alaka Basu: Professor of developmental sociology, Cornell University  Laurie DeRose: Assistant professor of sociology, The Catholic University of America  Antonina Lewandowska: Sociologist, researcher and activist  Stephen J. Shaw: Data scientist and demographer  Moderated by international journalist and media executive Soraya Salam

History is full of resistance movements that were condemned in their time but later celebrated, including the French Resistance, women’s suffrage and the fight against apartheid led by Nelson Mandela. This begs the question: Which modern resistance movements will the world honor in the future, and what determines whether or not they are recognized?  In this episode, we explore the question of what makes resistance legitimate. Is it the cause, the tactics, the outcome—or something else? And who gets to decide whether or not legitimacy is granted?    💬 Join the conversation in the comments.   Featuring:   Diana Buttu: Practitioner-in-residence, Georgetown University in Qatar   Victor Gao: Vice president, Center for China and Globalization  Saeed Khan: Associate professor of Near East & Asian studies, Wayne State University   Amina Rasul: President, Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy  Moderated by presenter, filmmaker and producer Nadir Nahdi.

Some critics argue that contemporary art has lost touch with the principles and traditions that define artistic greatness. Others see its break with tradition as liberating; a move toward more inclusion, experimentation and personal and political expression.  This episode explores what makes great art in the 21st century. Is it adherence to tradition, or disruption and reinvention? Is artistic beauty understood across time and culture, or does each generation need to redefine it? And with the AI era upon us, what even constitutes art in the first place?  💬 Join the conversation in the comments.   Featuring:   Wafaa Bilal: Artist; professor, Tisch School at New York University  Molly Crabapple: Artist, writer and journalist  Fen de Villiers: Fine art sculptor  Samar Younes: Quantum culture artist  Moderated by presenter, filmmaker and producer Nadir Nahdi

This episode was recorded on December 6th, 2025.  In recent decades, traditional religious frameworks have steadily lost influence in Western societies. At the same time, we’ve seen the emergence of social justice movements focused on uncovering and dismantling systemic forms of oppression. Some argue that these secular movements are a replacement for faith. Others say they don’t offer the same moral depth, cohesion and forgiveness provided by traditional religion.    In this episode, our guests debate whether today's social justice movements effectively replace religion in the West—and whether they share similar ethical principles with the traditions they often want to move beyond.    💬 Join the conversation in the comments.   Featuring:   Joshua Mitchell: Professor of political theory, Georgetown University  Khaled A. Beydoun: Professor of law, Arizona State University  Michael Eric Dyson: Professor of African American and diaspora studies, Vanderbilt University  Moderated by international presenter and host Mohamed Hassan

Conspiracy theories used to be dismissed as paranoid fringe thinking, found only in the far corners of the internet or every day hearsay. But today, they've migrated to the mainstream. Claims about election meddling, the real origins of COVID-19, and the deep state circulate widely and are even repeated by government officials.   This episode asks whether conspiracy theories have any actual value in a world where uncertainty is high and institutional accountability is low. Do they only make the spread of misinformation and disinformation worse? Or are they a way for people to express real suspicion toward systems that often feel hidden or unaccountable?  💬 Join the conversation in the comments.   Featuring:   Heather Berlin: Associate professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai  Alex Berenson: Novelist; journalist; author, Unreported Truths Substack   Nuurrianti Jalli: Assistant professor of professional practice, Oklahoma State University   Andrea Kitta: Professor of folklore, department of English at East Carolina University  Moderated by international presenter and host Dareen Abughaida

Will AI unite or divide us?  Artificial intelligence systems often reflect the priorities, biases and beliefs of the people who designed and created them. It’s critical to determine the sources of its worldview as it continues to influence how we think, learn and even love.  This episode explores whether AI will bring us together or widen social divides. Can we create AI models that truly reflect cultural and ideological diversity? Or are we heading into an era of “AI tribes” that leads us in different directions?   💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  Featuring:   James Brusseau: Professor of philosophy and computer science, Pace University  Evgeny Morozov: Theorist and publisher, The Syllabus  Elina Noor: Senior fellow, Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace  Robert Wright: Publisher, Nonzero Newsletter; host, Nonzero Podcast  Moderated by award-winning journalist and writer Mohamed Hassan