Abdul Wahhab

While many trace the roots of Saudi Arabia to Muhammad Ibn Saud, its ideological roots can be traced to his contemporary - the radical, militant and hugely controversial, Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab. This was a man who provided the doctrinal backbone to the burgeoning state, and created the ideology which bears his name: Wahhabism.While many now see it as a derogatory term, Wahhabism has been hugely influential in salafi jihadist circles. Wahhabi texts are frequently quoted by jihadi scholars and leaders, who see themselves as heirs to the Wahhabi tradition.Continuing our search for the ideological forebears of modern jihadism, this is the first of two episodes about the fascinating life of Ibn Abdul Wahhab. We’ll see him emerge from the Najd mountains of Saudi Arabia, develop his doctrine, face great opposition, and finally find a patron to help spread his radical message.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflictedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While many trace the roots of Saudi Arabia to Muhammad Ibn Saud, its ideological roots can be traced to his contemporary - the radical, militant and hugely controversial, Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab. This was a man who provided the doctrinal backbone to the burgeoning state, and created the ideology which bears his name: Wahhabism. While many now see it as a derogatory term, Wahhabism has been hugely influential in salafi jihadist circles. Wahhabi texts are frequently quoted by jihadi scholars and leaders, who see themselves as heirs to the Wahhabi tradition. Continuing our search for the ideological forebears of modern jihadism, this is the first of two episodes about the fascinating life of Ibn Abdul Wahhab. We’ll see him emerge from the Najd mountains of Saudi Arabia, develop his doctrine, face great opposition, and finally find a patron to help spread his radical message. Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="http://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Ibn Abdul Wahhab's Militant Mission (Part 1)

The later part of Ibn Taymiyyah’s life saw continued invasions from Mongol Hordes from the outside, and a battle against Sufi mystics in his own society. And for the man himself, it was defined by a continuation of one thing more than any other: a zeal against irreligion. While confronting the Mamluk Sultan and preaching anti-Mongol fatwas, he cemented himself as the great mediaeval scholar and warrior he is now remembered as. And he set an ideological precedent which modern Salafi jihadists continue to follow to this day.This week’s episode of Conflicted sees us delve into the latter part of Ibn Taymiyyah’s thrilling life to understand what it can tell us about the Middle East today, and how the ripples of his fundamentalist ideology continue to influence the thought of so many radical Muslims.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflictedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The later part of Ibn Taymiyyah’s life saw continued invasions from Mongol Hordes from the outside, and a battle against Sufi mystics in his own society. And for the man himself, it was defined by a continuation of one thing more than any other: a zeal against irreligion. While confronting the Mamluk Sultan and preaching anti-Mongol fatwas, he cemented himself as the great mediaeval scholar and warrior he is now remembered as. And he set an ideological precedent which modern Salafi jihadists continue to follow to this day. This week’s episode of Conflicted sees us delve into the latter part of Ibn Taymiyyah’s thrilling life to understand what it can tell us about the Middle East today, and how the ripples of his fundamentalist ideology continue to influence the thought of so many radical Muslims. Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="http://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

The Firebrand from Damascus (Part 2)

Ibn Taymiyyah is known as the “Sheikh of Islam” to his admirers, and to his detractors, one of the most significant antecedents of modern Salafi Jihadism. Simultaneously a genius scholar, brutal warrior and unflinching polemicist, he is one of the most important pioneers of a militant form of Sunni Islam, and is now quoted more than any other scholar by Islamist terrorists today.Continuing our series exploring the historical forebears of modern Salafi Jihadism, this week sees us begin two episodes on Ibn Taymiyyah, the great mediaeval Islamic scholar. We’ll explore the world in which he grew up, with Mongol invasions constantly at the gates, alongside the many contradictions that defined his life and how he rose to prominence in the 13th century Middle East.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflictedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ibn Taymiyyah is known as the “Sheikh of Islam” to his admirers, and to his detractors, one of the most significant antecedents of modern Salafi Jihadism. Simultaneously a genius scholar, brutal warrior and unflinching polemicist, he is one of the most important pioneers of a militant form of Sunni Islam, and is now quoted more than any other scholar by Islamist terrorists today. Continuing our series exploring the historical forebears of modern Salafi Jihadism, this week sees us begin two episodes on Ibn Taymiyyah, the great mediaeval Islamic scholar. We’ll explore the world in which he grew up, with Mongol invasions constantly at the gates, alongside the many contradictions that defined his life and how he rose to prominence in the 13th century Middle East. Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="http://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

The Firebrand from Damascus (Part 1)

This week’s Conflicted sees the second episode of our deep dive into the thrilling life of 7/8th century Muslim scholar, Ahmad bin Hanbal, founder of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence. Continuing our series looking at the historic Islamic thinkers who have inspired modern Salafi Jihadists today, we look at the fascinating and drama-filled second half of the life of the first fundamentalist.Expect more battles with Abbasid Caliphs, more stubborn refusals to renounce his teachings, floggings, dancing, and the infamous mihna.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflictedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Conflicted sees the second episode of our deep dive into the thrilling life of 7/8th century Muslim scholar, Ahmad bin Hanbal, founder of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence. Continuing our series looking at the historic Islamic thinkers who have inspired modern Salafi Jihadists today, we look at the fascinating and drama-filled second half of the life of the first fundamentalist. Expect more battles with Abbasid Caliphs, more stubborn refusals to renounce his teachings, floggings, dancing, and the infamous mihna. Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="http://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

The First Fundamentalist (Part 2)

On this week’s episode of Conflicted, we begin a multi episode exploration into the historical figures who function as antecedents to the modern jihadi movement, beginning with two episodes on one of its earliest examples: Ahmad Bin Hanbal.When Islamic fundamentalists today look back in history, one of the earliest figures they will mention for inspiration is the 7th/8th century scholar, Ahmad Bin Hanbal. His writings, hadith collecting and ascetic life are used as an example for many in the modern salafi jihadist movement.Join Thomas and Aimen for part one to explore his early life filled with drama, determination and defiance, as we take you on a rollercoaster ride through Byzantine border wars, fights with Caliphs and more, to see why he is so significant for Muslims today.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflictedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of Conflicted, we begin a multi episode exploration into the historical figures who function as antecedents to the modern jihadi movement, beginning with two episodes on one of its earliest examples: Ahmad Bin Hanbal.When Islamic fundamentalists today look back in history, one of the earliest figures they will mention for inspiration is the 7th/8th century scholar, Ahmad Bin Hanbal. His writings, hadith collecting and ascetic life are used as an example for many in the modern salafi jihadist movement.Join Thomas and Aimen for part one to explore his early life filled with drama, determination and defiance, as we take you on a rollercoaster ride through Byzantine border wars, fights with Caliphs and more, to see why he is so significant for Muslims today. Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="http://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

The First Fundamentalist (Part 1)

Islamic radicals have been a scourge on countries across the Middle East for decades, but what drives the person who commits terrorist acts? What causes some Muslims to adopt a fundamentalist ideology? And what do these terms even mean in practice?On this week’s episode of Conflicted, we explore the socio-political and psychological causes of Islamic radicalism. We’ll discover why certain countries end up fostering these ideologies, while also exploring the lives and psyches of Thomas and Aimen to understand what drove them down their different paths of fundamental religiosity.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflictedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Islamic radicals have been a scourge on countries across the Middle East for decades, but what drives the person who commits terrorist acts? What causes some Muslims to adopt a fundamentalist ideology? And what do these terms even mean in practice? On this week’s episode of Conflicted, we explore the socio-political and psychological causes of Islamic radicalism. We’ll discover why certain countries end up fostering these ideologies, while also exploring the lives and psyches of Thomas and Aimen to understand what drove them down their different paths of fundamental religiosity. Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="http://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

The Mind of a Fundamentalist

In the first episode of season 4 of Conflicted, hosts Thomas Small and Aimen Dean attempt to get to the bottom of the current state of play with Islamic terrorism, asking: where have all the terrorists gone?In 2023, it feels like there has been a kind of stasis in terms of Islamic terrorism, with other geopolitical issues taking their place on the global stage. But is this a sign that it’s gone for good? Or is the cycle of terror forged by our old friends Isis and Al-Qaeda about to come back around the corner? And if so, where will the potential future hotspots for instability in the Muslim world be?Find out on this episode of Conflicted, now coming to your podcast feeds every week.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflictedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first episode of season 4 of Conflicted, hosts Thomas Small and Aimen Dean attempt to get to the bottom of the current state of play with Islamic terrorism, asking: where have all the terrorists gone? In 2023, it feels like there has been a kind of stasis in terms of Islamic terrorism, with other geopolitical issues taking their place on the global stage. But is this a sign that it’s gone for good? Or is the cycle of terror forged by our old friends Isis and Al-Qaeda about to come back around the corner? And if so, where will the potential future hotspots for instability in the Muslim world be? Find out on this episode of Conflicted, now coming to your podcast feeds every week. Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="http://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Where Have All The Terrorists Gone?

Join Islamic scholar Thomas Small and ex-jihadi turned spy Aimen Dean as they explore the fascinating chains of events that have created the patchwork of the Muslim world today, and how the region’s history has impacted the story of the entire world.Expect answers to questions like: What do Turkey’s 2023 election results mean for the future stability of the region? What role will the Middle East play in the new multipolar world? And is Islamist Terrorism still a thing in 2023?We’ll be coming to you every week from June 28th - subscribe to Conflicted wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Islamic scholar Thomas Small and ex-jihadi turned spy Aimen Dean as they explore the fascinating chains of events that have created the patchwork of the Muslim world today, and how the region’s history has impacted the story of the entire world. Expect answers to questions like: What do Turkey’s 2023 election results mean for the future stability of the region? What role will the Middle East play in the new multipolar world? And is Islamist Terrorism still a thing in 2023? We’ll be coming to you every week from June 28th - subscribe to Conflicted wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Conflicted Season 4 Announcement

In a special LIVE end of season event (recorded on the 30th November) Thomas and Aimen sat down to answer your questions about the latest headlines from the Middle East. No stone is left unturned as the two discussed a potential invasion of Northern Syria, increasing tensions in Iran and the possible rehabilitation of Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Get more from Conflicted Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special LIVE end of season event (recorded on the 30th November) Thomas and Aimen sat down to answer your questions about the latest headlines from the Middle East. No stone is left unturned as the two discussed a potential invasion of Northern Syria, increasing tensions in Iran and the possible rehabilitation of Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Get more from Conflicted Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Conflicted LIVE Q&A

A special announcement from Thomas.Find tickets to the Live Q&amp;A on Eventbrite.Or join our FB Discussion group Or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to have your say on what topics you'd like Thomas &amp; Aimen to discuss.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special announcement from Thomas.Find tickets to the Live Q&amp;A on<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/conflicted-live-tickets-453029271747?utm-campaign=social&amp;utm-content=attendeeshare&amp;utm-medium=discovery&amp;utm-term=listing&amp;utm-source=cp&amp;aff=escb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Eventbrite.</a>Or join our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FB Discussion group</a> Or follow us on <a href="%20https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> to have your say on what topics you'd like Thomas &amp; Aimen to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Announcement: Conflicted LIVE

An ex-Al Qaeda jihadi turned MI6 spy and a former monk turned filmmaker, have been embedded at the heart of conflicts in the Middle East. Together Aimen Dean and Thomas Small unpack the realities of war, fundamentalism and their global implications through first-hand experience.

In the final episode of this season, Thomas &amp; Aimen come full circle again, back to the latest chapter in Aimen’s extraordinary life—a new, sad chapter that has forced a difficult and fateful decision upon him. The two friends also roll up their sleeves and resume their age-old ongoing argument: is the clash between Western modernity and Islamic civilization bound to end in bloody conflict, or can the Islamic world make the adjustments required to reap the benefits of modernity—without losing its soul in the process?Listen to Aimen on Blethered: https://pod.co/blethered/aimen-dean-21st-centurys-most-valued-spy-on-why-hes-leaving-scotlandListen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final episode of this season, Thomas &amp; Aimen come full circle again, back to the latest chapter in Aimen’s extraordinary life—a new, sad chapter that has forced a difficult and fateful decision upon him. The two friends also roll up their sleeves and resume their age-old ongoing argument: is the clash between Western modernity and Islamic civilization bound to end in bloody conflict, or can the Islamic world make the adjustments required to reap the benefits of modernity—without losing its soul in the process? Listen to Aimen on Blethered: <a href="https://pod.co/blethered/aimen-dean-21st-centurys-most-valued-spy-on-why-hes-leaving-scotland" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://pod.co/blethered/aimen-dean-21st-centurys-most-valued-spy-on-why-hes-leaving-scotland</a> Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

The West vs. the Rest?

As Conflicted approaches the end of season 3, Aimen &amp; Thomas turn their attention to a country which hasn’t featured much on the podcast so far: Algeria. Often overlooked due to the Algerian regime’s isolationist policy, for those with eyes to see Algeria has been at the vanguard of Middle Eastern developments for over two hundred years. For this reason, it’s the perfect prism through which to revisit all the historical themes from this season: traditional Islamic civilization, the challenge of Western modernity, the indignities of colonisation, the triumph of nationalist independence and petro-statehood, and the slide into disillusionment and decline thanks to Cold War geopolitics, political Islamism, and the rise of global jihadism.Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Conflicted approaches the end of season 3, Aimen &amp; Thomas turn their attention to a country which hasn’t featured much on the podcast so far: Algeria. Often overlooked due to the Algerian regime’s isolationist policy, for those with eyes to see Algeria has been at the vanguard of Middle Eastern developments for over two hundred years. For this reason, it’s the perfect prism through which to revisit all the historical themes from this season: traditional Islamic civilization, the challenge of Western modernity, the indignities of colonisation, the triumph of nationalist independence and petro-statehood, and the slide into disillusionment and decline thanks to Cold War geopolitics, political Islamism, and the rise of global jihadism. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Algerian Civil War

With the assassination of Al Qaeda leader Aymen al-Zawahiri ringing in their ears, Aimen &amp; Thomas turn their attention once again to Afghanistan, focusing this time on the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the rise of global jihadism that followed. What led the Soviets to invade? What was Kabul’s Cold War relationship with Moscow like in the run-up to the invasion? What was the U.S.’s true role in the anti-Soviet jihad? And most importantly: why did thousands of young men from the Arab role sign up to fight? Through an in-depth look at the life of the most celebrated ideologue of modern jihadism, Abdullah Azzam, we’ll answer those questions and more, as we continue to assemble the geopolitical puzzle of the modern Middle East.Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the assassination of Al Qaeda leader Aymen al-Zawahiri ringing in their ears, Aimen &amp; Thomas turn their attention once again to Afghanistan, focusing this time on the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the rise of global jihadism that followed. What led the Soviets to invade? What was Kabul’s Cold War relationship with Moscow like in the run-up to the invasion? What was the U.S.’s true role in the anti-Soviet jihad? And most importantly: why did thousands of young men from the Arab role sign up to fight? Through an in-depth look at the life of the most celebrated ideologue of modern jihadism, Abdullah Azzam, we’ll answer those questions and more, as we continue to assemble the geopolitical puzzle of the modern Middle East. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Anti-Soviet Jihad

In our previous episode on the Iranian revolution, we left the Ayatollah Khomeini sitting high and mighty in Tehran. Little did he know, next door in Baghdad, an Arab strongman nursed revolutionary, expansionary ambitions of his own: Saddam Hussein, the Lion of the Arabs and Defender of the Eastern Gate, the ultimate symbol of corrupt and tyrannical dictatorship. Taking up where we left off back in episode 9, with Iraq reeling from the bloody 1958 coup that replaced the Hashemite monarchy with a military dictatorship, this episode describes Saddam’s blood-soaked rise to power and his tragic and ultimately futile decision to invade Iran, thus inaugurating the 20th century’s bloodiest and costliest conventional war.Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our previous episode on the Iranian revolution, we left the Ayatollah Khomeini sitting high and mighty in Tehran. Little did he know, next door in Baghdad, an Arab strongman nursed revolutionary, expansionary ambitions of his own: Saddam Hussein, the Lion of the Arabs and Defender of the Eastern Gate, the ultimate symbol of corrupt and tyrannical dictatorship. Taking up where we left off back in episode 9, with Iraq reeling from the bloody 1958 coup that replaced the Hashemite monarchy with a military dictatorship, this episode describes Saddam’s blood-soaked rise to power and his tragic and ultimately futile decision to invade Iran, thus inaugurating the 20th century’s bloodiest and costliest conventional war. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Saddam vs. Ayatollah

We’ve reached the Iranian Revolution of 1979! The great showdown! The watershed moment when the tensions which we’ve been tracing—between reform and reaction, modernism and tradition—erupted into sweeping rejection of the Western model of modernity and its replacement with something apocalyptic, something both ancient and strikingly new: a Shi’a Islamic Republic. It was out with the Shah, in with the Ayatollah; and the consequences have been without parallel—for the Middle East, and the world.Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve reached the Iranian Revolution of 1979! The great showdown! The watershed moment when the tensions which we’ve been tracing—between reform and reaction, modernism and tradition—erupted into sweeping rejection of the Western model of modernity and its replacement with something apocalyptic, something both ancient and strikingly new: a Shi’a Islamic Republic. It was out with the Shah, in with the Ayatollah; and the consequences have been without parallel—for the Middle East, and the world. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Ayatollah vs. Shah

In this episode, Aimen and Thomas talk about one of the many governing institutions which arose out of the wreckage of the old imperial and colonial world, and which still underpins the way the world functions today: OPEC. The only great governing institution founded and run by statesmen outside the Western corridors of power, since its founding in 1960, OPEC has played a big role in every major geopolitical event since its founding in 1960. War, terrorism, kidnappings, assassinations, and an ever-present threat to the global economy—the story of OPEC has it all!Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aimen and Thomas talk about one of the many governing institutions which arose out of the wreckage of the old imperial and colonial world, and which still underpins the way the world functions today: OPEC. The only great governing institution founded and run by statesmen outside the Western corridors of power, since its founding in 1960, OPEC has played a big role in every major geopolitical event since its founding in 1960. War, terrorism, kidnappings, assassinations, and an ever-present threat to the global economy—the story of OPEC has it all! Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Petrostates of the World, Unite!

Circling back to the Arab world after a brief excursus further afield, this episode of Conflicted takes up the themes of sectarian strife and political radicalism and applies them to the country that has perhaps been most affected by the Clash of Civilizations: Lebanon. What is Lebanon? Who are the Lebanese? Why did the country crack up in 1975? Answering these questions and more, the episode climaxes with what must be the fastest, most breathless description of the Lebanese Civil War ever attempted!Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Circling back to the Arab world after a brief excursus further afield, this episode of Conflicted takes up the themes of sectarian strife and political radicalism and applies them to the country that has perhaps been most affected by the Clash of Civilizations: Lebanon. What is Lebanon? Who are the Lebanese? Why did the country crack up in 1975? Answering these questions and more, the episode climaxes with what must be the fastest, most breathless description of the Lebanese Civil War ever attempted! Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Lebanon: Failed Narco-Terrorist State?

Having flitted around the edges of the Ottoman Empire for most of this season, now we’re going straight to the jugular: the heart of that empire, the city of Istanbul (or Constantinople, if you prefer). In this episode of Conflicted, we tell the thrilling story of the epic historic conflict between two peoples, Turks and Greeks, practising two faiths, Islam and Orthodox Christianity, a conflict still manifest today, most painfully on the divided island of Cyprus. The invasion of Cyprus by Turkish troops in 1974 was yet another egg in the face of the declining British empire, one of the defining events of the Cold War period, and a living witness to the ongoing clash of civilizations in the Middle East.Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having flitted around the edges of the Ottoman Empire for most of this season, now we’re going straight to the jugular: the heart of that empire, the city of Istanbul (or Constantinople, if you prefer). In this episode of Conflicted, we tell the thrilling story of the epic historic conflict between two peoples, Turks and Greeks, practising two faiths, Islam and Orthodox Christianity, a conflict still manifest today, most painfully on the divided island of Cyprus. The invasion of Cyprus by Turkish troops in 1974 was yet another egg in the face of the declining British empire, one of the defining events of the Cold War period, and a living witness to the ongoing clash of civilizations in the Middle East. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Turkquake!

From the Arab world, we now journey eastward to the Indian Subcontinent. Ancient, vast, and spiritually rich, the lands that comprise the nation-states of Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh underwent one of the great traumas of the 20th century: the end of British rule and the Partition of the Raj. In this episode, we’ll tell this story, which includes a panoply of immense political personalities—Gandhi, Nehru, Jinnah—and which reverberates down to the present day in the ongoing crisis over the Himalayan province of Kashmir.Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Arab world, we now journey eastward to the Indian Subcontinent. Ancient, vast, and spiritually rich, the lands that comprise the nation-states of Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh underwent one of the great traumas of the 20th century: the end of British rule and the Partition of the Raj. In this episode, we’ll tell this story, which includes a panoply of immense political personalities—Gandhi, Nehru, Jinnah—and which reverberates down to the present day in the ongoing crisis over the Himalayan province of Kashmir. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Subcontinental Rift

Now that we’ve told the story of the rise and fall of Nasserism, we turn to Libya and its handsome and charismatic dictator, Col. Muammar Gaddafi. Believing himself to have inherited Nasser’s mantle of Arab leadership, Gaddafi’s brazen narcissistic insanity is the stuff of legend, and Aimen’s got a caravan-load of funny anecdotes to illustrate just how nuts he was. But more seriously, Gaddafi symbolizes the tragic turn toward unhinged dictatorship which much of the Arab world underwent in the second half of the Cold War. Gaddafi, Assad, Saleh, Mubarak, Ben Ali, and of course Saddam Hussein—they all stalked the Middle East like undead zombies of Nasser, a nightmare from which the Arab world is still recovering.Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflictedAnd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that we’ve told the story of the rise and fall of Nasserism, we turn to Libya and its handsome and charismatic dictator, Col. Muammar Gaddafi. Believing himself to have inherited Nasser’s mantle of Arab leadership, Gaddafi’s brazen narcissistic insanity is the stuff of legend, and Aimen’s got a caravan-load of funny anecdotes to illustrate just how nuts he was. But more seriously, Gaddafi symbolizes the tragic turn toward unhinged dictatorship which much of the Arab world underwent in the second half of the Cold War. Gaddafi, Assad, Saleh, Mubarak, Ben Ali, and of course Saddam Hussein—they all stalked the Middle East like undead zombies of Nasser, a nightmare from which the Arab world is still recovering. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.Join our FB Discussion group to get exclusive updates: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/450486135832418</a>Find us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/MHconflicted</a>And Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Gaddafi: The Arab Madman Cometh

This podcast has been all I am listening to in the recent days. I love the friendship the two hosts have and how complimentary they are of eachother, it creates a podcast about current affairs and history which is analyzed through the lens of human interest and relationship. Furthermore, the content is very informative and well put together, it provides a lot of information to combat the disinformation that is everywhere is the west regarding the middle east and other world regions. You all have a winner!

Fantastic Podcast

This podcast is extremely informative and refreshing! They give wonderful perspectives on perhaps the most important conflict of today. We are exposed to you so much information each day but these gentlemen provide a different perspective. I usually don’t give reviews but this podcast was so helpful!

Must Listen!

CONFLICTED

What compels a jihadi to take up arms in defence of Islam? How are they recruited – and where are they recruited from? In the final episode of this series, Aimen gets into the specifics of the importance of a prophetic narrative and why so many fighters travelled to Syria from every corner of the globe to join ISIS. We’ll also find out how Aimen was finally outed as an MI6 spy inside al-Qaeda and how he escaped. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What compels a jihadi to take up arms in defence of Islam? How are they recruited – and where are they recruited from? In the final episode of this series, Aimen gets into the specifics of the importance of a prophetic narrative and why so many fighters travelled to Syria from every corner of the globe to join ISIS. We’ll also find out how Aimen was finally outed as an MI6 spy inside al-Qaeda and how he escaped. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Returning Jihadists

This episode brings us to one of the most complicated conflicts raging in the Middle East. Thomas and Aimen both know the country well and walk us through the actors and their motives. They’ll also explain how Syria became such a killing field as a result of the Arab Spring and how Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a onetime eye-doctor in London, played a direct role in the failure of the American post-war project, as he released Syria’s jihadists from prison and facilitated their migration to Iraq. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode brings us to one of the most complicated conflicts raging in the Middle East. Thomas and Aimen both know the country well and walk us through the actors and their motives. They’ll also explain how Syria became such a killing field as a result of the Arab Spring and how Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a onetime eye-doctor in London, played a direct role in the failure of the American post-war project, as he released Syria’s jihadists from prison and facilitated their migration to Iraq. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Syria

Last week Aimen left listeners with a final thought: the biggest mistake in the War on Terror was the invasion of Iraq. This week, Aimen explains how this explosive conflict played into the jihadists’ apocalyptic dreams, how it spurred Osama bin Laden and other conflicts forward in neighbouring countries, and his frustrations as a double agent as he watched the region falling deeper into war.Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week Aimen left listeners with a final thought: the biggest mistake in the War on Terror was the invasion of Iraq. This week, Aimen explains how this explosive conflict played into the jihadists’ apocalyptic dreams, how it spurred Osama bin Laden and other conflicts forward in neighbouring countries, and his frustrations as a double agent as he watched the region falling deeper into war. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Iraq    

The Yemeni civil war is one of the most brutal civil wars in the Middle East. As it continues to rage on, Thomas and Aimen explain who the players are in this conflict, why it is all about water, and the reasons Saudi Arabia and UAE are using it to fight an existential war of future survival with their arch rival, Iran.Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Yemeni civil war is one of the most brutal civil wars in the Middle East. As it continues to rage on, Thomas and Aimen explain who the players are in this conflict, why it is all about water, and the reasons Saudi Arabia and UAE are using it to fight an existential war of future survival with their arch rival, Iran. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Yemen

In this special episode, Thomas will introduce you to Jake Warren, the host of a new podcast called Undiscovered. He'll share with you an episode we think you'll enjoy - it's the incredible story of a bear, a lion and a long-abandoned zoo in the heartland of ISIS occupied Iraq.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, Thomas will introduce you to Jake Warren, the host of a new podcast called Undiscovered. He'll share with you an episode we think you'll enjoy - it's the incredible story of a bear, a lion and a long-abandoned zoo in the heartland of ISIS occupied Iraq. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Introducing Undiscovered: The Lion, The Bear and The War Zone

With the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, the world found itself teetering on the edge of a conflict, the scale of which has only been threatened a few times since 1945. Aimen and Thomas kick off Season 2 looking at who Soleimani was, his role in defeating ISIS, as well as the place of privatised espionage and drone technology in modern warfare.Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. For more info, exclusive updates and to chat with other listeners you can now join our facebook discussion group: http://bit.ly/37cqJAY.You can also read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2SmOPnE  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, the world found itself teetering on the edge of a conflict, the scale of which has only been threatened a few times since 1945. Aimen and Thomas kick off Season 2 looking at who Soleimani was, his role in defeating ISIS, as well as the place of privatised espionage and drone technology in modern warfare. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. For more info, exclusive updates and to chat with other listeners you can now join our facebook discussion group: <a href="http://bit.ly/37cqJAY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/37cqJAY</a>.You can also read the full transcript here: <a href="http://bit.ly/2SmOPnE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2SmOPnE</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

World War Iran

In 1990, George Bush proclaimed the dawning of a New World Order. The Cold War was over, the nation-state and capitalism had won, and the US was ready to deliver their strategy for global governance of the world. Aimen and Thomas discuss how this played out in the Middle East and where the grand vision fell short.For more info, exclusive updates and to chat with other listeners join our Facebook discussion group: http://bit.ly/37cqJAY.Find the whole transcript here: http://bit.ly/2SYhrDUListen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1990, George Bush proclaimed the dawning of a New World Order. The Cold War was over, the nation-state and capitalism had won, and the US was ready to deliver their strategy for global governance of the world. Aimen and Thomas discuss how this played out in the Middle East and where the grand vision fell short.For more info, exclusive updates and to chat with other listeners join our Facebook discussion group: <a href="http://bit.ly/37cqJAY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/37cqJAY</a>.Find the whole transcript here: <a href="http://bit.ly/2SYhrDU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2SYhrDU</a>Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

New World Order

From the protests in Hong Kong, to the persecution of the Uighurs and the building of the New Silk Road, this episode explores the role China has played in the New World Order.Listen to bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple and Spotify.  Join the FB group here: http://bit.ly/37cqJAYRead the transcript here: https://bit.ly/2xdNmYL  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the protests in Hong Kong, to the persecution of the Uighurs and the building of the New Silk Road, this episode explores the role China has played in the New World Order. Listen to bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple and Spotify.   Join the FB group here: <a href="http://bit.ly/37cqJAY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/37cqJAY</a>Read the transcript here: <a href="https://bit.ly/2xdNmYL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2xdNmYL</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

China 3.0

After the Iron Curtain fell, America aimed to bring Russia into the fold of their New World Order. Things didn’t go according to plan. In this episode, Thomas and Aimen discuss the rise of Putin, the Second Chechen War and Russia’s role in Syria. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month.For more info, exclusive updates and to chat with other listeners join our Facebook discussion group: http://bit.ly/37cqJAYRead the full episode transcript here: https://bit.ly/2UQxvbG  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the Iron Curtain fell, America aimed to bring Russia into the fold of their New World Order. Things didn’t go according to plan. In this episode, Thomas and Aimen discuss the rise of Putin, the Second Chechen War and Russia’s role in Syria. Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. For more info, exclusive updates and to chat with other listeners join our Facebook discussion group: <a href="http://bit.ly/37cqJAY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/37cqJAY</a>Read the full episode transcript here: <a href="https://bit.ly/2UQxvbG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2UQxvbG</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Enter Russia

As the financial crisis moved off the front pages, activists and politicians began to organize around another global emergency: climate change. In this episode, Aimen and Thomas discuss and debate their way through the science and politics around this hot topic. If you’d like to help us develop Conflicted for future seasons, please take a few minutes to fill out our questionnaire at bit.ly/conflictedq (and maybe win a little treat!). Thank you!Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. You can read the full transcript here: https://bit.ly/3bICS2K  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the financial crisis moved off the front pages, activists and politicians began to organize around another global emergency: climate change. In this episode, Aimen and Thomas discuss and debate their way through the science and politics around this hot topic. If you’d like to help us develop Conflicted for future seasons, please take a few minutes to fill out our questionnaire at <a href="http://bit.ly/conflictedq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bit.ly/conflictedq</a> (and maybe win a little treat!). Thank you! Listen to exclusive bonus content and get all episodes ad-free by subscribing to Conflicted Extra on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for just 99p/month. You can read the full transcript here: <a href="https://bit.ly/3bICS2K" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3bICS2K</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Climate Crisis

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Multi-Part Documentaries

The best podcasts about ourselves as well as the world through the lense of Science. Specific topics include things about our brain, emotions to biology, physics and more!