The Octavian Report

A journal of ideas. Expert analysis of geopolitics, the arts, and economics. In print, online, and now on Substack too:

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

@dlepeska @j_tepperman Thanks!

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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.

https://t.co/J4214B0sjq

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

What explains Erdogan's new charm offensive in the Middle East? Read @stevenacook on Turkey's new tactics.

https://t.co/J4214B0sjq

[Jan Kooy @KooyJan]

“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:

https://t.co/mVe0FAB2EF

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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.
https://t.co/4xKU4vtZEc

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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."

https://t.co/4xKU4vtZEc

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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!

https://t.co/4xKU4vtZEc

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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.

https://t.co/z17hKE1zML

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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.

https://t.co/z17hKE1zML

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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.

https://t.co/90HN65XoaH

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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:

https://t.co/z17hKE1zML

[Bernard-Henri Lévy @BHL]

Thanks @j_tepperman and @RichardHurowitz . And thanks for having shared my https://t.co/kQ92emOLZt 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.

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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."

https://t.co/o3qHUC5WKl

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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.

https://t.co/o3qHUC5WKl

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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.

https://t.co/o3qHUC5WKl

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

Apologies to all who tried to follow this link and found it broken. Here's the one that works:
https://t.co/fJ8ZERSYx5

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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:

https://t.co/C7VZegBGXd

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

Apologies: the correct link is https://t.co/fJ8ZERSYx5

[Devra Maza 🌻🎗️ @DevraMaza]

@OctavianReport @Kasparov63 @BHL The above link doesn't work. The correct one is here: https://t.co/WSLvSDQDmw

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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."

https://t.co/nan4Ll5p0t

[Richard Hurowitz @RichardHurowitz]

Our amazing @OctavianReport conversation with @BHL on #Ukraine, the French elections, and bearing witness in his new film THE WILL TO SEE. Must read! https://t.co/A196Cw3LWP

[The Octavian Report @OctavianReport]

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:

https://t.co/C7VZegBGXd