How can it have these conversations? Is the “post-colonial” framework effective?
What parallels can be drawn between the Russian invasion of Ukraine and recent and current wars in the Middle East?
What can studying ISIS teach us about contemporary wars?
The podcast highlights the importance of strategic communication and alliance-building for Ukraine, focusing on shared historical experiences and contemporary challenges faced by nations in the Global South.
Omar Ashour argues that the term "Global South" is overly broad: “There is nothing called the Global South…it's not a political entity, it's not an economic entity, it's not a military entity… Despite that lack of accuracy of the term, it is very, very important for Ukraine to expand its alliances, its friendships and look into the Global South.”
Effective strategic communication with the Global South involves acknowledging their colonial history and sensitivities to issues like invasions, forced deportations, and identity-based targeting.
“When it comes to strategic communications, the Global South is very sensitive to a few things…mainly because of the historical experiences…invasions, discrimination, forced deportation, war of independence, and colonial settlements,” told Omar Ashour.
Ashour notes Ukraine shares similar experiences due to Russia's actions, creating potential common ground: “Ukraine has been a victim of all of these…forced deportations, colonial settlements…war of liberation to take back the lands and…targeting on ethnic basis”.
“You can see quite a few parallels between the ISIS way of warfare and the Russian way of warfare…using non-state armed forces became a very effective way to fight,” — Omar Ashour highlighted.
Dr. Ashour noted that in 2013, ISIS took Raqqa using tactics that Russia later mirrored in Crimea. Both created false front organizations, exploited social tensions, conducted kidnappings and psychological operations, and used propaganda to destabilize. When local resistance weakened, they moved in with military force to secure their control.
Dr. Ashour emphasizes the need for Ukraine to engage with specific countries in the Middle East based on shared values or opposition to authoritarian regimes, highlighting Qatar and opposition groups in Syria as potential allies.
“A country like Qatar, for example, that supported the Arab Spring in many ways and they have this approach now…for being, for approaching a peace diplomacy kind of way. So anything that has to do with getting back the children, getting back the POWs, the Ukrainian POWs or the Ukrainian kidnapped children, or with reconstruction of the occupied and now liberated territories, or with demining of the occupied territories and other liberated territories, or with education and media—they will support, and they have the resources to do so,”
Speakers discussed that Russia uses military groups to gain control over security in world the and expand its influence in the Global South, posing a strategic challenge to global stability.
“In Africa, Russian groups like Wagner gain veto power over national security, extract resources like gold and diamonds, and bypass sanctions. This highlights the importance of the Global South in countering Russian influence,” — Omar Ashour.
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This episode is produced in partnership with the Ukrainian Institute, the country’s major public and cultural diplomacy institution.
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