Metamorph Podcast

In this episode of Metamorphosis, Hamed Al Ghaithi speaks with Prof. Alex de Waal, a leading expert on war, famine, and the political marketplace shaping Sudan and the Horn of Africa.The discussion examines how narratives of “failed states” distort the realities on the ground, how elite networks shape governance, why armed groups evolve into market actors, and why peace agreements often fail in Darfur, Sudan, and South Sudan.Prof. de Waal reflects on what meaningful transformation could look like in a region marked by prolonged conflict—and where hope for a locally rooted peace may emerge.

In this episode of Metamorphosis with Hamed Al Ghaithi, Professor Monica Toft, an American political scientist and director of the Center for Strategic Studies at Tufts University’s Fletcher School, joins the conversation to discuss “Spheres of Power.” The discussion explores how power is distributed in the modern world، from military and economic dominance to cultural and technological influence.Professor Toft, known for her research on international relations, civil wars, religion and global security, offers deep insights into how nations assert influence, how power dynamics are shifting in the 21st century, and what these changes mean for the future of global order.

In this episode, we host Gerard Russell — a British historian, writer, and former diplomat who spent 14 years in the United Kingdom’s diplomatic service and with the United Nations. His experience spans Arabic and Dari Persian, alongside years of living in Cairo, Kabul, Baghdad, and Jeddah, where he immersed himself in the region’s cultures and realities.Together, we delve into the rise of the British Empire and its global interventions, with particular focus on the motives and justifications behind the Balfour Declaration and the Palestinian cause, Britain’s role in shaping India’s trajectory, and its continuing involvement in Iraq and Pakistan.🎧 Tune in now to discover alternative narratives of history and British diplomacy from a unique and in-depth perspective.

في هذه الحلقة نستضيف جيرارد راسل، المؤرخ البريطاني والكاتب والدبلوماسي السابق، الذي أمضى أربعة عشر عامًا في السلك الدبلوماسي للمملكة المتحدة وخدمة الأمم المتحدة. يجمع خبرته بين اللغة العربية والفارسية الدَرية، وتجواله بين القاهرة وكابول وبغداد وجدة، حيث اختلط بثقافات وتجارب المنطقة عن قرب.نغوص معه في نشأة الإمبراطورية البريطانية وتدخلاتها العالمية، مع تسليط الضوء على أسباب ومبررات وعد بلفور والحق الفلسطيني، ودور بريطانيا في تشكيل مسار الهند والتدخلات الحالية في العراق وباكستان.🎧 استمعوا الآن لمعرفة الروايات المختلفة عن التاريخ والدبلوماسية البريطانية من منظور فريد ومفصل.

In the first episode of the podcast “Metamorphosis with Hamad Al-Ghaithi”, we host Dr. Saeeda bint Khatir Al-Farsi, the Omani poet and writer who witnessed the Renaissance of the 1970s and contributed to shaping the cultural scene.With her, we open the files of transformation in Omani national identity, the status of women before and after the Renaissance, Gulf, Arab, and Islamic identities, and the role of the intellectual in shaping the future.A rich dialogue that sheds light on Oman’s path from yesterday to tomorrow, raising profound questions about change and hope.🔹 National identity and transformations since the 1970s🔹 The development and empowerment of women🔹 Transnational identities and the pan-Arab concern🔹 The role of intellectuals in shaping the futureListen to the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments.#Metamorphosis_with_Hamad_AlGhaithi