Allston Mitchell
Faradzh Karaev: a life in music
Faradzh Karaev is one of the leading composers of the post Soviet era – composing, teaching and conducting between his native Azerbaijan and Moscow where he currently lives. He discusses his own musical career, modernism, the musical avant garde and new developments in teaching.
Anthony Shadid on Qatar
R.I.P. Anthony Shadid who died recently on assignment in Syria. Pulitzer Prize winner and “New York Times” Foreign Correspondent talks to TGD about this very small but extraordinarily wealthy country’s increasing influence in the Middle East.
Interview with Justin Yifu Lin
The Chief Economist of the World Bank speaks to TGD about his latest book “Demystifying the Chinese Economy”. He explains the dynamics behind the phenomenal growth of the last 30 years and some of the unique challenges that China faced during the transitional reform period.
Regime Change in Italy
Bond markets look set to oust the Italian PM, a feat that has defied a paralysed political process in Italy. Berlusconi is now a danger not only to Italy but to the Eurozone and the global economy. He has no intention of going quietly but bond yields may have the final say.
Afghanistan Journal
Joshua Foust’s new book is a collection of blog posts from Registan.net written during his time working as an advisor to the US Army. It takes an analytical and sometimes passionate look at the policy and strategy failures of the military and identifies why NATO is not winning this war.
Didier Malherbe: Sax to Doudouk!
Didier Malherbe, a stalwart of the mythical band GONG talks about his current band the “Hadouk Trio” (that includes Loy Ehrlich and Steve Shehan), his new CD with Eric Löhrer, his poetry and his love for the doudouk.
Khaled Khalifa: “In Praise of Hatred”
Khaled Khalifa, author of the novel “In Praise of Hatred”, talks about his literary influences and Syria’s ongoing struggle for democracy. Already published in French, Dutch and Italian, the novel is set to be published in English in 2012.
US Debt. No Summer of Love…
China is wagging its finger at the US for its cavalier attitude to its debt problem, equity investors are piling out as QE2 comes to an end; debt bears are warning of a US bond market meltdown; three rating agencies have now taken aim at the US economy and Congress is playing in the sandbox.
Devouring Venice
Fleeing the rapacious hordes of Attila the Hun, refugees from nearby Roman cities took refuge on the islets of the Venetian lagoon during the 5th century, laying the foundations of what was to become the great and powerful city of Venice. These days the “Serenissima” is overrun by hordes of a different kind.
The Scramble for China
Interview with Robert Bickers, the author of the recently published “The Scramble for China, Foreign Devils in the Qing Empire 1832-1914″. In 1832, British ships sailed into forbidden Chinese waters, thus beginning China’s century of national humiliation.
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