A journal of ideas. Expert analysis of geopolitics, the arts, and economics. In print, online, and now on Substack too: octavian.substack.com
Joined October 2014
- Tweets 2,440
- Following 562
- Followers 1,383
- Likes 407
155 Photos and videos
24 May 2022
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.
octavian.substack.com/p/the-…
2
3
24 May 2022
What explains Erdogan's new charm offensive in the Middle East? Read @stevenacook on Turkey's new tactics.
octavian.substack.com/p/the-…
1
1
“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:
octavian.substack.com/p/play…
ALT Ken Roth, Executive Director Human Rights Watch. Photo by Fabrice Coffrini / Getty
3
5
5 May 2022
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.
octavian.substack.com/p/play…
1
1
5 May 2022
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."
octavian.substack.com/p/play…
1
5 May 2022
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!
octavian.substack.com/p/play…
1
10
23
3 May 2022
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.
octavian.substack.com/p/the-…
1
3
13
3 May 2022
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.
octavian.substack.com/p/the-…
3
7
3 May 2022
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.
bit.ly/38L9cFp
5
8
3 May 2022
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:
octavian.substack.com/p/the-…
6
7
The Octavian Report retweeted
27 Apr 2022
Thanks @j_tepperman and @RichardHurowitz . And thanks for having shared my bhl.substack.com 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.
26 Apr 2022
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:
ow.ly/Ug3E50IRuaV
2
13
34
28 Apr 2022
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."
bit.ly/3rVNgy8
28 Apr 2022
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.
bit.ly/3rVNgy8
28 Apr 2022
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.
bit.ly/3rVNgy8
27 Apr 2022
Apologies to all who tried to follow this link and found it broken. Here's the one that works:
octavian.substack.com/p/figh…
26 Apr 2022
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:
ow.ly/Ug3E50IRuaV
27 Apr 2022
Apologies: the correct link is octavian.substack.com/p/figh…
26 Apr 2022
The above link doesn't work. The correct one is here: octavian.substack.com/p/figh…
26 Apr 2022
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."
bit.ly/38sQ8eU
The Octavian Report retweeted
26 Apr 2022
Our amazing @OctavianReport conversation with @BHL on #Ukraine, the French elections, and bearing witness in his new film THE WILL TO SEE. Must read! octavian.substack.com/p/figh…
2
1
26 Apr 2022
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:
ow.ly/Ug3E50IRuaV
7
32
110
22 Apr 2022
How can the U.S. help Ukraine get justice? We asked Harold Koh, a top expert at @YaleLawSch. Among his answers: send money, U.S. prosecutors, and real-time intel to whatever court tries Russia's war crimes. And don't let Putin bargain for amnesty.
bit.ly/37yXm11
1
1