RoozCast

Roozbeh Aliabadi
  • 4.5 (4)
  • NEWS

Roozbeh Aliabadi is an advisor and commentator on geopolitical risk and geoeconomics, particularly the Middle East and Asia. He is an advisory partner in the global advisory practice at GGA, a boutique international consultancy practice based in New York City.

  1. 11/29/2022

    USA vs. Iran (The Biggest Geopolitical Match of Qatar 2022 World Cup)

    The US and Iran go to war Today! ... on a football pitch. The two sides meet in their last first-round game of the Qatar World Cup, and whoever wins will almost certainly advance to the knockout stage — a first for Iran. But this time, the long-running geopolitical tensions between the two bitter enemies have taken a back seat to the ongoing women-led protests against the government in Iran, the biggest the country has seen since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

    7 min

  2. 11/28/2022

    Doha and the World Cup

    If you tour Doha, the capital of Qatar, the men's football World Cup is all around. There's a FIFA installation every few meters, flags and soccer balls line the pavements, and the streets shine bright with Qatar 2022-branded lights. But none of this matters because Qatar hosts a big party for wealthy Arabs. Most have flown in from neighboring countries to experience a once-in-a-lifetime event. Dressed in team colors complete with face paint, drums, and other swag, the energy of the wealthy Arabs can perhaps outdo any Western country. Since money is no object, post-match celebrations go on well into the wee hours of the morning.

    5 min

  3. 11/23/2022

    Saudi World Cup win is a victory for all Arabs — and a BIG PR for the Kingdom

    Saudi Arabia's incredible victory over Argentina on Tuesday was one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. The game made the entire Kingdom proud — and sent long-awaited ripples of soccer joy throughout the Arab world.

    5 min

  4. 11/22/2022

    Watch out for Kazakhstan!

    Since it invaded Ukraine, Russia hasn't just been making enemies and losing friends. Some Central Asian countries – considered part of Russia's backyard thanks to their Soviet heritage – have begun distancing themselves from Moscow.  Astana wants to diversify its trade and diplomacy. Still, the country's proximity to Russia – compounded by political, cultural, and economic ties – means Kazakhstan will struggle to escape Russia's sphere of influence entirely.

    9 min

  5. 11/18/2022

    Will politics or football win Qatar's World Cup?

    This Sunday-  just two days from today - is the day half the world has eagerly awaited for four years. The men's football or soccer (for my American Audience) World Cup — the most-watched event of the most popular sport on the planet — kicks off in, of all places, Qatar. For one thing, it's not the first time a World Cup host has had a dodgy human rights record. After all, Argentina won its first trophy at home in 1978 while the country was run by a fearsome military junta. For another, the political stuff usually stops when the ball starts rolling. Once the game is underway, most fans' attention will switch quickly from human rights to the human magic expected from the feet of megastars like Leo Messi, Kylian Mbappé, or Neymar. (We'd mention Cristiano Ronaldo too, but he's in a  bit of a slump these days.) The smart money seems to be on Argentina and Brazil, but there are plenty of underdogs — hello, Senegal — with a shot at going all the way.

    7 min

  6. 11/16/2022

    Donald Trump is Running for 2024 Race!

    Despite lowering the anticipated “Red Wave” to a mere trickle in the midterms last week, he’s running. Despite an upcoming Georgia Senate runoff that hangs in the balance, Mr. Trump is actually running. Trouble is brewing within the GOP itself. Trump might be too toxic to win a general election himself now, but without his voters, no Republican stands a chance in 2024. His presence threatens a crack in the republican party whereby a bunch of Republican voters who are needed to win in a general election take their ball and go home if Trump isn't the guy. So the problem the Republicans face is that they can't win with Trump and can't win without him.

    7 min

  7. 11/14/2022

    The BIG meeting: Joe Biden and Xi Jinping

    Today, US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping are having their first face-to-face meeting since Joe Biden was elected in 2020. Since they last met in 2011, when both were vice presidents, tensions between Washington and Beijing have only escalated. Stabilizing the world’s most important bilateral relationship is essential to China, the US, and the rest of the world. Checks and balances limit Biden's executive powers to deal with Xi’s China. The same can't be said for President Xi.

    11 min

  8. 11/11/2022

    From Inflation and the Crazy Crypto Market to China and Trade

    As we are closing the week, the big news is happening on the economic and political fronts around the world.  The American economy got some good news yesterday: Monthly inflation in October dropped to 7.7%, down from 8.2% in September, and is now at its lowest since January 2022. The crypto market's really poor run got even worse this week after FTX, a major crypto exchange, imploded - big time.... added by billionaire crypto-star Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX was revealed to be in a bad financial position earlier this week, and Binance, the largest exchange, and an FTX competitor considered bailing FTX out, but dropped the idea at the eleventh hour when it became clear FTX was insolvent, and its customers couldn't withdraw assets.  Last but not least,  President Joe Biden, meanwhile, will be on-site in Bali for G20, where he plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday for their first in-person chat since Biden moved into the White House. But don't expect significant results for the meeting.

    8 min
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About

Roozbeh Aliabadi is an advisor and commentator on geopolitical risk and geoeconomics, particularly the Middle East and Asia. He is an advisory partner in the global advisory practice at GGA, a boutique international consultancy practice based in New York City.

Information

  • Creator
    Roozbeh Aliabadi
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2022
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Roozbeh Aliabadi
  • Show Website
    RoozCast