Global Faultlines

Lebanon part 2: Why Lebanon remains in perpetual crisis

Lebanon’s civil war ended in 1990, but many of the country’s deeper fault lines remained unresolved. In the decades that followed, Lebanon rebuilt its cities and economy, yet sectarian politics, weak institutions, and competing centres of power continued to shape the state. In this second and final part of our Lebanon series on Global Faultlines, we examine the events that pushed the country into prolonged crisis. From the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and the withdrawal of Syrian troops, to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, the episode traces how regional conflicts continued to reshape Lebanon’s political landscape. We also look at the impact of the Syrian Civil War, the refugee crisis, the financial collapse of 2019, and the Beirut Port Explosion that exposed the depth of institutional failure in the country. As tensions rise once again between Israel and Hezbollah, the episode asks why Lebanon remains trapped in recurring cycles of instability, and whether the country can still find a path toward recovery. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Camera: Shivaraj S Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Lebanon part 1: How did a fragile state become a battlefield for regional powers?

Lebanon was once seen as a rare success story in West Asia, a country that appeared stable on the surface. However, beneath that image lay deep structural fault lines. In Part 1 of our Lebanon series at Global faultlines, we trace how a fragile post-independence system began to unravel. From the growing influence of Syria to the arrival of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Lebanon was steadily pulled into regional conflicts. We examine the impact of the Lebanese Civil War, Israel’s invasions in 1978 and 1982, and the rise of Hezbollah as a powerful force shaped by support from Iran. By the end of this episode, we ask: how did Lebanon become a frontline for regional power struggles—and what did that mean for its future? Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Camera: Shikha Kumari A, Karthik P Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Who won the U.S.-Israel war on Iran?

As tensions in West Asia spiral into one of the most dangerous confrontations in recent years, this episode of Global Faultlines breaks down the 2026 Iran–Israel–U.S. war, starting from the U.S.-led “Operation Epic Fury” and the killing of the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Iran’s sweeping retaliation across the region. We trace the roots of the conflict back to the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, examine how a long-running shadow war escalated into direct military confrontation, and unpack the strategic, economic, and humanitarian consequences, particularly the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. With a fragile Pakistan-brokered ceasefire now under strain and high-stakes talks collapsing, we also take a closer look at why diplomacy has failed so far, what the key sticking points are, and whether the region is on the brink of another round of escalation. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu  Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Camera: Shivaraj S, Karthik P Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Part 2: From the invasion of Iraq to the war on Iran

The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq marked a decisive break in the country’s modern history. It removed the regime of Saddam Hussein, but also dismantled the institutions that had held the state together. In the aftermath, decisions such as the dissolution of the Iraqi army and de-Baathification weakened state authority and contributed to a rapidly deteriorating security environment. Iraq soon descended into insurgency and sectarian violence, with multiple armed groups, including those linked to Al-Qaeda, operating across the country. These conditions enabled the rise of the Islamic State, which seized large parts of Iraqi territory in 2014, bringing the state close to collapse. Although ISIS was eventually defeated territorially, its impact continues to shape Iraq’s political and security landscape. Today, Iraq faces persistent challenges: fragile governance, powerful armed groups, economic strain, and the competing influence of external actors, including Iran and the United States. In this episode of Global Faultlines, we examine Iraq after 2003, the collapse of the state, the rise of ISIS, and the country’s uncertain path forward. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu  Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Camera: Shivaraj S Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Iraq Part 1: How was the modern Iraqi state created?

Modern Iraq was not born in 2003. Its origins lie in the aftermath of the First World War, when the collapse of the Ottoman Empire led Britain to assemble a new state. The borders were drawn quickly. Building a stable political order proved far harder. Under the British Mandate, Iraq inherited centralised institutions that concentrated power but struggled to accommodate its ethnic and sectarian diversity. Sunni Arab elites dominated the new state, while Shia Arabs and Kurds often remained politically marginalised, patterns that would shape Iraq’s politics for decades. The 1958 revolution ended the monarchy and marked a turn toward military-led republicanism. The rise of the Ba'ath Party deepened authoritarian rule and ideological nationalism, culminating in the regime of Saddam Hussein. By the late 20th century, Iraq had fought a devastating war with Iran, invaded Kuwait, and endured years of sanctions. The state remained intact, but it was weakened, centralised, and heavily securitised. To understand why Iraq became the focal point of the 2003 invasion, it is essential to examine how the modern state was constructed, and how the fault lines embedded in its early formation continued to shape its trajectory. In this episode of Global Faultlines, we trace the creation of modern Iraq and the foundations of its long instability. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu  Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Camera: Shivaraj S Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]