The violence continues to escalate in Syria, where the entrenched regime of Bashar al-Assad continues a bloody repression of protestors who are trying to bring the ‘Arab Spring’ revolution to their country. In the latest news, Russia has now publicly stated that there is no way in hell they will allow any UN-sponsored and NATO-led invasion of Syria—the likes of which toppled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi last year. Say what? Why would Russia openly support a civilian-slaughtering regime? The Professor talks about some of the reasons for this Russian promise of a veto at the UN, and also why the Syrian regime has lasted longer than other Arab dictatorships which have bitten the dust much quicker.

Keywords: Syria, regime, Russia, veto, UN, Security Council, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Arab Spring, weapons, revolution

In completely unrelated stories, there is suddenly a flurry of protest activity this week by pissed off indigenous peeps that are creating a bit of chaos on two different continents. In China, pro-Tibetan-rights peeps are facing of against a crushing Chinese military presence in Tibet and Sichuan; and in Australia, pro-Aboriginal-rights groups had a bizarrely brazen “attack” on Aussie Prime Minister Julia Gillard! Crikey! The Professor covers a bit of background on these events and offers some hypotheses about why that are happening now, and what they are all about.

Keywords: Tibet, Sichuan, China, Australia, Aborigines, Tibetans, indigenous, rights, independence, autonomy

A bunch of seemingly unrelated stories are unfolding concurrently in Europe that really get at the heart of the struggle for the future of the European Union. Protests for/against states rights in Hungary; a referendum for EU membership in Croatia; and even a downgrading of credit rating to most of the Eurozone countries all play into a broader picture of where the European Union as a unit is heading. Will it become the “United States of Europe,” or will countries start bailing out of the organization altogether? Only time will tell, but get the latest lowdown on the EU from the Professor right here!

Keywords: EU, European Union, Hungary, protests, Croatia, referendum, membership, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, UK,

In the first full-on raging rant of the semester, the Professor talks about the deeper and more thought-provoking impact of the SOPA/PIPA internet protest that occurred yesterday, and how it reflects a new wave of democratic expression in the US. That is, it wasn’t just about internet freedoms and the power of innovation it brings, but also how the movement itself physically unfolded via social networking…a mechanism that mirrors other protests around the planet that are delivering power to the people, and out of the hands of corporations/kings/dictators in general. Power to the peeps, baby!

Keywords: SOPA, PIPA, Wikipedia, Google, Apple, iAuthor, MPAA, Arab Spring, social networking, protest, black-out, innovation

This plaidcast takes a 30-minute tour around the globe to look at likely trends, winners, and losers for the year ahead. Which countries and regions will continue to do awesome and/or improve their fortunes? Which ones will flounder and fail? Watch as Professor Pundit hypothesizes about the major global themes and situations that he will be expecting to rise or fall in 2012.

Keywords: BRIC, Brazil, China, India, Turkey, Australia, South America, US, Pakistan, Burma, Cuba, democracy, Africa, Japan, Europe, Russia, Mexico, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria

As promised last podcast, the Professor now looks forward to the new year of 2012 to inform you of the details of the significant shift of world leadership going down in the next 365 days. From new leaders to be tested in North Korea, Italy and Spain; to election cycles in US, Mexico, France, Russia, and Taiwan; to major turnovers in China, Palestine and possibly Pakistan, Syria, and Yemen…the parade of new faces started in 2011 is going to be accelerated significantly in the coming year, and the Professor wants you to be in the know!

Related Plaidcasts:
In Other News...2011 World Leaders in Review!

Keywords: world leaders

Happy New Year’s Eve! The Professor takes some time on the brink of 2012 to look back at what happened to world leaders from around the globe in 2011. It was a tough year to be in charge this year, as evidenced by the demise of dictators, the overthrow of or attacks on authoritarian regimes, plagues of personal health, and even the decline in support of significant democratic leaders all over the planet. Sometimes “it’s good to be da’ king!”....but not in 2011 it wasn’t!!!!

Keywords: Tunisia, Ben Ali, world leaders, 2011

Happy holidays friends! But not so happy in Nigeria where 3 separate attacks against Christians were carried out on Christmas Day by the radical terrorist group Boko Haram. These attacks have shaken the Nigerian people and government, and may lead to a full-on religious war in the country…but they are also symptomatic of a global phenomenon of violence against Christians this year that has also flared in Egypt, Iraq, and even Indonesia. Watch this to learn more!

Keywords: Christmas, Christians, Nigeria, Muslims, Boko Haram, Egypt, Coptic, Iraq, Indonesia

You asked for it, and you got it! A Boyer rant on the very real, very unpredictable, and very tense situation in North Korea resulting from the death of modern-day madman/moron Kim Jong-Il. While we mock the dictator death from a safe distance, this is a highly charged political and military situation in the Korean ‘hood. Will the anointed puppet Kim Jong-Un take power, or will the military take control? Or are we about to witness a “fall of the Berlin Wall” moment? Historic shizzle going down!

Keywords: Kim il-Sung, North Korea, military, South Korea, Japan, China

All is not well in Pakistan, and specifically not well with their un-well President. Pakistani President Asif Zardari is currently recovering from a probable mild heart attack…but he is doing in in Dubai! His health, along with something called “Memo-gate” have put Zardari in a particularly precarious position for a possible military coup by Pakistan’s most powerful person, General Ashfaq Kayani. Possible coup alert! Are the generlas going to return to power in this troubled state? Let’s stay tuned!

Keywords: president, general, military, coup, Dubai, Memogate, Pakistan