Podcast Summary: The Globalist – Iraq’s Parliamentary Elections & New EU Intelligence Unit

Podcast: The Globalist by Monocle
Host: Emma Nelson
Date: November 12, 2025
Episode Focus: This episode examines Iraq's recent parliamentary elections – their significance, challenges, and external influences – before pivoting to the European Union’s new intelligence body, with analysis of its motives and implications. The episode also features global headlines, a review of the UK and international front pages, and stories from aviation, European, and Pacific affairs.

Episode Overview

The episode sets out to scrutinize two major news themes:

• The significance and outcomes of Iraq's parliamentary elections, including the role of youth candidates, voter turnout, and foreign influence (notably Iran and the US).
• The European Union's decision to create a new intelligence agency, reflecting changing threat perceptions and the desire for strategic autonomy from the US, especially post-Ukraine war.

Additional highlights include analysis of political instability in the Czech Republic, tensions between New Zealand and the Cook Islands over China, airline industry controversies, and Abu Dhabi’s cultural transformation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iraq’s Parliamentary Elections (01:46–13:15)

Panel:

• Host: Emma Nelson
• Ruth Michelson: Middle East correspondent
• Dr. Saad Jawad: Iraqi political scientist

Main Themes:

• Election Procedures & Integrity

  • Special voting for armed forces raised concerns about fairness, with alleged violations, though seen as less severe than in past elections.
  • General election day had only minor firearm incidents. (03:23–03:58)

• Voter Turnout and Political Trust

  • Official turnout estimated at 54%, but realistic assessments put it near 38%. Indicates apathy and limited faith in political change. (04:10)
  • Surge in young candidates: "40% under 40; 15% under 35," a reflection of the 2019 youth protest movement but skepticism remains about real change. (04:34)

• Absence of Powerful Factions

  • Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (whose party won most seats in 2021) boycotted the election, signaling lack of leadership against corruption. (05:35–05:53)
  • Dr. Jawad: “He could influence his supporters to stand against corruption. But he chose again to stand aside... that's a negative thing.” (05:59)

• Divided and Fragile Power-Sharing

  • The system divides presidency (Kurds), premiership (Shia), parliament speaker (Sunnis) by custom, not constitution: “The whole campaigns ... were concentrated on Shiism, Sunnism, and Kurdish feelings. There was nothing new.” (07:50)
  • Influence in government formation fluctuates, often bypassing parliament in favor of US or Iranian preferences. (08:41)

• Enduring Foreign Influence

  • Ruth Michelson notes “almost every one of these militias has run candidates,” embedding themselves in politics and patronage networks. (09:29)
  • The US “urgency in disarming the Iran-backed militias” (US Sec. Marco Rubio), paralleled by Iranian admonishments against foreign interference. (09:59)
  • “This election... is also a test of how Iran can maintain that influence.” (10:41)

• Lack of True Democracy

  • Dr. Jawad challenges the concept of Iraqi democracy: "Nobody spoke what the result of the election [means] because corruption is still there, foreign influence is still there..." (11:33)
  • No accountability: “No parliamentarian was put to trial or to account for his corruption... law is not being completely used..." (11:45)

Notable Quotes:

• Ruth Michelson (on youth activism):
  “It seems like the protests that we saw about five years ago, mass protests, youth protests about the economy, ...have resulted in a wealth of young people running for office. But... in an election where there isn't really a kind of widespread trust in the political process.” (04:34)
• Dr. Saad Jawad (on foreign influence):
  “It's a sort of external influence that decides who is going to be Prime Minister and president. And this mainly...is Iranian or American who is going to be more influential.” (08:50)
• Dr. Saad Jawad (on democracy):
  "Election itself, it's a good practice, but it's not democracy. Democracy is...no parliamentary, one parliamentarian was put to trial or to account for his corruption. Nothing of this happened." (11:50)

2. The EU’s New Intelligence Agency (13:15–20:15)

Guest:

• Dr. Marion Messmer: Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House

Main Themes:

• EU Security Strategy Shift

  • The move is less a sign of current system failure, more a response to the “European Union’s role in European security [having] changed quite a lot over the last three years.” (14:22)
  • The US, once an “open pipeline” for strategic intelligence, is now less dependable, especially after threats to “cut Ukraine off from intelligence assessments.” (16:16)

• Threat Environment & Autonomy

  • Ukraine war, Russian sabotage, and drones over European airspace drive urgency:
    “These various other threats... are connected to Russia's invasion of Ukraine... we've not really been very used to dealing with.” (17:28)

• Sovereignty vs. Cooperation

  • Some states (e.g., France, Hungary) reluctant to centralize intelligence, citing sovereignty and fear of information-sharing with less trusted partners. (18:41)

Notable Quotes:

• Dr. Messmer:
  “Coordinating the intelligence...will probably help the Commission to have a bit more of a comprehensive picture of all the various intelligence strands in the European Union and all the threats that...might be facing.” (15:31)
• Dr. Messmer (on intelligence sovereignty):
  “There are of course European Union member states...that have seen intelligence...as a very sovereign thing, that they are therefore a little more hesitant to share.” (18:41)

3. Global Headlines Roundup (01:58; 28:31)

• US aircraft carrier in Caribbean unsettles both Venezuela and Colombia.
• Colombian military action against FARC dissidents.
• Australia on alert for Chinese state-backed cyber threats.
• Trump asks US Supreme Court to revisit defamation case.

4. UK Politics: Labour’s Leadership Crisis (21:15–23:46)

Guest:

• Phil Clark: Professor, International Politics, SOAS, University of London

Insights:

• Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces internal Labour revolt; party is “listless,” slipping in polls, and criticized for inconsistent policies and weak response on Gaza.
• Rumors of a potential “palace coup.” (21:41)
• “Starmer seems to be struggling not only to project any kind of leadership to the nation, but even to project leadership within his own party.” (22:39)

5. Regional Focus: Czech Republic’s Political Turmoil (30:07–37:33)

Guest:

• Rob Cameron: Journalist, Prague

Key Points:

• Country may be at an “impasse” over naming billionaire Andrej Babiš as PM due to unresolved conflicts of interest.
• The president insists Babiš publicly outline divestment plans before appointment.
• Cabinet composition is controversial, notably the potential foreign minister with a history of racist statements and threats.
• Ongoing coalition instability mirrors broader Central European trends: “Rare is the government that lasts its full four year term.” (36:07)

6. South Pacific Geopolitics: NZ, Cook Islands, & China (38:10–44:14)

Guest:

• Jeffrey Miller: Geopolitical analyst, Democracy Project (NZ)

Key Points:

• NZ halted funding to Cook Islands after it signed agreement with China, which NZ believes threatens regional balance.
• China–Cook Islands agreements focus on economic, not military, cooperation.
• This “family spat” between Wellington and Rarotonga risks pushing Cook Islands closer to China.
• “China can easily make up that 17 million US dollar shortfall if it wants to, and New Zealand is left on the outer.” (43:32)

7. Aviation News: Airlines & Industry Trends (26:36; 45:00–53:07)

Guests:

• Phil Clark (window seat lawsuit)
• Sally Gethin: Aviation analyst

Key Points:

• United Airlines faces class action over “window” seats with no actual window.

  • United’s defense: “The word window identifies the position...next to the wall...not [a] promise that the seat will have an exterior window view.” (26:38)

• EasyJet's 30th Anniversary

  • Celebrated as a “softer” low-cost pioneer, popular with business travelers and seen as a friendlier alternative to Ryanair.
  • "EasyJet...has flown 1.2 billion passengers in that time frame in 30 years." (45:15)

• US government shutdown’s impact on aviation: Staffing problems, cancellations, outdated air traffic control (ATC), $31.5B needed for upgrades.

  • “They're using paper strips in ATC procedures which is like back in the 1990s...” (48:41)

• Boeing's optimistic outlook for Southeast Asia:

  • Rising demand, but Airbus still dominant in region.

8. Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Renaissance (53:22–58:23)

Guest:

• Reem Fada: Director, Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi

Key Points:

• Abu Dhabi’s decades-long investment in culture culminates with international fairs (e.g., “Freeze Abu Dhabi”) and major institutional development.
• “It's, it's quite the space to visit and it's right in the middle of town.” (58:23)
• Culture used as a tool for civic engagement, national pride, and positioning Abu Dhabi on the global arts stage.

Notable Quotes

• Dr. Saad Jawad (on Iraqi elections):
  “Election itself, it's a good practice, but it's not democracy. Democracy is...no parliamentary, one parliamentarian was put to trial or to account for his corruption. Nothing of this happened.” (11:50)

• Dr. Marion Messmer (on EU intelligence):
  “Coordinating the intelligence...will probably help the Commission to have a bit more of a comprehensive picture of all the various intelligence strands in the European Union and all the threats that...might be facing.” (15:31)

• Phil Clark (on Labour and Keir Starmer):
  “Starmer seems to be struggling not only to project any kind of leadership to the nation, but even to project leadership within his own party.” (22:39)

• Jeffrey Miller (on NZ–Cook Islands–China):
  “China can easily make up that 17 million US dollar shortfall if it wants to, and New Zealand is left on the outer.” (43:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Iraq’s Elections: 01:19–13:15
• EU Intelligence Unit: 13:15–20:15
• UK Front Pages & Politics: 21:04–23:46
• US Carrier & Venezuela/Colombia: 24:12–25:40
• Window Seat Lawsuit: 26:36–28:31
• Czech Republic Politics: 30:07–37:33
• NZ–Cook Islands–China: 38:10–44:14
• Aviation Insights: 45:00–53:07
• Abu Dhabi Cultural Renaissance: 53:22–58:23

Memorable Moments

• The mock-serious debate over whether “window seat” really means you get a view, leading to a legal battle in the US. (26:36–28:31)
• Abu Dhabi’s decision to conserve, not demolish, its modernist Cultural Foundation, symbolizing its deep commitment to cultural heritage and innovation. (55:39–58:23)

Concluding Reflection

This episode of The Globalist was wide-ranging, with a primary focus on democracy-in-name in Iraq, and an evolving—sometimes fractious—cooperation in Europe’s intelligence landscape. Listeners are left with an appreciation for the fragility of democratic institutions, the complex dance between sovereignty and shared security, and the unpredictable currents driving global headlines from London and beyond.