Doha Debates Podcast

Some critics argue that contemporary art has lost touch with the principles and traditions that define artistic greatness. Others see its break with tradition as liberating; a move toward more inclusion, experimentation and personal and political expression.  This episode explores what makes great art in the 21st century. Is it adherence to tradition, or disruption and reinvention? Is artistic beauty understood across time and culture, or does each generation need to redefine it? And with the AI era upon us, what even constitutes art in the first place?  💬 Join the conversation in the comments.   Featuring:   Wafaa Bilal: Artist; professor, Tisch School at New York University  Molly Crabapple: Artist, writer and journalist  Fen de Villiers: Fine art sculptor  Samar Younes: Quantum culture artist  Moderated by presenter, filmmaker and producer Nadir Nahdi 

This episode was recorded on December 6th, 2025.  In recent decades, traditional religious frameworks have steadily lost influence in Western societies. At the same time, we’ve seen the emergence of social justice movements focused on uncovering and dismantling systemic forms of oppression. Some argue that these secular movements are a replacement for faith. Others say they don’t offer the same moral depth, cohesion and forgiveness provided by traditional religion.    In this episode, our guests debate whether today's social justice movements effectively replace religion in the West—and whether they share similar ethical principles with the traditions they often want to move beyond.    💬 Join the conversation in the comments.   Featuring:   Joshua Mitchell: Professor of political theory, Georgetown University  Khaled A. Beydoun: Professor of law, Arizona State University  Michael Eric Dyson: Professor of African American and diaspora studies, Vanderbilt University  Moderated by international presenter and host Mohamed Hassan  

Conspiracy theories used to be dismissed as paranoid fringe thinking, found only in the far corners of the internet or every day hearsay. But today, they've migrated to the mainstream. Claims about election meddling, the real origins of COVID-19, and the deep state circulate widely and are even repeated by government officials.   This episode asks whether conspiracy theories have any actual value in a world where uncertainty is high and institutional accountability is low. Do they only make the spread of misinformation and disinformation worse? Or are they a way for people to express real suspicion toward systems that often feel hidden or unaccountable?  💬 Join the conversation in the comments.   Featuring:   Heather Berlin: Associate professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai  Alex Berenson: Novelist; journalist; author, Unreported Truths Substack   Nuurrianti Jalli: Assistant professor of professional practice, Oklahoma State University   Andrea Kitta: Professor of folklore, department of English at East Carolina University  Moderated by international presenter and host Dareen Abughaida

Will AI unite or divide us?  Artificial intelligence systems often reflect the priorities, biases and beliefs of the people who designed and created them. It’s critical to determine the sources of its worldview as it continues to influence how we think, learn and even love.  This episode explores whether AI will bring us together or widen social divides. Can we create AI models that truly reflect cultural and ideological diversity? Or are we heading into an era of “AI tribes” that leads us in different directions?   💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  Featuring:   James Brusseau: Professor of philosophy and computer science, Pace University  Evgeny Morozov: Theorist and publisher, The Syllabus  Elina Noor: Senior fellow, Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace  Robert Wright: Publisher, Nonzero Newsletter; host, Nonzero Podcast  Moderated by award-winning journalist and writer Mohamed Hassan 

The idea of taxing the rich is hardly new, but the question of whether it creates a fairer world remains highly contested.  This debate asks what would happen if we increased taxation on the billionaire class. Would it actually create greater economic stability and social equity? Or would it make things worse? Are taxes even aneffective way to redistribute wealth, or should we be looking at other models?  💬 Join the conversation in the comments.  Featuring:  Sanjit Dhami: Professor of economics, University of Leicester  Gustavo Flores-Macías: Dean of the School of Public Policy, University of Maryland  Martín Krause: Visiting professor, Francisco Marroquín University (Guatemala)  Pedro Solimano: Journalist, DL News