Malawi: A Nation Going Hungry

Network Ireland Television

Poverty, unstable government, and disadvantages in trade have virtually eliminated food security in Malawi. This program explores the African country's struggles on both a personal and national level, interviewing frustrated civil servants and impoverished citizens, and reflecting widespread despair over WTO policies and the government's inability to subsidize the agriculture of its own people. Highlighting the additional problems of environmental degradation and AIDS, the program offers a moving glimpse into human lives that revolve around one constant challenge: getting something to eat. (Portions have English subtitles, 26 minutes)

Guatemala: The Human Price of Coffee

Network Ireland Television

Coffee is second only to oil as the world's most valuable traded commodity, but small-scale producers rarely profit from it. This program reveals the hardship and uncertainty faced by coffee farmers in Guatemala, and how many are taking steps to obtain better prices and build better lives. Analyzing the country's traumatic history and the lingering effects of its civil war, the video sheds light on the reluctance of some citizens to organize for fear of persecution and murder. The video clearly demonstrates that behind every pound of coffee lies a story of human struggle. (Portions have English subtitles, 26 minutes)

American Imperialists: Soviet Animation vs. the United States

Films by Jove

Racism, unemployment, aggression, excess-the USSR's animation studios frequently took aim at these aspects of American culture. Representing five decades of animated Soviet propaganda, this program features short films that blast the United States and its perceived evils. Black and White and Mister Twister extol the absence of bigotry in Soviet society, while Someone Else's Voice portrays jazz as an enemy of the people. Ave Maria condemns America's presence in Vietnam and the influence of the Catholic church, and The Shooting Range underscores the violence behind economic and class divisions. Seven films total, plus commentary from Russian State Film School professor Igor Kokarev, director/artist Vladimir Tarasov, and Dr. Sonia Marshak, great-granddaughter of the acclaimed Soviet poet. (106 minutes) Portions are in Russian with English subtitles.

Onward to the Shining Future: Animation and the Big Soviet Lie

Films by Jove

Soviet film studios worked hard to portray their government's system as idyllic and forward-looking. This program showcases animated films designed to promote that utopian vision. Soviet Toys, the earliest known example of Soviet animation, condemns Lenin's New Economic Policy; The Victorious Destination celebrates the achievements of Stalin's first five-year plan; Samoyed Boy praises the Soviet educational system and the casting-off of antiquated traditions; and Hot Stone, Music Box, and Songs of the Years of Fire rejoice over the passing of Czarist imperialism and the establishment of a new, benevolent society. Eleven films total, plus commentary from Russian State Film School professor Igor Kokarev, political cartoonist Boris Yefimov, and director/animator Fyodor Khitruk. (152 minutes) Portions are in Russian with English subtitles.

Hugo Chavez

Clap D'Ort Films

Ascending to the Venezuelan presidency on a wave of anticorruption, antipoverty, and anti-American sentiment, Hugo Chavez has become one of the most charismatic and controversial leaders on the world stage. This program details the rise of the Chavez government and the challenges it has faced in reforming the South American nation’s economy and political culture. Incorporating incisive commentary from Venezuelan journalists, academics, and opposition leaders—as well as in-depth interviews with Chavez himself—this case study in developing-world politics provides a penetrating look at a confrontational and transformative head of state. (Portions in Spanish with English narration and subtitles, 54 minutes)

Ecuador: Divided over Oil

Network Ireland Television

This program contrasts indigenous, community-based culture with market economics driven by multinational corporations. The film assesses the growing conflict between Burlington Resources, an American oil company licensed to prospect in regions of Ecuador, and the self-sufficient Achuar people of that country, who believe the oil industry will destroy their environment and nonmaterialistic way of life. Underscoring the Ecuadorian government’s tendency to accommodate U.S. interests, the video portrays a country divided by incompatible definitions of wealth and happiness. (Portions have English subtitles, 26 minutes)

Identities: Culture and Nationality in Europe Today

Wilson R. Ruiz

What prevents minority communities from joining the European mainstream? Is there an appropriate balance between assimilation and preserving one's cultural heritage? This program wrestles with questions of identity-racial, cultural, and sexual-resulting from the startling new diversity of European society. Depicting daily life in immigrant communities on the Continent and in Great Britain, the film features observations from African, Asian, and Middle Eastern transplants. Each offers his or her personal take on learning a new language, eating unfamiliar foods, adapting to foreign attitudes toward women and gays, and other dilemmas. In addition, European MP Wolf Klinz puts forward his belief that immigrants should be required to learn the language of their adopted country. (27 minutes)

Stop the Flow: Analyzing the Causes of EU Immigration

Wilson R. Ruiz

Can Western aid to the developing world help to stem the tide of foreign workers into the EU? This program reports on European initiatives intended to improve conditions in Africa and the Middle East and thus reduce the number of job-seekers entering the European Union. With a spotlight on human rights, fair trade, the global war on poverty, the role of the private sector, and the frustrations of young unemployed foreigners, the program uses Morocco as a specific case study and also outlines the significance of the Middle East peace process. Additional insight comes from activists and businesspeople in developing countries and from Louis Michel, EU Commissioner of Development and Humanitarian Aid. (27 minutes)

Fidel Castro: History of a Commander-in Spanish

Television Federal

The life of Cuba's Communist leader reveals much about the Cold War, 20th-century Latin American history, and the political and military dimensions of revolutionary movements. This program reaches into all those subjects as it explores the rise and decades-long rule of Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz. Interviews with Latin American experts-including Argentine columnist Oscar Raul Cardoso, historian and psychologist Mario Pacho O'Donnell, and Dr. Roberto Quinones, expatriate son of famous Cuban dissident Dr. Hilda Molina-are included. After outlining Castro's early years, the film guides viewers through his alliance with Che Guevara, his ascension to head of state, his prolonged reign, and his transfer of power to his brother Raul. (Spanish, 45 minutes)

Russian Revolutions: The Heavy Hand of Corruption

Nightline

In segment one of this program, ABC News anchor Ted Koppel and correspondent John Donvan investigate the endemic nature of corruption in Russia, where bribery is commonplace and paying protection money is considered a business expense. In segment two, Koppel and billionaire Boris Berezovsky, identified as the unseen force behind Vladimir Putin?s rise to power, discuss Berezovsky?s recent foray into politics. And in segment three, after providing detailed background on Putin, Koppel interviews the man himself, touching upon his plans to fight corruption, his KGB affiliations, and his surprising sense of humor. (66 minutes)

Russian Revolutions: Sex, Lies, and Nuclear Weapons

Nightline

In segment one of this program, ABC News anchor Ted Koppel reports on issues related to the new openness in Russia surrounding sexuality, including the growth of prostitution, resistance to contraception, and the spread of AIDS. In segment two, Koppel and correspondent John Donvan examine the ongoing controversy revolving around the political sellout of the independent Russian media. And in segment three, Koppel and Donvan analyze the impoverished and demoralized state of Russia?s soldiery, tasked with fighting the Chechens and presiding over one of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world. (61 minutes)

Iran: Departure into the Unknown

German United Distributors

In Iran, even laughter is considered sinful by the nation’s strict Shiite regime. Yet after revolution and war, Iranians cherish hopes of a freer future. This program describes the impact of life in a modern fundamentalist society on Iran’s diverse population, which includes Muslims, Christians, and Jews. It also spotlights the joyful celebration of Sizdah Bedar, which welcomes the spring; the incomparable Iranian crown jewels; monuments such as the magnificent palace of Shah Abas the First, the huge Imam Mosque, the ruins of Persepolis, and the wind towers of Nain; and the lifestyles of artisans, craftspeople, laborers, and students. (49 minutes)

Thailand: King, Combat, and Ad Karabao

German United Distributors

Unlike its neighbors, Thailand has never been colonized or annexed-but keeping it that way has been a stern challenge. This program examines Thailand's political independence, which is based on democratic and generally peaceful rule by a culturally supported monarchy. However, growing dissatisfaction has caused grass-roots dissent, as demonstrated by the lyrics of pop music idol d Karabao, who protests against imported consumer goods, and the agitation of "Ubon Without a Border," a group lobbying for open access with Laos and Cambodia. The powerful yet incongruous influences of Thai boxing and Buddhism are also assessed. (48 minutes)

Laos: In the Shadow of the Giants

German United Distributors

Impoverished, sparsely populated, and still recovering from the Vietnam War, Laos exists on the edge of the abyss. This program considers the cultural and economic impact on Laotians and Hmong alike of initiatives designed to improve the country, such as the new highway being built by Swedish engineers. Although the regime's "reeducation camps" show no signs of being closed and antigovernment rebels continue to make travel dangerous, foreign tourism is being courted for the currency it can bring, while the country's rich spiritual life-expressed through the practices of Buddhism and animism-serenely continues. (47 minutes)

Fascism: The Legacy of Hate

Journeyman Pictures

As the ultra-right edges closer to real power in Europe, a dismayed EU fears a dark renaissance in politics. This disturbing program, supported by footage including a skinhead hate party and anti-immigrant violence, traces the virulent resurgence of xenophobia in Europe. Joerg Haider, of Austria's Freedom Party; Albert Szabo, founder of Hungary's World Nation Party; and politicos from the German, Italian, and French extreme right defend their platforms while author Michael Ignatieff, historian Anton Pelinka, Jewish leaders, and Kosovar and Kurdish refugees counter with insights into the psychology of hate and voice fears that Europe's bloody history will soon repeat itself. (38 minutes)

Empire of Evil? An Inside Look at Iranian Society

Telepool

Iran’s image in the West is due to several factors—including President George W. Bush’s “Axis of Evil” speech as well as the political agenda of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. This program takes viewers behind the facade of the theocratic state, following a handful of everyday Iranian citizens and addressing questions ignored by most mainstream media: What is daily life like in the country? Is self-determination possible without coming into conflict with the religious law? How do the growing influences of the Internet, Western media, and globalization affect one’s life goals? Viewers accompany two women, two men, and a young girl as they face these issues.

Crimes Against Humanity: Justice Pursued

FULCRUM PRODUCTIONS LTD.

Rwanda, Argentina, East Germany, and Bosnia have been the locus for some of the most heinous acts of the last 20 years. In this program, Gerald Gahima, Rwanda's Minister of Justice, has the unenviable job of tracking down hundreds of Rwandans accused of perpetrating hideous atrocities against their neighbors during that country's recent civil war. We follow Gahima to Israel, where, in an emotional meeting with a former Nazi-hunter, Gahima receives advice on how to proceed. The torture and murder of thousands of young Argentines are detailed by a survivor. In East Germany, newly discovered Stasi training tapes paint a brutal portrait of political repression behind the Berlin Wall, while in Bosnia, efforts to track down the perpetrators of ethnic cleansing are ongoing. (50 minutes)

Crimes Against Humanity: The Long Road to Reconciliation

FULCRUM PRODUCTIONS LTD.

In 1992, white South African policeman Brian Mitchell was jailed for life on eleven counts of murder. Under new government amnesty policies designed to unite the torn nation, he is now free. Recently, he returned to the scene of his crimes. Using Bosnia, Chile, Mozambique, and South Africa as examples, this program probes whether national reconciliation can be purchased at the price of justice for victims of political terror. It asks whether national unification is even possible if victims perceive themselves as forgotten. (50 minutes)

The Ingathering

Marathon International

Ben-Gurion’s founding principles of the Israeli state were security and immigration. This program examines the history of Jewish immigration and the conflux of cultures that exist within the broader cultural/religious identity of the Israeli population. In addition to identifying as Jewish, Israelis also identify themselves as Polish, Russian, Hungarian, Romanian, Libyan, Algerian, Yemenite, and Ethiopian. Yet as the Jewish state prospers and grows, the latest wave of immigrants, the Ethiopians, feel unwelcome. The program explores the question of cultural identity and heritage in a multicultural society founded on a principle of inclusion for all Jewish people. (52 minutes)

From the Orange to the Chip: Israel's Economic Revolution

Marathon International

In its quest to boost per capita income to the level of Western Europe and the U.S., Israel has progressed from exporting Jaffa oranges to developing high-tech computer chips in just 50 years. This program explores the ups and downs of the economic revolution that has occurred in this arid, resource-poor region surrounded by historically hostile neighbors. Today, technology rather than agriculture is the backbone of Israel’s economic vitality, as it continues its drive to maintain its position as a force in the world technology market, leveraging its diverse and talented human capital. (53 minutes)

A Nation Returns: Germany

Actuality Holdings Inc.

A neo-Nazi skinhead thinks democracy is unnatural; a typical liberal prefers to be a citizen of the world; a far-right office holder fantasizes about his hard-working, disciplined, Aryan fatherland. This program looks at Germany reunified: while there was an East/West, communist/capitalist split, Germans could forget about nationalism, which is now back with a vengeance. The liberals, we discover, don't like the Germany they have, while the neo-Nazis love a Germany that doesn't exist; after 45 years of longing for reunification, the two Germanys hardly recognize one another. (50 minutes)

Mirror, Mirror: Northern Ireland

Actuality Holdings Inc.

This program focuses on the Loyalists of Northern Ireland: Protestant, anti-Catholic, anti-European, anti-Irish, monarchist, they clearly belong to a nation-state-the United Kingdom-but feel abandoned by the British people, who no longer share their devotion to traditional values. They are, of course, at home in the northern part of Ireland; but they seem most at home when invoking the past to justify their present opinions and singing the kind of nationalist song which any Serb or Croat, Kurd, German or Ukrainian, French Canadian or Cree would sing to prove his or her blood and belonging. (50 minutes)

Poverty, Politics, and Religion: The Plight of India's Poor

Journeyman Pictures

Charges against Christian missionaries for unlawful conversions and desecration of Hindu shrines are fodder for militant Hindu revivalists who seek to claim converts for themselves-and justification for their acts of violence against India's Christian minority. This gripping program investigates the political agendas behind the violence, as the tribal poor-many of whom have benefited socioeconomically from embracing Christianity-are coercively reclaimed by a Hinduism of which they were never a part. (32 minutes)

Lenin According to Lenin

Pathe Media

This program uses Lenin's own words to tell the story of the Bolchevik rise to power: the overthrow of the Tsar and of the Kerensky government, the efforts at world Communist revolutions and the readiness to compromise in order to save the revolution in the Soviet Union, the ascendancy of the struggle against socialism over the struggle against capitalism. Thus the program explains the political background of the establishment of the totalitarian Soviet state and of its economic, social, and cultural policies-the precise institutions and policies that would in our time cause the destruction of what Lenin created by the force of his single-minded personality, his political acuity, his powerful oratory...and the weaknesses of the divided democratic opposition. (60 minutes, b&w/color)

Greetings from Grozny: Inside the Chechen Conflict

Wide Angle

Chechnya's war of independence has raged for years, but Americans rarely see the human face of the conflict. This Wide Angle report illuminates the ruined-yet still inhabited-cityscape of Grozny and its surrounding countryside, sifting through both Russian and Chechen perspectives on the ongoing clash. The program depicts Russian troops conducting "cleansing missions" through a rural Chechen village, visits a barely functioning university in the heart of the city, reveals life in a refugee tent city, and goes inside an active unit of Islamic Chechen fighters. Webs of special interest woven by the United States, Wahabist Muslims, and neighboring Georgia are also examined. In addition, anchor Daljit Dhaliwal talks with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Ambassador Steven Pifer. (57 minutes)

Benazir Bhutto: Battling Dictatorship in Pakistan

Danish Broadcasting Corporation

As prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto was the first woman-and also the youngest person-to head the government of a Muslim-majority state in modern times. In this program, Bhutto answers questions about the personal risks she faced as a woman pursuing a career in Pakistani politics, the influence of Western democracy on her as a politician, and the empowering effect of her role in public life on Pakistani women. She also explains why her government recognized the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and addresses charges of corruption against her. Background on her upbringing and education and her "arranged" marriage is included as well. (41 minutes)

Eyes Wide Open: Exploring Today's South America—in Spanish and Portuguese with English Subtitles

Autlook Filmsales

South America has tilted to the left, and its socialist governments are forging an economic alliance that places public power, not market dynamics, at the center. The plan? To exploit revenues from the continent’s abundant natural resources to build a better future where all will benefit from that wealth—and, in the process, to become free from North American interference. To explore the sociopolitical changes and the vast lands upon which these dramas are being played out, this program travels to the Venezuela of Hugo Chávez, the Brazil of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Bolivia of Evo Morales, the Ecuador of Rafael Correa, the Paraguay of Fernando Lugo, and elsewhere on a continent that is emerging as the master of its own destiny. Narrated by Eduardo Galeano, author of Open Veins of Latin America. Some content may be objectionable. Spanish and Portuguese with English subtitles.

One Fine Day: Individual Acts of Courage and Defiance

NPO/Netherlands Public Broadcasting

Idealists thrive on the notion that a single person can change the world—but what basis does it have in reality? Is there room for it in an age of oppression and unrepentant brutality? This film profiles six people from different cultures and religions who, through small nonviolent actions, helped to overcome injustice. Ashin Kovida, a Buddhist monk now living in the U.S., reflects on his leadership of anti-government protests in Myanmar, formerly Burma. Maria Jesus Sanhueza, a young Chilean woman, describes her role in the Penguin Revolution which brought about government funding for education. And Christian Fuhrer, former pastor of the St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig, Germany, recounts the Monday Demonstrations and “Prayers for Peace” that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Equally compelling are former Olympian and Black Power advocate John Carlos, a young Chinese man called Nic who represents the fight against Internet censorship, and an Iraqi girl named Rania Ibrahim whose life was nearly cut short by a suicide vest. (Portions with English subtitles, 58 minutes)

Egypt: Behind the Revolution

Sideways Film

Filmed during the spring of 2011, this program offers an inside look at the events that led to Hosni Mubarak’s resignation and a new political era in Egypt. It gives the uprisings in Cairo and other cities historical and cultural context so that viewers can better understand how a powerful, U.S.-backed regime could crumble with minimal violence and in such short order. In addition to a wide-ranging sociopolitical discussion, the film’s on-the-ground testimonials fill in important details which, at the time, didn’t reach observers outside the country. Egyptians from all walks of life are interviewed, explaining their contributions to Mubarak’s fall and offering their reasons for taking to the streets to call for freedom and reforms. From the brewing discontent that preceded the revolution to the 18 days of often brutally suppressed protests in which success seemed far from inevitable, this film puts viewers in the center of the action. (60 minutes)

Made in Germany: Europe's Economic Superstar

NPO/Netherlands Public Broadcasting

It's almost miraculous: a few scant decades ago, what is now the world's fourth-largest economy was brutally split in two. Today, all of Europe looks to Germany for answers. This documentary examines the nation's economic, social, and cultural power-how it developed at the dawn of the 21st century and how it will continue to shape the EU and the world. Factors for viewers to consider include a national focus on work and industry that values family businesses, solid professional training, and lifetime employment within the same company; environmental policies that emphasize sustainable, efficient energy sources such as solar and wind, enabling even small towns and villages to profit; and an ongoing faith in economic pillars such as Volkswagen, whose Glass Factory in Dresden serves as the temple of the German car industry. Literary, philosophical, and folkloric aspects of German culture and their connection to current successes are also explored. (Portions with English subtitles, 49 minutes)

My Land: Seeing Both Sides of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Yade French Connection

Born to a Moroccan Muslim father and a Tunisian Jewish mother, filmmaker Nabil Ayouch spent his childhood hearing divergent views about Israel and Palestine. Still wrestling with “a conflict that never left me,” Ayouch created this poignant documentary about young Israelis, displaced Palestinians, and the threads of tragic history woven between two communities with deep ties to the same land. Ayouch entered Lebanese refugee camps to record personal testimonies from elderly Palestinians about memories of their birthplaces. Then he visited those homes in present-day Israel to learn about the attitudes of the young people currently living there. This process of gathering perspectives enabled Ayouch to set up the film’s evocative virtual encounters, in which the Israeli subjects view and react to the Palestinian testimonies. The results are moving, frequently surprising, and apt to help those who struggle to comprehend the hardships of the region. (Portions with English subtitles, 82 minutes)

Vienna Conference on Human Rights: Rights & Wrongs—Human Rights Television

The Global Center

The 1993 UN Vienna Conference on Human Rights included representatives from 171 nations. The key result of the conference was the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action which states: “The promotion and protection of human rights is a matter of priority for the international community, and that the Conference affords a unique opportunity to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the international human rights system and of the machinery for the protection of human rights, in order to enhance and thus promote a fuller observance of those rights, in a just and balanced manner.” This episode features interviews with conference attendees, including John Shattuck, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights. Also featured are reports on Liberia, Egypt, Angola, and a musical salute to Nelson Mandela. Part of the series Rights & Wrongs: Human Rights Television. Original broadcast title: 1993 Vienna Conference on Human Rights, Show #112. (27 minutes)

Episode 5: Francisco Franco (The Dictator's Playbook)

PBS

This episode of The Dictator's Playbook examines the life and crimes of Spain's Francisco Franco. Learn how he won the Spanish Civil War and became the dictator of Spain.

Louis Theroux: Law And Disorder In Lagos

BBC Worldwide Learning

Louis Theroux spends time on both sides of the law in Lagos - the former capital of Nigeria and one of the fastest growing cities in the world. On the streets it is not the police who wield power but gangs of fight-hardened young men known as Area Boys. Meanwhile, KAI, the government's Kick Against Indiscipline paramilitary task force, bulldoze whole precincts and arrest hundreds if they detect any violation of the state laws. Louis wrestles with life in a world in which the forces of law and the forces of disorder are not always readily distinguishable and nothing is quite what it seems.

Open Borders: Globalization-A Real-World View

SVT

It doesn’t take much to travel the world these days—and that applies not only to goods and people, but also to money, intellectual property, and high-profile corporate brands. This program illustrates the phenomenon of globalization and how it is changing the world of business, as seen in a variety of industries and cultures. Starting with a piece of 3-D animation as a brief case study in internationally sourced labor, the film goes on to explore Apple’s borderless appeal to technology consumers and the stunning rise of Gazprom, Russia’s foremost energy giant. Shanghai’s emergence as a global city, Hyderabad’s increasing importance to India’s IT industry, and ongoing changes in the Paris fashion world offer additional views of globalization’s effects.

Economic Gaps: Globalization—A Real-World View

SVT

Welcome to Beverly Hills, California, where some of America’s wealthiest citizens have created their own personal versions of paradise. But don’t get too comfortable—this program whisks viewers off to Mexico City and Lilongwe, Malawi, as well, showing how different life can be in all three parts of the world and how globalization has amplified the economic gaps between them. In addition, the film provides an extensive analysis of the development of the global economy through compelling historical narratives—including the Spanish colonization of Central America, spearheaded by Hernán Cortés in an effort to find cheap trading silver, and the crucial role of child labor and forced trade agreements in the rise of British economic might.

Venezuela [Sur]Realista: The Republic of Hugo Chávez—in Spanish with English Subtitles

Java Films

In the eyes of his supporters, he has championed the rights of the poor and bravely defended his country’s interests in the face of foreign aggression. Opponents have portrayed him as an embarrassing and dangerous megalomaniac, squandering the nation’s oil wealth while bolstering his own power base. This in-depth look at Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez explores his Bolivarian political philosophy, his adoption of “21st-century socialist” principles, and the challenges he has faced as a highly polarizing leader. Produced in anticipation of Chávez’s bid for a fourth term in office, the film presents interviews with community leaders, political figures, intellectuals, and journalists, all of whom shed light on the complexities of life in Chávez’s Venezuela—and the volatile atmosphere in which he pursues his aims. (Spanish with English subtitles, 53 minutes)

Liberia: An Uncivil War

California Newsreel

Reporter Jonathan Stack is besieged in the Liberian capital of Monrovia, where president Charles Taylor has just been indicted on 17 counts of crimes against humanity by the United Nations. James Barbazon is traveling with the LURD rebel army, which has pledged to pillage the country until Taylor steps down. In documenting the end of Taylor’s regime, the two journalists provide insights from both sides of the conflict to create an in-depth case study of one of Africa’s most brutal civil wars. Viewer discretion is advised. (102 minutes)

The Accusation: Corruption in the Communist Party—China from Within

Planet Pictures

When Lu Jingyi found evidence that his city’s Communist Party boss, Li Changhe, was guilty of graft, it was Lu himself who wound up in prison. This program examines the problem of corruption among local Communist Party officials through the plight of Lu Jingyi, whose case made headlines around the world. Lu continued his campaign against Li Changhe after being released from prison; Li retaliated by hiring assassins to murder Lu and his wife. Lu alone survived the attack, and ultimately provided evidence that resulted in the party boss’ execution. A part of the series China from Within. (Portions with English subtitles, 25 minutes)

The Cost of Cloth: Ethical Textiles

Digital Rights Group Limited

Filmed in Bangladesh, one of the world’s most active textile-producing countries, this program explores the social cost of the textile industry, which benefits mostly Western consumers and capitalists while creating oppressive environments in the developing world. Using eye-opening footage shot inside a number of Bangladeshi textile factories, the film explores issues of sweatshop labor—including poor working conditions, unfair wages, and the right to unionize—and asks viewers to consider where the responsibility for improving industry practices should lie. The program then compares the social impact of mass-scale textile production with the benefits brought to a small rural community in Bangladesh by a fair trade textile initiative. A part of the series Ethical Textiles: Sustainability and Fair Trade. (30 minutes)

Television Around the World: Turkey

Point du Jour International

The Turkish people spend an average of five hours per day in front of a TV. Along with the Italians, they're Europe's greatest television fanatics. Turkey's 16 national channels are watched by 70 million viewers, and the country produces about 40 new shows every year. This program examines the role of television in Turkey and surveys its most popular programs, which include offerings from secular state-run TV, Islamist channels, private channels with racy programming, and reality shows. Istanbul sociologist Nilufer Narli provides commentary on the importance of the media in everyday Turkish life, calling TV viewing "a veritable social phenomenon." (Portions with English subtitles, 26 minutes)

Moyers & Company: American Indians Confront "Savage Anxieties"

Doctoroff Media Group

In this edition of Moyers & Company, Bill speaks with Robert A. Williams Jr., a professor specializing in American Indian law, about American Indian’s tragic history of dispossession. Williams says stereotypes about American Indians have been codified into laws and government policies, with devastating consequences. Williams, who is of Lumbee Indian heritage, says, “very much like African-Americans, the history of America is taking away resources, whether labor or land, from one racial group to give them to the dominate racial group." Broadcast date: December 26, 2014.

Breaking the Wall of National History: How Looking Beyond the Nation-State Helps Us Understand the Past—and Perhaps the Future

Falling Walls Foundation

In this video from the 2010 Falling Walls Conference, historian Frederick Cooper lectures on how history can answer today's most pressing questions. Cooper has taught at Yale, Harvard, University of Michigan, and New York University; held guest professorships around the world; and earned countless acknowledgments like the Best Book in African Studies Award and fellowships from the Rockefeller Institute, Guggenheim Foundation, and Mellon Foundation. Known worldwide for the articulation of the concept of a “gatekeeper state,” Cooper brings an academic perspective that is rooted in years of research on labor and political movements in Africa and broader conceptualizations of colonialism, citizenship, equality, and development, as well as critical readings of overused concepts of globalization, identity, and modernity. With this background, Cooper seeks to transcend the common frameworks of the nation-state and provide an alternative analysis of world history. (15 minutes)

The Assassination of Verwoerd: Infamous Assassinations

BBC Worldwide Learning

On 6 September 1966, seven minutes after taking his seat in the House of Assembly, South African Prime Minister Dr Hendrik Verwoerd was assassinated by Demetrio Tsafendas, a Bible-quoting parliamentary messenger. Verwoerd had played a key role in constructing South Africa’s Apartheid laws, but ironically the assassin claimed he was not doing enough for whites. It was the second attempt on Verwoerd’s life. A BBC Production. A part of the series Infamous Assassinations. (26 minutes)

China Does Capitalism Better Than America: A Debate

Open to Debate

From all appearances, China has emerged unscathed from the global economic crisis, in stark contrast to the United States, its biggest debtor. China’s admirers point to the government's ability to mobilize state resources, make decisions quickly, and create a business-friendly environment as reasons for the nation's economic ascendency. But can its brand of state-directed capitalism overcome rampant corruption and the threat of growing inequality, or will the American model of innovation and free markets prevail?

Religion, Politics, and Law

Promedion/American MultiMedia

Looking at the intersection of religion, politics, and law from ancient times (Code of Hammurabi and Abrahamic religions) to the modern day, this program examines religion in the modern day. It discusses Evangelical Christianity, religion in the courtroom, school prayer, and religion in the American election.

Haiti: Land of Tragedy, Land of Hope

Lagardere Studio Distribution

> The numbers alone are stunning: 8 million inhabitants, 70 percent of whom live below the poverty line; a life expectancy of 50 years; a 65 percent illiteracy rate; and a 70 percent unemployment rate. Such is the recent population in Haiti, which ironically had its origins cast in optimism: the Haitians were the first people to abolish slavery in 1797 and establish a black republic. Yet the following years have brought the island a succession of violence, chaotic politics, and the railroading of national sovereignty for the benefit of few. This thought-provoking documentary traces what Jean-Bertrand Aristide calls Haiti’s “linear history” back to its discovery by Columbus in the late 15th century and the violent process of colonization to the present. (55 minutes)

Inside the Kingdom: Life in Saudi Arabia

Nightline

Saudi Arabia is a land of contradictions where Western ideas and Islamic law rub shoulders and often clash. This ABC News program gains entrance to this powerful and mysterious kingdom to examine the politics, religion, and culture of one of America’s key Muslim allies. Tensions surrounding the 9/11 hijackings, the country’s rampant unemployment, declining oil revenues, and the ongoing drama in the Middle East are all on the agenda.

Please Vote For Me

Danish Broadcasting Corporation

Wuhan is a city in central China about the size of London, and it is here that director Weijun Chen has conducted an experiment in democracy. A grade 3 class at Evergreen Primary School has their first encounter with democracy by holding an election to select a Class Monitor. Eight-year-olds compete against each other for the coveted position, abetted and egged on by teachers and doting parents. Elections in China take place only within the Communist Party, but recently millions of Chinese voted in their version of Pop Idol.

Iron Ladies of Liberia

Danish Broadcasting Corporation

After fourteen years of civil war, Liberia is a nation ready for change. On January 16, 2006, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was inaugurated president. She is the first ever elected female Head of State in Africa, winning a hotly contested election with the overwhelming support of women across Liberia. Since taking office she has appointed other extraordinary women to leadership positions in all areas of government, including the police chief and the ministers of justice, commerce and finance. Can the first female Liberian president, backed by other powerful women, bring sustainable democracy and peace to such a devastated country?

Libya: Benghazi Rising

Journeyman Pictures

Through personal testimony by the people of Benghazi, this program traces Libya’s participation in the Arab Spring uprisings, capturing the inspiring story of how unarmed citizens brought down Muammar Gaddafi’s repressive regime. The film explains key incidents in the Benghazi revolt, which began when citizens protested the arrest of a lawyer who had been advocating for the 1,200 people massacred without explanation at Abu Salim prison. From the chanting demonstrators holding aloft pictures of Abu Salim’s missing and dead to the Facebook activists and the establishment of a free press, the documentary puts an exuberant human face on the historic events of February 2011 and in the months afterwards in eastern Libya. Some content may be objectionable. (52 minutes)

Eye of the Fire

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

It’s a tale of tragedy and heroism—and mind-blowing incompetence. Eric Campbell tells the story of one of the world’s deadliest wildfires and the Greek government's failure to adequately handle it.

The Smart State

NPO/Netherlands Public Broadcasting

We think new technology is developed by companies like Google and Apple, but is this true? Italian American economist Mariana Mazzucato delved into the origin of new technology and discovered that governments have more influence than we think. She claims that technological progress will be seriously delayed if innovation is left only to the private sector. This program explores the innovation climate in Europe, to find out what role governments and the private sector play in this, where new technologies come from, who finances their development and the most important, who profits from them.

Sweden: Lessons for America?

Filmhub

It's been suggested that Americans would be better off if the United States was more like Sweden. Do Swedes know something we don't? This documentary delves into the economic and social landscape of the Swedish scholar's homeland illuminating key ideas and enterprises that sparked reform and help Sweden maintain its economic strength.

Episode 11: What is the European Union? (Geek Out with Oh My World!)

HHH Productions, LLC

What is the European Union? Is it one country or will the EU become a country like the United States? When was the EU formed and why?

Democracy Isn't for Everyone: A Debate

Intelligence2 Ltd.

Is it reasonable to expect the entire world to adopt democratic ways, or is it wrong to press other countries to embrace a system that—however beneficial it may, in theory, be—is completely at odds with their cultures and traditions? The motion under consideration in this Oxford Union-style debate is “Democracy isn’t for everyone.” Panelists in favor stress that true democracy is more than merely the holding of elections and therefore must evolve organically out of a society’s circumstances, while those against argue that to say democracy isn’t for everyone is tantamount to saying that democracy, for some, can never be—a proposition rejected because whatever some people can achieve, all are humanly capable of achieving. Questions from the floor follow. The final vote? Marginally against. Veteran British broadcast journalist Richard Lindley presides. (100 minutes)

Nicaragua: Turning Away from Violence

Network Ireland Television

In Nicaragua, a growing awareness of domestic violence and its consequences has spurred grassroots activism. This program documents the efforts of two groups, the Xochitl-Acatl Women's Center and the Association of Men Against Violence, both of which confront gender and sexual abuse. Arguing that economic and political oppression influence male tendencies to exercise physical authority within the home, the video describes educational campaigns that build financial self-sufficiency and self-esteem in both men and women. Interviews with participants feature more than one success story. (Portions have English subtitles, 26 minutes)

Unfinished Country: Haiti's Struggle for Democracy

Wide Angle

Through unfettered access to powerbrokers and ordinary citizens, this Wide Angle report covers Haiti's ongoing struggle to craft a truly representative government from a volatile failed state. Butteur Metayer and Guy Philippe-strongmen of the National Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti Party and former rebels who drove Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power in 2004-and three other Haitians express their points of view. An interview between Bill Moyers and James Dobbins, former U.S. Special Envoy to Haiti, concludes the program. Will the Western hemisphere's most impoverished nation finally succeed in creating a stable democracy? (57 minutes)

Inside the European Union: Parliament under Pressure

Wilson R. Ruiz

Defining “European” is one of the main challenges facing the E.U. Parliament. This program outlines the history of the governing body and assesses the actions it has taken to shape and organize the E.U. Shedding light on electoral and procedural methods adopted by the Parliament, the film documents political fanfare and maneuvering accompanying the eastward expansion of the union with the entry of Bulgaria and Romania. The program also shows how these developments influence the path to comprehensive immigration laws—and how foreign workers, illegal immigrants, and asylum seekers are affected. Several members of the E.U. Parliament are interviewed. (27 minutes)

Help Wanted: Dynamics of the EU Labor Market

Wilson R. Ruiz

With a low birth rate and an aging workforce, the European Union needs immigrants-but how temporary or permanent their status should be is a matter of debate. This film examines existing and proposed guest worker programs, in addition to other EU measures, designed to address the results of globalization and shifting demographics. Focusing not only on the EU's tremendous economic advances but also on regions affected by poverty, the film looks at immigrant education, ambition, and self-employment, while sifting through issues such as worker job security and the growth of sex industries. Nick Clark of the Trade Unions Congress, Leo Monz of the German Federation of Unions, and several guest workers share their views. (27 minutes)

Fidel Castro: History of a Commander-in Spanish with English Subtitles

Television Federal

The life of Cuba's Communist leader reveals much about the Cold War, 20th-century Latin American history, and the political and military dimensions of revolutionary movements. This program reaches into all those subjects as it explores the rise and decades-long rule of Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz. Interviews with Latin American experts-including Argentine columnist Oscar Raul Cardoso, historian and psychologist Mario Pacho O'Donnell, and Dr. Roberto Quinones, expatriate son of famous Cuban dissident Dr. Hilda Molina-are included. After outlining Castro's early years, the film guides viewers through his alliance with Che Guevara, his ascension to head of state, his prolonged reign, and his transfer of power to his brother Raul. (Spanish with English subtitles, 45 minutes)

Free Market Economies: The Commanding Heights

Team Sound & Vision

As the movement begun in the 1970s to decentralize and deregulate continues, economies around the world are being reshaped. In this program, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Daniel Yergin, Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman, and John Kenneth Galbraith explore the dynamic tension between free markets and managed economies with Ben Wattenberg, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. The demise of European communist and socialist economic models and successful market-oriented initiatives in Europe and America support the thesis that minimal government intervention is healthy. But will big business seek a return to managed economies if world markets crash? (26 minutes)

Getting Out of Business: Privatization and the Modern State

The Blackwell Corporation

This program chronicles the rise and fall of the concept that government does a better job of providing transportation, power, or even employment, than does private enterprise. Case by case and country by country, it explains the philosophy of governmental involvement in business and examines the consistent results. The viewpoint is skewed in favor of private ownership and the privatization of government-owned or run industry; but the facts adduced are fair and equable, and the omitted arguments in favor of government intervention will spark research and lively discussion of the entire role of government. (59 minutes)

Lenin and His Legacy

Reuters Television

This program traces the life and legacy of Lenin, the philosophical and political founding father of the Soviet Union, the starring actor as well as the writer and director of much of the drama from the earliest days of the Russian revolutionary movement. When the Bolsheviks came to power in 1917, Lenin became the President of the Council of People's Commissars and remained the active head of the Soviet government until his death in 1924. Using documentary footage dating back to 1896 (when Tsar Nicholas was crowned), the program shows prerevolutionary Russia, the Revolution, and the events after Lenin's death: the treason trials of the 1930s, World War II, the death of Stalin and many of his successors, Gorbachev's call for reforms, the successes and failures in Soviet ventures, and the shifts in domestic and foreign policy-all in the name of Lenin. (30 minutes, b&w/color)

Sustainable Future: Globalization-A Real-World View

SVT

If you want to know where the next environmental issue will arise, says UNESCO education expert Charles Hopkins, "look at where capital investment is moving." This program makes a thesis of that observation while expanding it to examine not only ecological but also socioeconomic dilemmas. An unflinching look at an Indian toxic waste dump, including its health impact on the surrounding population, and an eye-opening journey through a Sri Lankan free trade zone, complete with overcrowded worker "dormitories," help point out globalization's ongoing challenges. Policy solutions are offered in various forms, while on-the-ground hope emerges in a case study of the Dem Collective, an ethically and ecologically sound textile producer operating in Sri Lanka.

Liberia: A Fragile Peace

California Newsreel

With the departure of the despotic Charles Taylor in 2003, the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces, and the election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in 2005, Liberia was ready to begin the arduous task of creating a viable economic and social infrastructure. How does a nation mired in years of anarchy establish itself in the modern world? Is it possible to find administrators who will be dedicated to government accountability and transparency? In examining Liberia’s attempts to abide by the four provisions of the UN’s initiative—to disarm, demobilize, rehabilitate, and reintegrate—this program provides a case study in the difficulty of rebuilding a society once it has lapsed into anarchy. Viewer discretion is advised. (60 minutes)

Eco-Design: Ethical Textiles

Digital Rights Group Limited

The Western world still struggles for long-term solutions regarding carbon emissions, energy consumption, and waste disposal. A number of industries, including textile manufacturing, are at the heart of this dilemma. But Finisterre, an outdoor clothing maker, has fearlessly taken on the issue by creating an eco-friendly surf-wear brand. This program follows the workflow of the company from its headquarters in Cornwall, Great Britain, to fabric suppliers in Japan and manufacturers in Portugal. Viewers are shown how Finisterre reduces its ethical and environmental impact as it rigorously evaluates the use of energy and materials—not only in isolated locations, but throughout the design, manufacture, transportation, and use of its products. A part of the series Ethical Textiles: Sustainability and Fair Trade. (32 minutes)

Linking Africa: The Future Is Digital

German United Distributors

Africa has the fastest-growing cell phone market in the world, fueling the continent’s IT boom and making Nokia and Google sit up and take notice. This program examines East Africa’s burgeoning and innovative use of information technology in small businesses, health care, education, and social activism. Viewers meet the software developers and digital pioneers who are increasing Africa’s connectivity with programs such as One Laptop per Child—an initiative that brings hope to an area ravaged by civil strife. The video also looks at the mixed feelings of uneasy governments that see the Internet as both potential spark for an Arab Spring–style uprising and a lucrative way to bring their countries into the 21st century.

Hijacking the Arab Spring? The Rise of the Islamists

Java Films

For decades, the Muslim Brotherhood was an outlawed organization, marginalized and persecuted. Today, along with the Salafists and other Muslim groups, they are the principal winners of the Arab revolutions. They believe in a “Turkish model” of Islamic rule, and their speech is well-crafted to avoid scaring away the West. But what kind of policies do they want to introduce? Should political Islam be feared? Abdel Hakim Belhadj, leader of the Islamic al-Watan Party in Libya, has long been on the CIA’s radar. In Morocco, radical preacher Sheikh Mohamad Fizazi is enjoying a comeback. And in Syria, insurgents are fighting to introduce Sharia law. From Libya to Morocco to Syria, this program investigates the new parties jostling for power. (51 minutes)

China and Human Rights: Rights & Wrongs—Human Rights Television

The Global Center

In June 1989, Zhang Boli was in Tianamen Square as one of the leaders of the pro-democracy movement. Following the bloody crackdown by China’s communist leaders, Boli was able to flee the country before he was captured. This episode tells the story of his two-year trek through northern China, Russia, and finally to America, and examines Boli’s secretly filmed profile. Also featured is a discussion on the controversy over China’s Most Favored Nation Status as a U.S. trading partner. Part of the series Rights & Wrongs: Human Rights Television. Original broadcast title:: China and Human Rights, Show #108. (26 minutes)

China: The Dance Around the Golden Calf

German United Distributors

As China continues to experiment with Western-style economics, many city dwellers already enjoy the prerogatives of a market economy. But how will China feed itself as more and more farmers flee their land for the allure of urban living? This program seeks to understand the effects of economic reform on Chinese society, from the villages to the cities. Will cultural values and the traditional arts and sciences retain their importance as China makes its bid for first-world status, or will they and the rest of the old China be swept away by Western attitudes, a burgeoning middle-class, and the country's new identity as a nascent economic powerhouse? (50 minutes)

Boris Yeltsin: A Legacy of Change

Pacem Distribution

Boris Yeltsin dismantled the Soviet Union and destroyed the Communist Party-and then resigned before he could create a political party to continue his vision or build the institutions necessary for democracy. This intriguing program traces Yeltsin's climb to the top of the Communist Party and his personal power struggle with Mikhail Gorbachev. Interviews with opposition leaders as well as many of Yeltsin's top advisers, including Eduard Shevardnadze, Boris Nemtsov, and Yeltsin's wife, Naina, provide a candid appraisal of a man who changed the course of world history. (87 minutes)

Pakistan: Between the Chitralis and Pathans

German United Distributors

Situated in western Asia, Pakistan occupies a region of political and economic tension. This program looks at Pakistan's complex relations with Iran, India, and the United States and the contributions of its multicultural population. The influences of Punjabi and Pathan, Sindhi and Baluchi, and Ismaili and Buddhist are all captured, set against the background of life both in cities and in rural communities. The region's heritage as the seat of the Indus Valley civilization is also explored. (51 minutes)

The Road to Nowhere: Yugoslavia

Actuality Holdings Inc.

They might be described as a throwback to the Middle Ages, but this current crop of warlords constitute the big figures of the new world order. This program examines these people, whose power derives from the barrel of a gun, and the rhetoric with which they justify themselves and motivate one another: the rhetoric of nationalism. The story of Yugoslavia is the story of the country's first highway, the Highway of Brotherhood and Unity; today it is a symbol of everything that has gone wrong in the country, a road impassable for both Serb and Croat-a road to nowhere. (50 minutes)

The Conflict

Marathon International

May 14, 1948: David Ben-Gurion declared the independence of the Jewish state of Israel. The following day the neighboring Arab populations declared war. Israel was born from this conflict and emerged a refuge for a people dispersed throughout the world, yet still engaged in combat with its Arab neighbors for its right to exist. This program presents the history of Israel, from its founding Zionist fathers in the 19th century such as Theodor Herzl, to the war of independence and the emergence of Israel as a prosperous, independent Jewish state. (52 minutes)

The People's Army

Marathon International

Born in battle and ever struggling to survive, Israel requires compulsory military service for women as well as men. This program traces the history of the Israel Defense Forces in all of its conflicts, from the war for independence, where many immigrants went directly from their ships into battle; to the formation of Unit 101, the forerunner of the famed and feared paratrooper battalions; to the crack commando teams that protect the borders and police the trouble spots within the country today. The program also includes the details of present-day life in the field with the IDF. As ever, being an Israeli means being a soldier. (54 minutes)

A Very Russian Coup: The Demise of Communism

BuzzTaxi Communications

Was it patriotism or treason that led Soviet military leaders to seize control of the government in August of 1991? This riveting program documents in detail the attempted takeover that marked a turning point in world history and resulted in the dissolution of the Communist Party. Marshal Yazov, the Minister of Defense; the Deputy Minister of Defense; and Boris Yeltsin's head of security candidly reveal their thoughts as co-conspirators. Compelling archival footage of the struggle that played out in the streets, plus additional interviews-a veritable who's who of the coup-round out the account of a moment in history when the eyes of the world were on Moscow. (48 minutes)

Fascist Barbarians: Soviet Animation vs. Nazi Tyranny

Films by Jove

Hitler's invasion of Russia and Germany's post-WWII partition inspired a great deal of animated Soviet propaganda. This program presents short films that disparage fascist aggression and America's supposed continuation of it. Fascist Boots and Cinema Circus vilify Hitler and the Nazi invaders; A Lesson Not Learned plays on Russian fears of a reunited, vengeful, and American-supported Germany; and Vasilok, The Adventures of the Young Pioneers, and Pioneer's Violin are stories about brave and loyal Soviet children encountering and standing up to fascism. Fourteen films total, plus commentary from Russian State Film School professor Igor Kokarev, writer and cultural historian Vladimir Paperny, and actor/producer Oleg Vidov. (140 minutes) Portions are in Russian with English subtitles.

Capitalist Sharks: Soviet Animation vs. Greed and Ambition

Films by Jove

Just as America envisioned Communist threats during much of the 20th century, the specter of capitalism loomed large in the Soviet Cold War psyche. This program surveys Soviet animated propaganda embodying that fiercely anti-capitalist spirit. Foreshadowing the space race, Interplanetary Revolution depicts a Communist triumph over free-market forces on Mars; China in Flames warns against capitalist interference in the Chinese Revolution; The Shareholder proclaims the superiority of the Soviet economic system; and Proud Little Ship takes on capitalist aggression. Eight films total, plus commentary from Russian State Film School professor Igor Kokarev and director and animator Fyodor Khitruk. Portions are in Russian with English subtitles.

Torture: We Have Ways of Making You Talk

Electric Sky

Examining the use of torture over the past half-century, this program describes its horrific application in military and political settings and explores its profound human cost. Featuring interviews with confessed practitioners of the gruesome craft, the program exposes interrogation methods developed and carried out by French army officers against Algerian independence fighters, by British police against the IRA, by American troops against the Viet Cong, and other shocking occurrences in South America and South Africa. The employment of physical and psychological abuse as a weapon against guerilla and opposition groups parallels current dilemmas in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay. (53 minutes)

Lives for Sale: Human Trafficking

Lightworks Enterprises

Each year, more than one million people try to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, contending with dangerous forces that prey on their hopes and exploit their gullibility. This program exposes the most painful, disturbing, and hidden dimension of illegal immigration: the growing black market trade in human beings. Shedding light on the poverty that causes so many to risk everything by leaving their home countries, the film reconstructs the frightening journeys of sex-slavery victims and highlights the work of CAST-the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking. Border patrol agents and other members of law enforcement share their knowledge and experience regarding this ongoing human rights crisis. (60 minutes)

Long Journey into a Red Sunset: China's Last Emperor, Part Two

LIC Australia

August 16, 1945: the end of World War II and the capture of Aisin-Gioro Puyi, Manchukuo's Japanese-controlled regent, by the Soviet Army. This program depicts what befell the former Chinese emperor during his captivity in Russia, his eventual extradition to Communist China, and his troubled life under Mao's regime. Through archival footage, detailed interviews, and excerpts from Puyi's autobiography, the film explores his testimony at an International Military Tribunal, his nine-year detention at a reeducation camp, his eventual pardon by China's Supreme Court, and his return to a quiet life in Beijing-darkened once more by the Cultural Revolution. (Portions in Chinese with English subtitles, 52 minutes)

Islam Is Dominated by Radicals: A Debate

Open to Debate

Since Al Qaeda terrorists attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, a debate has raged about the nature and leadership of the Muslim faith. Is Islam as a religion dominated by repressive extremists who justify the use of violence to achieve their objectives? Or is the religion defined by the majority of the world's moderate Muslims who reject such radical ideology? (108 minutes)

Heads of State (Barack Obama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Charles De Gaulle, Bill Clinton, Nicolas Sarkozy): Advocates of Change

Film Ideas

They have made a difference and revolutionized the world. They come from all walks of life and from all corners of the globe. These remarkable individuals have pioneered, developed, and forever improved their industry and the world in which we live. Engaging and relevant, these individuals will change the way you view the world and remind you that it only takes one person to make a difference. This episode features Barack Obama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Charles De Gualle, Bill Clinton, and Nicolas Sarkozy.

Beyond the Wall: Life in Communist and Post-Soviet Europe

Connell Creations, Inc.

It may seem unthinkable to older viewers, but for an emerging generation of young adults, the Cold War is little more than an abstract historical concept. Its impact on Eastern European society becomes vivid and concrete, however, when those who experienced it firsthand are given a chance to speak. In this film, citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic, and what was once East Germany describe life under postwar communism and offer candid assessments of the transition to freedom, capitalism, and democracy after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Topics include state-run education, government surveillance and torture methods, prison conditions, escapes to the West, the collapse of the Wall, German reunification, the dramatic corporate restructuring implemented by the Treuhand Agency, and more. Conversations with respected historians and authors are interwoven with the personal, emotionally charged recollections of civilians. (91 minutes)

The Tree Workers’ Case: Human Trafficking in the European Union

Inter/Aktion

Shedding light on one of the most brazen criminal enterprises to be uncovered in the E.U. in the past two decades, this film tells the story of approximately 2,000 workers—mostly from Southeast Asia, but also from Romania, the Slovak Republic, and other European countries—who were systematically exploited in the Czech Republic between 2009 and 2010. Viewers follow the efforts of lawyers and NGO members who have joined forces to investigate cases of foreign laborers being lured into menial, abusive forestry jobs. One of the workers concerned is Pham Hung Long, who, like many of his fellow Vietnamese, entered the Czech forests expecting decent pay and working conditions, only to fall into circumstances amounting to slavery. Detailed interviews with Pham, his attorneys, investigative journalists, and others are included. (Portions with English subtitles, 52 minutes)

The Sexual Exploitation of Children: Taking a Stand

VISION FILMS

Filmed in the Dominican Republic, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, and Britain, this ageless program unflinchingly scrutinizes the violation of children’s most basic rights through pedophilia, prostitution, and pornography. The efforts of ECPAT International, Swedish Save the Children, Interpol, and others to combat these gross violations are spotlighted, with a special emphasis on sex tourism and Internet porn. The chilling arguments of perpetrators of "consent-based" sexploitation provide educators with a valuable opportunity to skewer the attitudes that perpetuate child sexual exploitation. Contains explicit material. (51 minutes)

Frontrunner: The Afghan Woman Who Surprised the World

Globalvision

The heroic story of the first woman to run for president of Afghanistan, this program profiles Dr. Massouda Jalal and the campaign that inspired thousands to participate in the democratic process. Cameras follow Jalal as she canvasses at mosques, homes, marketplaces, and radio stations, determined to “wake up the mentality” of those who see no leadership role for women in Afghanistan. Running a campaign without the massive resources backing main opponent Hamid Karzai, fielding death threats, and coping with election-day irregularities, Jalal understands that making a bid for the presidency is in itself a “win”—her actions moved more than 500 women to run for Parliament just a few months later. The video also provides a rare look at how a low-literacy country that has relied on tribal elders for decision-making educates its citizens about voting and conducts an election. Portions with English subtitles. (89 minutes)

UN Human Rights Conference Preview: Rights & Wrongs—Human Rights Television

The Global Center

The World Conference on Human Rights was held by the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, in 1993. With representatives of 171 nations, and some 7,000 participants overall, it was largest gathering ever on human rights. The conference did have an expansive view of human rights, with the normal political and economic rights being explicitly augmented by women's rights, indigenous peoples' rights, minority rights, and more. This episode looks at the problems, priorities, and players at the conference. UN Secretary-General Boutros-Boutros Ghali, discusses the limitations, universality, the current status, and the future of the United Nations. Also featured are reports on Cambodia’s move toward democracy; a human rights advocate becomes president in Guatemala; and families of murder victims tour the U.S. to combat the death penalty. Part of the series: Rights & Wrongs: Human Rights Television. Original broadcast title: 1993 UN Human Rights Conference Preview, Show #110. (26 minutes)

China: From Cartier to Confucius

NPO/Netherlands Public Broadcasting

Surging economic strength, expanding military capabilities, and an undeniable impact on the existing global order-these make up the dramatic narrative of 21st-century China. Meanwhile, a small group of philosophy students at Shanghai's prestigious Fudan University convenes each Friday night to study texts by Confucius and other classical philosophers. These young scholars have embraced-or at least do not disavow-China's consumerist-driven ascendancy, but they are insecure about the lack of principles to guide it. In the process of rediscovering values that were buried during the Cultural Revolution, a core question emerges: Will Confucianism regain more than a tentative foothold amid the fervor of state capitalism? Will the ruling class eventually welcome the ancient ideas and their implications for neoconservatism and nationalism? (Portions with English subtitles, 45 minutes)

Maori Land Protests: Hikoi and Bastion Point

ClickView Pty Limited

The 1970s was a period of great social and political upheaval around the world, including the push for indigenous equality and land rights. The protest movement launched by the Maori peoples of New Zealand was the result of a culmination of grievances dating back to the signing of the treaty of Waitangi in 1840. This documentary explores the reasons for the 1970s Maori protest movement, the 1975 Hikoi protest march, and the Occupation of Bastion Point in 1977, and also covers how Aotearoa-New Zealand has changed since the protests. Interviews with New Zealand historians Claudia Orange, Dr. Benjamin Pittman, and Mark Derby provide an overview of the key protests and their enduring significance. A viewable/printable worksheet is available online. (27 minutes)

Zambia: Assessing the Millennium Development Goals

Network Ireland Television

Kenneth Kaunda remains a dominant figure on the Zambian and African landscape. One of the first to break the silence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, he has been an outspoken voice for Africa and has been an arch critic of the European colonial enterprise. In this program, he gives us his current assessment of the country, the continent, and of the Millennium Development Goals. Zambia remains one of the poorest countries in the world with almost two-thirds of its population living below the poverty threshold and over half in extreme poverty. (25 minutes)

Ukraine: Moscow Rules

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

It’s a super provocative power-play that’s brought Russia eye-ball to eye-ball with the rest of the world in a high-stakes battle of wills. Who’ll blink first? Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to seize a big chunk of neighboring Ukraine and is actively surveying other parts of that country while all but daring Europe and America to take him on. Crimea – once a sort of cheery sea-side destination for holidaying Soviets – is the hot-spot. Foreign Correspondent reporter Eric Campbell is there summoning all his experience covering the region to navigate this complex and explosive story.

The Treaty of Waitangi: An Introduction

ClickView Pty Limited

Reaching agreement on the legal meaning and the “spirit” of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document, has led to fierce debate and violent conflict between European settlers and the Maori peoples since its signing in 1840. This program examines the events leading up to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, consequences of the signing, the key points of difference in the two versions of the treaty, the treaty in the twentieth century, and the founding of the Waitangi Tribunal. The video is an excellent resource for students of New Zealand history as well as indigenous rights studies. A viewable/printable worksheet is available online. (23 minutes)

East-West Odyssey: The Great Divide?

Prime Entertainment Group

Geopolitical tensions continue to increase between Russia and United States. Twenty-five years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the term "new Cold War" appeared on the international scene. Are the Russians and Americans becoming the belligerents of this new conflict? To understand this phenomenon, Thibault will ride a bike from Moscow to Washington for 6 months and travel more than 20,000 kilometers. During this odyssey, he will give free speech to Russian and American citizens to understand origins of their two worldviews.

Never Forget: The Legacy of Dictatorships

CINEFETE

The last three decades of the 20th century brought unexpected but gratifying advances in democracy all around the globe. Three outdated regimes that were still oppressing people in the 1970s fell or were wiped out in Southern Europe. The film looks at this struggle by comparing and contrasting the case of three countries: Spain, Greece, and Portugal. While all three are quite close in terms of their geography, history, and culture, and all three have joined the European Community after building democratic nations, each of these countries has trod its own unique path.

Happy Birthday Mr. President!

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Vladimir Putin crushes opponents, but a growing army of young Russians is fighting back. Their gift to the strongman on his 65th birthday? A show of defiance and a demand to quit. Eric Campbell reports.

What Makes a Populist?—Bloomberg QuickTakes

Bloomberg

Populist politicians like U.S. president Donald Trump and Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte have rapidly destabilized the status quo in countries around the world. This Bloomberg QuickTake looks at the rise of global populism and explains what makes a populist.

Agents of Democracy: Civil Society Under Attack

Autentic Distribution GmbH

Where populists and autocrats rule, civil liberties, government critics and non-governmental organizations are under pressure. Even worse: activists are not only attacked or arrested; laws also criminalize them and deprive them of funding. Not only committed individuals, but also NGOs operating worldwide have become targets of those in power. Are we living in times of a global frontal attack on civil society? And what happens when this important pillar of democracy is silenced? What can be done to counter this development? The film embarks on a journalistic journey to find answers in India, Russia and Poland.

Democracy - Clarifying the Muddle: A Conversation With John Dunn

Ideas Roadshow

In this program, University of Cambridge political theorist John Dunn takes a provocative and stimulating look at democracy, examining its past, present, and future, while pointing out that much conventional wisdom about how we regard ourselves and our democratic traditions is actually very far from correct.