The struggle for democracy in the Middle East

The Arab Spring is now in several places turning into Winter. In Bahrain a damning report was published on the government’s crackdown on protests. Meanwhile violent clashes between security forces and protesters broke out again on the streets of Cairo ahead of planned elections next week.

This week has also seen the capture of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi; Turkey joining the calls for Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president, to step down; and Yemen is opposing the transfer of power deal signed by President Saleh. How is the strategic situation changing in the Middle East? And what can we really expect from democracy in the Midle East?

Sir David Frost is joined by Prince Hassan of Jordan, the chairman of the Arab Thought Forum, to discuss recent events in the Middle East and the impact of the ongoing Arab Spring.

Juan Manuel Santos, the president of Colombia, one of the world’s fastest developing economies, talks about the FARC rebels, his new strategies to tackle the drugs trade, and prospects for the country’s future. But can the war on drugs be won?

The number one

International tennis star Novak Djokovic has had a remarkable year on the men’s tennis circuit, he has won Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open, three of the four Grand Slam titles. He talks about the recent matches, his career, and the challenges facing as a tennis star.

Omar Turbi, the advisor to Libya’s National Transitional Council, joins Sir David to discuss what a post-Gaddafi future holds for Libya.

After another week and another crisis in the eurozone, Andrew Balls, the London managing director of PIMCO, explains what can be done to contain the crisis and what we can expect to see next.