On the 3rd of April, SAIS Europe was incredibly fortunate to welcome Jeremy Bowen, the International Editor of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Bowen has worked with the BBC for over 40 years, with positions ranging from that of a graduate trainee, to Middle East correspondent, to editor. Having been present at a range of landmark moments in international affairs, he recounted his varying experiences as a world-renowned foreign correspondent.

Bowen first of all considered the "turbulent world" we are now seeing rapidly change, as he cited words he first heard as a SAIS student. Then-Head of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, J. Willian Fullbright, warned of the "arrogance of power," referring to the psychological fixation of larger nations on suppressing smaller powers in the name of proving that they are "bigger, better and stronger." Although Fullbright referenced Vietnam in this, Bowen cited them to highlight that the trends in global foreign policy we are now witnessing are not entirely novel.

Bowen subsequently emphasised the crucial role of the mainstream media in navigating an increasingly-fractured global landscape. In the era of 24/7 news, a sense of guidance from professional journalists has become more important than ever. As the role of a journalist is one both of reporting and interpreting for the public, he noted that responsibilities come alongside this. Although the tragic situations Bowen has been exposed to have frustrated him, causing personal anguish or broader public controversy, he noted that it remains integral for the BBC to remain confident in their judgement and aware of their need to provide the information and analysis audiences need to make a judgement. He said he's aware that his reporting can shape peoples' beliefs, which is a heavy responsibility to be as accurate and truthful as possible. Bowen feels that the phenomenon of 'avoidance' by which the public successively switches off from depressive news must be fought through offering truthful reporting - being objective and impartial on one hand, while maintaining the centrality of human empathy on the other. In referencing this, Bowen noted his frustration at the ban on international journalists in Gaza. Although he expressed admiration and gratitude for the brave work of Palestinian journalists, Bowen reiterated that the best war reporting requires the physical presence of those writing the script and providing analysis, to bear witness to audiences with whom they've built up a bond of trust. International journalists can also tailor reports that can through to their audiences at home and around the world.

In response to the audience's open questions, Bowen reflected upon some of the monumental experiences in his career. One that stood out was his interview with President Muammar Qaddafi before his imminent fall – a chance which previously seemed an impossible dream to many political journalists. He also offered his opinion on Syria's al-Sharra, whom he had the chance to interview in late 2024. He regarded the current leader as an intelligent, interesting and nuanced man with an Islamist perspective on the challenges currently facing Syria. However, al-Sharra's supposed commitment to minority inclusion in Syria's governance remains questionable considering the present treatment of Alawite minorities.

hosted by Professor Sanam Vakil


Jeremy Bowen is the International Editor of BBC News. He joined the BBC in 1984 as a graduate trainee and has been a foreign correspondent since 1987. He has been part of the BBC's reporting of most major world stories since then, including more than twenty wars and other conflicts, starting with the civil war in El Salvador in 1989. He has reported all the Middle East wars since the 1990-91 Gulf war, when he was in Baghdad. He's reported extensively from Iraq since then, under Saddam, following the 2003 invasion and including the operation against ISIS in Mosul in 2017 and the assassination of Qassem Solimani in Baghdad in 2020. Jeremy Bowen reported extensively on the wars and conflicts that followed the Arab uprisings of 2011 and the rise of ISIS – including many assignments in Syria, Libya and Yemen.

He spent years reporting on all the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, and later testified four times at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia – including the trials of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. Since the full-scale Russian invasion of 2022 Jeremy has spent many months on all the main fronts in Ukraine. He first reported on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 1991, was based in Jerusalem 1995-2000 and since then has returned many times as the conflict has developed. He has spent months reporting the war between Israel and Gaza since October 2023.

Jeremy Bowen has won many awards for his journalism – including four from the Royal Television Society, three from Bayeux, as well Emmy, Peabody and BAFTA awards. His latest book is The Making of the Modern Middle East: a personal history (Picador, 2022).