Fareed Zakaria GPS Special Season 2017 Episode 12 04/02/2017

Fareed Zakaria GPS is a weekly news program on CNN that delves into the events and issues shaping the world we live in. In season 2017 episode 12, which aired on April 2nd, 2017, Zakaria takes a deep dive into the political landscape of a world that is becoming more connected than ever before, beginning with the political situation in Europe.

Zakaria sits down with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is facing a hotly contested election in the Netherlands that will either see his pro-European Union stance validated or a swing to the far right. Rutte tells Zakaria that the wave of anti-establishment sentiment sweeping the world can be traced back to the financial crisis of 2008, which resulted in a colossal loss of faith in the status quo. He warns that the populist movements exploiting people's anxieties are ultimately no solution, but rather offer a false promise of easy answers to incredibly complex problems.

Next up, Zakaria speaks with the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, about Russia's persistent cyber attacks on her country and other Western nations. Kaljulaid argues that the threat is not just about technology, but about values, since cyber breaches could potentially undermine basic democratic principles. She tells Zakaria that NATO's collective defense agreement is the best defense against cyber attacks.

Zakaria then travels to the Middle East to look at the challenges of forging stability in a volatile region. He interviews the Crown Prince of Jordan, Hussein bin Abdullah, who explains how the refugee crisis is affecting his country and the wider region. Bin Abdullah warns that the lack of a political solution in Syria will continue to drive more and more people to flee their homes. He says that the world needs to understand that the humanitarian crisis in Syria is not just about Syrians, but a global issue that will have long-term effects.

Zakaria wraps up the show with a special report on the rise of China as a global superpower. He speaks with Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, the founder and CEO of e-commerce giant Alibaba, who offers his unique perspective on the future of globalization. Ma argues that the world needs to focus on creating more inclusive rules for trade and economic development, in order to ensure that the benefits of globalization are shared more broadly. He also stresses the importance of education, saying that companies like Alibaba need to invest more in training and education programs to help people adapt to the rapidly changing nature of work.

Overall, season 2017 episode 12 of Fareed Zakaria GPS is a thoughtful and engaging exploration of some of the most pressing issues facing the world today. Zakaria's interviews with world leaders offer insights into how people in power are grappling with the complexities of their roles, and his report on China provides a fascinating glimpse into the future of globalization.