In his new series analysing global powers and their agendas Al Jazeera's chief political analyst Marwan Bishara focuses on the challenges facing the new US president. With such antipathy towards George Bush's foreign policy, what can the world expect from Obama and his new team?

"In this episode of Empire, Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera's senior political analyst, and his guests zero in on the special relationship between the US and Israel. They explore who benefits from the special relationship and whether the status quo will prevail."

Marwan Bishara and his guests examine the past, present and future of Arab Unity in view of the historical processes, and geopolitical realities of the Arab World in the shadow of Empires.

Empire examines the path from Iraq to Afghanistan and into Pakistan. With the Iraq operation apparently drawing to a close and a mini-surge underway in Afghanistan, people in the region are wondering what this will all mean on the ground and what will the repercussions be for the region. As locals worry that they will be caught in the crossfire or killed by drones, experts question whether the strategy is the correct one or if it is too little, too late. Empire investigates what went wrong and the plan to fix it.

Marwan Bishara and guests discuss whether president Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to make France a key player on the world stage are all bubble and no fizz.

"Whatever the outcome of the recent troubles, Iran sees itself as a natural leader in the region. It is determined to follow an independent foreign policy, and regards the nuclear question as a matter of national pride, and nobody elses business. With war raging all around it, we ask: is Iran a regional influence, or an international threat? Empire examines a country torn between traditional values and modernity, between its imperial past and its relations with the region, between its universal pretentions and its moderate means, between its highly educated and globalised urban youth and its more conservative hinterland."

"A new Latin America is emerging on the global political stage. Marwan Bishara and guests analyse how the Obama administration may deal with Latin America and what the relations will mean on a global level. Featuring an exclusive interview with Noam Chomsky."

With global media now in the hands of supra-national players peddling their own agendas and internet giants in search of profit and influence, Empire asks what's the future for journalism in the age of media empires.

The United Nations Security Council is under attack. In a world threatened by wars, terrorism, nuclear proliferation and catastrophic climate change, the five veto-wielding permanent members are being challenged by emerging powers demanding a seat at the top table. Empire analyses past, present and future of this most powerful of clubs.

"Eight years after the launch of the 'war on terror,' how does the US view the al-Qaeda threat? Empire finds out."

As Europe adopts a new treaty to strengthen its union, and choses new authorities to speak with one voice for the continent, it confronts the fact that, with twenty seven countries, 500 million people, a combined economy bigger than the US, and almost 2 million soldiers under arms, the European Union is to all intents and purposes, a superpower. Will 27 nations be able to pull as one and become a dominant power in the 21st century?

The Middle East 'peace process' is seriously deadlocked. Israel is determined to press ahead with the expansion of settlements. Palestinians refuse to accept anything less than their total freeze, but they are divided on the best way forward - diplomacy or resistance. The diplomatic vacuum leads to more unilateral policies and radicalisation. So how can the international community help? Is a two-state solution still possible, or one state or no state?