The International Spectator is pleased to present a podcast episode exploring how the concept of tolerance has evolved into a cornerstone of Oman’s national identity and foreign policy. The speaker Giulia Daga, researcher in the "Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa" programme at the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and lecturer at the John Cabot University, will illustrate the main themes of her article From Religious to Political Tolerance: Oman's Identity and Foreign Policy Discourse, published on The International Spectator.

Join her in this discussion on how Oman’s Ibadi tradition, maritime cosmopolitan heritage, and strategic location have shaped a narrative of tolerance that serves the country’s legitimation and status-seeking objectives, both domestically and on the international stage. The article is taken from a recent Issue (Volume 59, Issue 4/2024) of The International Spectator, the peer-reviewed journal of the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), which features a focus on evolving strategies and discourses in Gulf States' foreign policies. 


If you wish to keep informed about the upcoming journal's publications and events, visit our blog and follow us on X, Instagram and Bluesky.

The International Spectator is pleased to present a podcast episode exploring the Chinese use of informal trade restrictions to foster its rise as a rising power. The speaker Sara Van Hoeymissen, Senior Researcher in the Department of Economics, Management and Leadership at the Royal Military Academy, will illustrate the main themes of her recent open access article Shadowboxing: The People’s Republic of China’s Use of Informal Trade Restrictions as a Rising Power, published on The International Spectator: join her in this discussion on how the PRC is engaging in coercive influencing while safeguarding its ability to stay connected to the global economy and its main protagonists.

The article is take from latest Issue (Volume 60, Issue 2/2025) of The International Spectator, the peer-reviewed journal of IAI, which has China’s Economic Statecraft and Europe’s Response as one of the issue's core themes.

If you wish to keep informed about the upcoming journal's publications and events, visit our blog and follow us on X, Instagram and Bluesky.

The International Spectator is pleased to present a podcast episode exploring the evolving relationship between populist radical right (PRR) parties and the European Union (EU). This discussion is based on a webinar held on 12 May 2025, which delved into how PRR parties' stances toward the EU shift before and after attaining governmental power. While PRR parties often adopt Eurosceptic positions prior to gaining power, their approach can change significantly once in office. Threats to exit the EU are frequently replaced by calls for increased EU involvement, especially concerning economic and migration issues. This episode examines these dynamics, drawing insights from the Special Issue of The International Spectator titled Right Move? Populist Radical Right Parties and Europe.

Leo Goretti and Daniela Huber, Editors of The International Spectator, open the Webinar by introducing the Special Issue alongside the Guest Editors Matilde Rosina (Lecturer at Brunel University), Marianna Griffini (Assistant Professor at Northeastern University London) and Leila Simona Talani (Professor at King’s College London). They then chairs the Panel Discussion featuring Gabriele Abbondanza (Marie Curie Fellow at the Complutense University of Madrid and Associate Fellow at IAI and the University of Sydney). 

Within this context, the International Spectator, the peer-reviewed journal of IAI, presents its Issue (Volume 60, Issue 1/2025) whose Special Core Right Move? Populist Radical Right Parties and Europe is edited by Matilde Rosina, Marianna Griffini and Leila Simona Talani. 

If you wish to keep informed about the upcoming journal's publications and events, visit our https://www.theinternationalspectator.com/ and follow us on X, Instagram and Bluesky.

Join us into a profound discussion with Dr Molly O'Neal, examining the shifting dynamics of Germany’s foreign and security policy amidst recent geopolitical upheavals. Our guest offers an insightful presentation of her work, addressing critical questions that explore the concept of 'Zeitenwende' and its implications for Germany's international stance.

We begin by unpacking 'Zeitenwende' and how recent geopolitical shifts, particularly Russia’s actions in Ukraine, have challenged Germany’s traditional approach to foreign and security policy. Our conversation highlights Germany's struggle to reconcile its historical “culture of restraint” with the urgent need for a more assertive defense strategy. We explore whether these new demands are in conflict with Germany’s longstanding identity as a “civilian power.”

The discussion moves to Germany's embedded identity in promoting European integration and how this shapes its responses to crises like the one in Ukraine. We examine the broader implications of Germany's actions for the EU's overall strategy and unity.

Furthermore, we consider how domestic political changes within Germany are influencing its foreign policy approach, particularly with the rise of various political forces. This segment provides a nuanced understanding of the internal factors shaping Germany's external policies.

Lastly, we look ahead to the future, contemplating the policy measures Germany must consider to maintain its role as a reliable partner within Europe and NATO. 


If you wish to discover more about these topics, find our article here: 

Re-imagining EU Foreign and Security Policy in a Complex and Contested World - II Part:  Discussion

How did the European Union manage to reduce the adverse effect of the contextual factors on its foreign and security policy towards conflicts and crises?

Find out more by listening to this episode! The podcast is based on a webinar hosted on April 2024 which aimed at presenting the International Spectator's Open-Access special issue (March 2024) "Re-imagining EU Foreign and Security Policy in a Complex and Contested World". All articles are open access.


The hosts are Daniela Huber, Editor of The International Spectator, alongside Riccardo Alcaro (Research coordinator and Head of the Global Actors Programme, IAI) and Hylke Dijkstra (Professor of International Security and Cooperation at Maastricht University). Many guest have joined the discussion, such as Marianna Lovato (Postdoctoral researcher, Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy, Brussels School of Governance), Olga Oliker (Program Director for Europe and Central Asia, International Crisis Group), Irina Petrova (Assistant Professor in the Politics of Eurasia, University College London, School of Slavonic and East European Studies) and Luigi Scazzieri (Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Reform).

Find the Special Issue here: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rspe20/59/1?nav=tocList 

Re-imagining EU Foreign and Security Policy in a Complex and Contested World - I Part:  Presentation

How did the European Union manage to reduce the adverse effect of the contextual factors on its foreign and security policy towards conflicts and crises?

Find out more by listening to this episode! The podcast is based on a webinar hosted on April 2024 which aimed at presenting the International Spectator's Open-Access special issue (March 2024) "Re-imagining EU Foreign and Security Policy in a Complex and Contested World". All articles are open access.


The hosts are Daniela Huber, Editor of The International Spectator, alongside Riccardo Alcaro (Research coordinator and Head of the Global Actors Programme, IAI) and Hylke Dijkstra (Professor of International Security and Cooperation at Maastricht University). Many guest have joined the discussion, such as Marianna Lovato (Postdoctoral researcher, Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy, Brussels School of Governance), Olga Oliker (Program Director for Europe and Central Asia, International Crisis Group), Irina Petrova (Assistant Professor in the Politics of Eurasia, University College London, School of Slavonic and East European Studies) and Luigi Scazzieri (Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Reform).

Find the Special Issue here: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rspe20/59/1?nav=tocList 

The International Spectator is pleased to announce its podcast dedicated to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the perceptions stemming from the countries of the ‘Global South’. It is based on the Webinar, which took place remotely on 14 December 2023 at 4.00 PM, aimed at giving selected speakers and the public a fruitful occasion to discuss about the new trends occurring in the global nuclear order, with a special focus on the more recent stance of some actors from the Global South.

If you are interested in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, be sure not to miss it!

Leo Goretti and Daniela Huber, Editors of The International Spectator, open the Webinar introducing the Special Issue alongside Manuel Herrera, Research Fellow at the International Affairs Institute and Guest Editor of the Issue. He then chairs the Panel Discussion among Tanvi Kulkarni (Policy Fellow, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network), Vicente Garrido Rebolledo (Director of the Security and Defense Chair "Francisco Villamartín” of the Rey Juan Carlos University) and Jasmine Auda (Co-founder and COO of Ambit Advisory). Then, the Q&A session follows.

Within this context, The International Spectator, the peer-reviewed journal of IAI, presents its Issue (Volume 58, Issue 4/2023) whose Special Core “Nuclear Non-Proliferation and the Global South: Understanding Divergences and Commonalities” is edited by Manuel Herrera, Tanvi Kulkarni e Vicente Garrido.

All the peer-reviewed contributions are authored by well-experienced academics and researchers committed to different study areas and programs.

If you wish to keep informed about the upcoming journal's publications and events, visit our https://www.theinternationalspectator.com/ and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

The International Spectator is pleased to announce its podcast dedicated to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the perceptions stemming from the countries of the ‘Global South’. It is based on the Webinar, which took place remotely on 14 December 2023 at 4.00 PM, aimed at giving selected speakers and the public a fruitful occasion to discuss about the new trends occurring in the global nuclear order, with a special focus on the more recent stance of some actors from the Global South.

If you are interested in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, be sure not to miss it!

Leo Goretti and Daniela Huber, Editors of The International Spectator, open the Webinar introducing the Special Issue alongside Manuel Herrera, Research Fellow at the International Affairs Institute and Guest Editor of the Issue. He then chairs the Panel Discussion among Tanvi Kulkarni (Policy Fellow, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network), Vicente Garrido Rebolledo (Director of the Security and Defense Chair "Francisco Villamartín” of the Rey Juan Carlos University) and Jasmine Auda (Co-founder and COO of Ambit Advisory). Then, the Q&A session follows.

Within this context, The International Spectator, the peer-reviewed journal of IAI, presents its Issue (Volume 58, Issue 4/2023) whose Special Core “Nuclear Non-Proliferation and the Global South: Understanding Divergences and Commonalities” is edited by Manuel Herrera, Tanvi Kulkarni e Vicente Garrido.

All the peer-reviewed contributions are authored by well-experienced academics and researchers committed to different study areas and programs.

If you wish to keep informed about the upcoming journal's publications and events, visit our https://www.theinternationalspectator.com/ and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

In this podcast, Marco Giuli (Free university of Brussels, IAI) talks about what energy geopolitics means and the current role of the EU in energy geopolitics. He also reflects on clean energy materials and why we should consider them more in decarbonisation policies. Finally, the podcast touches upon the new risks deriving from the EU's interdependence with suppliers of clean energy materials both in present time and in a post-fossil fuels world.

If you wish to delve more into this fascinating topic, read The International Spectator's article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03932729.2023.2199648

What is the relation between Sport and Politics?
Is contestation the “the dark side” of the relationship between sport & International Relations?
How is football related to diplomacy and soft power?
These are few of the topics and questions raised by experts in the fields of Sport and International Relations during the Webinar hosted by The International Spectator on June 20th, 2023. The event aimed at giving selected speakers and the public a fruitful occasion to discuss about the relationship between sport and International Relations in an increasingly fragmented world.
Within this context, The International Spectator, the peer-reviewed journal of IAI, presents its Issue (June 2023) and the Special Core “Olympic Diplomacy as Contestation: The Legacy of the Beijing Olympics”.
The guests are Leo Goretti, Daniela Huber, Nicola Sbetti, Emidio Diodato, Veronica Strina, Renè Wildangel, Jan Busse, and Francesco Belcastro.

Listen now to the podcast for free and on any major platform!
Part I: click here to listen
Part II: click here to listen

Don't forget to keep up with all our Podcasts and content on our Blog and social media!
Follow @intl_spectator on Instagram and Twitter

What is the relation between Sport and Politics?

Is contestation the “the dark side” of the relationship between sport & International Relations?

How is football related to diplomacy and soft power?

These are few of the topics and questions raised by experts in the fields of Sport and International Relations during the Webinar hosted by The International Spectator on June 20th, 2023. The event aimed at giving selected speakers and the public a fruitful occasion to discuss about the relationship between sport and International Relations in an increasingly fragmented world.

Within this context, The International Spectator, the peer-reviewed journal of IAI, presents its Issue (June 2023) and the Special Core “Olympic Diplomacy as Contestation: The Legacy of the Beijing Olympics”.

The guests are Leo Goretti, Daniela Huber, Nicola Sbetti, Emidio Diodato, Veronica Strina, Renè Wildangel, Jan Busse, and Francesco Belcastro.

Listen now to the podcast for free and on any major platform!

Part I: click here to listen

Part II: click here to listen

Don't forget to keep up with all our Podcasts and content on our Blog and social media!
Follow @intl_spectator on Instagram and Twitter

Distingushed Professor Sophia Kalantzakos talks with us about critical topics when addressing the issue of decarbonization and the importance of critical materials to reach a net-zero future.

The guiding questions of the podcast are:

• What do “fraught geopolitics” and “weaponization of interdependence” mean against the backdrop of the climate emergency?

• How may the EU pursue its strategy toward decarbonisation and digitalization in such a geopolitical context?

• How could the EU strengthen and grant more efficient coordination with non-EU governments to reach the 2030 goals?
• How is the war in Ukraine impacting the EU's Green Deal agenda?

Professor Kalantzakos has written an #openaccess article on The International Spectator addressing this topic and its mplications for the EU and the global society.
Read it now for free 👉http://ow.ly/zMJc50NK8Y0

Which prospects does the #CAI - Comprehensive Agreement on #Investment offer for China, the EU and the USA?

Professors Arlo Poletti, Lorenzo Zambernardi and Dirk De Bièvre guide us to unwrap and foresee the strenghts and the challenges of the Agreement in the arena of Global Governance.

Research Article available here: http://ow.ly/Ykxi50Nj3fX

Questions:

• Could you give us some background about the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment? What is the ultimate goal for the parties involved?
• Do you think EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) will have a positive impact on the EU's economic role as an international player? Which, in your opinion, have been the crucial factors that contributed at making the EU a pivotal international economic player?
• Given the vast critique to the Agreement, which downfall could we forecast? And how could the EU face economic issues deriving from the CAI?
• Could you elaborate on the political impact that the CAI will have for Beijing and Brussels? Are relations normalzing in a post-covid era?
• How do you think the CAI can impact the EU’s transatlantic relationship, specifically with the current US government?
• Overall, do you think that the CAI can be considered a stepping-stone for a new multilateral investment regime?

Professor Jonathan Fulton talks with us about our new article and in particular how Persian Gulf regional security complex is shaped by intense competition between regional states.

Get the perspective of an expert on a topic that gets hotter and hotter!

Article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03932729.2022.2107843

Professors Xuechen Chen and Yifan Yang alongside Editor Leo Goretti present the core contents and the goal of the International Spectator's latest Special Issue. They reply to a few questions to tackle relevant aspects of international and supraregional cyber governance both for the present and the future:
- What do we mean by global cyber governance and what are the so-called multi-stakeholder and multilateral approaches to it?
- Is it correct to speak of a West vs. non-West divide in approaches to global cyber governance or are there differences and nuances within each of these two ‘camps’?
- What has the role of supranational organisations such as the EU and ASEAN been in discussions on global cyber governance, and how could they contribute to move the discussion ahead?
- How do you personally think international cooperation in cyber security can be fostered more efficiently in the next future? How does the ongoing war in Ukraine and West-Russia tensions impact on this?

Find the article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03932729.2022.2066841
and the Special Issue here: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rspe20/current

Professor Filippos Proedrou elaborates on the issue of energy security and the benefits of reframing the concepts behind energy transition for the EU and Greece.

Read the research article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03932729.2021.2014102

Music: Crowlander - Slow Smoke II

This Podcast presents the International Spectators' last Special Issue and focuses on differentiated integration in the EU.

Guest Speakers: Nicoletta Pirozzi, Matteo Bonomi, Sandra Lavenex.

Questions:
- What is the goal of this Special Issue?
- Can you briefly explain the concepts of Integration and Differentiation and how would you define the effectiveness of differentiated integration within the EU?
- With a perspective of an ever closer Union, how is (dis)homogeneity currently addressed?
- How would you frame the new Cohesion Action for Refugees (CARE) in the context of the future challenges for the EU towards cohesion?
- Did the Covid-19 Pandemic impact differentiation and resilience among Member States?
- How can we fit Brexit in the discourse of Integrated Differentiation and cooperation within the EU?
- Is there a current challenge to sustainability with regards to Differentiate integration in the EU? If so, which would be the strategy to counteract it?

Music: Crowlander - Slow Smoke II

Learn more about Differentiation and Integration in the EU: Webinair
On 20/04/2022 - 21/04/2022 a conference will be held and present the EU IDEA project’s results and discuss the theme of differentiation and integration among researchers from the EU IDEA consortium: https://www.iai.it/en/eventi/governing-differentiation-and-integration-european-union

What does this Special Issue of The International Spectator deal with?

Listen to the experts Olivia Glombitza and Kristian Coates Urlichsen to find out more about religion, the nexus betweeen domestic and foreign policy, the Arab Spring, and the future of the Gulf Region.

Questions to the guests:

Given the analysis of the relationship between foreign and domestic politics presented in the issue, what are your thoughts regarding the Arab Spring and its relevance onto today’s MENA’s regional dynamics?

According to the literature of IR and Area Studies, does religion and ethnicity play a greater role in this geographical framework rather than in other macro regions of the world (for example the EU)?

What role do ideational factors have vis-à-vis material factors in peacebuilding within the Middle East and Persian Gulf region?

How do you think that the relationship among the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, will impact the political balance of the region in the next decade?

Music: Crowlander - Slow Smoke II

Find and read the Special Issue here: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rspe20/current

Agata Lavorio, PhD, comments for the International Spectator on the issues of disarmament and security dilemma in the context of the recent developments of the Arctic arena.

Music: Crowander - Slow Smoke II

Professor Rosa Fernandez is Guest Editor for this Special Issue of the International Spectator, focused on the ecological transition and the European Green Deal. She unravels strengths, strategies and challenges for the EU and a more sustainable future.

Article available online at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03932729.2021.1966188

Music: Crowander - Slow Smoke II