IR thinker podcast features expert interviews on international relations, foreign policy, and global affairs. Founded and produced by Martin Zubko, an international relations lecturer. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.
Official website: https://irthinker.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
IR thinker podcast features expert interviews on international relations, foreign policy, and global affairs. Founded and produced by Martin Zubko, an international relations lecturer. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.
Official website: https://irthinker.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this interview, Andreas Schroeder maps Germany’s gas security from short-term contracts to new gas-fired plants and LNG infrastructure. He weighs the nuclear phase-out, EU dependence on non-Russian suppliers, and the risks ahead.
Before we begin, I would like to highlight two milestones. First, this is the 100th episode of IR thinker. Second, our very first episode, published on 5 January 2023, also featured Andreas Schroeder. Andreas was the first expert who accepted my invitation and, in doing so, believed in this project when it was only an idea.
This interview marks the 100th episode of IR thinker. Thank you for your support, and for watching and listening to IR thinker.
Andreas is Head of Energy Analytics (Quantitative) at ICIS (Independent Commodity Intelligence Services), where he leads an international team analysing the dynamics of global energy markets.
00:00 – Introduction
03:13 – Current Natural Gas Flows to Germany and Contract Structures
05:08 – The Logic Behind Short-Term Pipeline Contracts
07:27 – LNG Imports and the Expansion of German Infrastructure
09:47 – Gas Storage Developments Since the War in Ukraine
14:03 – Declining Gas Consumption in Germany: Causes and Implications
16:58 – New Gas-Fired Power Plants in Germany
19:32 – The Impact of the Nuclear Phase-Out on Energy Security
22:20 – Innovative Gas Procurement Strategies for the German Market
24:42 – Germany’s Role as a Gas Exporter
26:43 – Export Infrastructure and Capacity
28:23 – Competition Between Germany and Poland in Gas Trade
30:43 – Dependence on US and Norwegian Gas After the Russian Cut-Off
33:26 – Can the EU Operate Without Russian LNG?
35:24 – The Potential of African Gas for Germany
36:53 – Qatar’s Role in Germany’s Gas Supply
39:53 – Canada as an Emerging Gas Partner for Germany
41:52 – Future Challenges for Germany’s Natural Gas Security
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In this episode, Telmen Altanshagai discusses Mongolia’s evolving energy landscape, from diversification strategies and regional connectivity to the governance challenges shaping the country’s path toward greater energy security.
Telmen Altanshagai
Telmen is a Washington, D.C.-based independent policy analyst, Energy and Climate Intern at Observer Research Foundation America, Global Policy Institute Fellow, specializing in energy security and development economics across the Global South, with particular expertise on Mongolia, where her research examines how the global energy transition shapes the country's economic stability and long-term development trajectory.
Content
00:00 – Introduction
01:31 – Overview of Mongolia’s Energy Mix and Security Landscape
04:13 – Pathways for Energy Diversification
07:08 – Can China Serve as a Source of Energy Diversification?
08:44 – Heating Infrastructure and Urban Electricity Challenges in Ulaanbaatar
11:05 – Persistent Dependence on Coal
14:02 – Energy Access and Infrastructure in Rural Mongolia
16:03 – Structure and Dynamics of Energy Governance
18:59 – Potential Benefits of the Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline for Mongolia
22:46 – Domestic Expertise and Policy Debate on Power of Siberia 2
24:32 – Assessing the Need for an Oil Pipeline from Russia
25:32 – India’s Investment in Mongolia’s First Oil Refinery
27:31 – Mongolia’s Broader Energy Investment Strategy
31:32 – Domestic Investment Climate and Incentives for the Energy Sector
34:30 – China’s Expanding Energy Investments in Mongolia
35:59 – The East Asian Power Grid Concept and Regional Connectivity
37:59 – Energy Poverty and Socioeconomic Inequality
41:22 – Climate Change Impacts on Mongolia’s Energy Security
43:48 – Building Human Capital for Energy Security
46:18 – National Debt and Its Implications for Energy Policy
49:12 – Comparing Africa and Mongolia: Mining Wealth and Public Benefit
51:47 – Policy Priorities: What Should a Mongolian Prime Minister Do to Strengthen Energy Security?
54:54 – Future Directions and Research Opportunities
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In this interview, strategist and defence analyst Dr. Peter Layton offers a clear-sighted assessment of how Australia is recalibrating strategy, capability, and partnerships amid intensifying regional competition. Drawing on policy and academic expertise, he probes alliance choices with the United States and Japan, AUKUS and submarine procurement, the Quad and ASEAN engagement, and the trade-offs between economic dependence on China and national security.
Dr. Peter Layton is a Visiting Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University; an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI); and a Fellow of the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group. With extensive experience in aviation and defence, he received the US Secretary of Defense’s Exceptional Public Service Medal for his work on force structure at the Pentagon. For his academic research, he was awarded a Fellowship at the European University Institute.
Peter's research interests include grand strategy, national security policies particularly relating to middle powers, defence force structure concepts and the impacts of emerging technology.
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Alliances with the US and Japan: Security Gains or Strategic Constraints?
04:16 – Multilateralism in Australia’s Security Strategy
07:02 – AUKUS and the Future of Australian Defence
15:50 – Submarine Procurement: Strategic Rationale and Implications
23:02 – The Quad and Australia’s Security Role
29:54 – Making the Quad More Effective and Productive
33:03 – Security Cooperation with ASEAN: Opportunities and Limits
41:52 – Managing the Dual Relationship with China: Economics vs Security
50:26 – Assessing the 2024 National Defence Strategy and Middle-Power Vulnerabilities
55:51 – Military Spending: Balancing Capability and Sustainability
01:01:06 – Diversifying Australia’s Defence Supply Chains
01:07:52 – Under-Researched Dimensions of Australia’s Security
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Professor Murman Margvelashvili charts Georgia’s path from Soviet-era systems to a contested contemporary energy landscape, where hydropower dependence, emerging technologies, and grid vulnerabilities intersect with strategic autonomy.
Murman Margvelashvili
Professor Murman Margvelashvili is a Georgian energy policy expert with more than 30 years of experience, in energy sector. His broad interests include energy security, sustainability, and geopolitics of energy transition.
As Director of Energy Studies at World Experience for Georgia, Associate Professor at Ilia State University, and Director of the Energy and Sustainability Institute, he has helped shape key national energy strategies. Notably, Professor Margvelashvili played a key role in shaping the National Energy Policy and National Energy and Climate Plan, as well as conceptualizing the National Hydrogen Strategy.
He contributes as a country expert for the EU4Energy programme under the International Energy Agency and consults widely across Georgia and Central Asia, advancing renewable energy, efficiency, and regional energy security initiatives.
Content
00:00 – Introduction
01:58 – From Soviet system to 2025: evolution of Georgia’s energy mix
05:03 – Dependency and geopolitical risk across Georgia’s energy sources
09:17 – Ownership and control of Georgian hydropower
10:53 – Hydrogen in Georgia: prospects and pathways
15:16 – Have renewables peaked? Headroom for additional capacity
17:18 – Nuclear power in Georgia: options, debates, feasibility
19:52 – Abkhazia and South Ossetia: implications for Georgia’s power grid
22:48 – Balancing Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Russia, the EU and China: safeguarding strategic autonomy
32:53 – Expanding Caspian gas to Europe: do new Georgian transit pipelines need to be built?
34:51 – Armenia’s role in Georgia’s energy geopolitics
36:50 – United States interests in Georgia’s energy sector
38:51 – Türkiye–Azerbaijan energy cooperation: impacts on Georgia
43:03 – Untapped and hidden energy potential in Georgia
45:40 – Reinvesting transit revenues into energy modernisation
50:20 – Supply shocks and blackouts: resilience and response
53:21 – Assessing the effectiveness of Georgia’s energy strategy
56:35 – Governance gaps and failures: lessons for reform
01:02:14 – Under-researched energy topics in Georgia
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Ireland is in the midst of a historic shift, moving from its long-standing tradition of neutrality towards a more structured national security strategy. In this interview, Dr. Kenneth McDonagh unpacks the drivers, dilemmas, and implications of Ireland’s evolving security posture at home, in Europe, and on the global stage.
Kenneth McDonagh
Ken McDonagh is Associate Professor of International Relations at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University. His research focuses on EU foreign policy, the Common Security and Defence Policy, and the intersections of gender and international security.
Content
00:00 – Introduction
01:53 – Reinterpreting Ireland’s Policy of Military Neutrality
05:43 – Why Develop a National Security Strategy in a Neutral Country?
08:14 – Key Drivers Behind Ireland’s Security Strategy
10:23 – Will Military Neutrality Remain Central?
11:58 – Is This a Step Towards NATO Membership?
14:07 – Understanding the Capacity of Ireland’s Defence Forces
19:00 – Is There Willingness to Invest in the Army?
21:12 – Private Initiatives for Defence Development
23:34 – Protecting Critical Infrastructure: Cables, Energy, Ports, Airports
26:18 – Coordination of Defence, Gardaí, and Intelligence Without a Strategy
28:11 – Ireland’s Integration into EU Security Structures
31:37 – Could EU Forces Be Deployed on Irish Soil?
33:38 – Is Ireland Viewed as a Strategic Territory by the EU?
36:10 – US–Ireland Relations on Security
39:25 – Expanding Security Cooperation with the US
41:29 – Ireland’s Cybersecurity Posture
45:17 – Presenting the Cyber Sector as a Deterrent
48:02 – Ireland’s Role in UN Peacekeeping and Security
54:05 – Northern Ireland and the New Security Strategy
59:01 – Terrorism in Northern Ireland and Its Security Impact
01:02:17 – Under-researched Areas in Ireland’s National Security
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What does Georgia’s EU integration really mean for democracy, regional security, and great power competition? David Bujiashvili unpacks the past, present, and future of this pivotal process.
Content
00:00 – Introduction
02:37 – Historical and Normative Drivers of Georgia’s EU Integration
14:10 – EU Response to Georgia’s Membership Application
17:01 – Democracy, Rule of Law, and Human Rights Narratives
18:26 – Public Access to EU Information During Accession
21:22 – Example of Russian Disinformation Campaigns
23:31 – Early Challenges of Reform and Implementation
26:19 – Current Stage of Georgia–EU Accession
29:37 – Why Has the Accession Process Stalled?
32:32 – Georgian Representation in the EU Today
34:56 – The Future of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
37:03 – Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA)
39:34 – EU Visa Liberalisation and Georgia
43:17 – Learning from Central European EU Accession Experiences
45:26 – Forms and Practice of Regional Cooperation
48:03 – Impact of the War in Ukraine
50:37 – Russia’s Changing Role in the South Caucasus
52:32 – China’s Influence on EU–Georgia Relations
54:02 – Lessons for the EU from Georgia’s Accession Experience
David Bujiashvili is a distinguished expert on European affairs with more than 25 years of experience in EU integration and assistance coordination. He holds a PhD in Economics and a Master’s in International Economic Relations, combining academic depth with extensive diplomatic and policy practice.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, he served as Director of the EU Assistance Coordination and Sectoral Integration Department, where he played a pivotal role in overseeing the implementation of the EU–Georgia Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). His work focused on aligning Georgian legislation with the EU acquis, ensuring inter-institutional coordination through sectoral working groups, and drafting key EU-related strategies and action plans.
Dr Bujiashvili has chaired Association Committees and Sub-Committees in negotiations with the European Commission, coordinated Georgia’s EU Accession Questionnaire (2021–2022), and organised strategic communication and public outreach campaigns on EU integration. He has also worked extensively with civil society and the business community on sectoral reforms, while serving as focal point for major EU assistance tools such as Twinning, TAIEX, SIGMA, INTERREG, and anti-fraud mechanisms in cooperation with OLAF.
With wide-ranging experience in capacity building, training, and institutional reforms, he continues to contribute to advancing Georgia’s European integration and sharing his expertise in the broader field of European affairs.
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In this conversation with Professor Holden we examine how the EU exercised power during Brexit, interrogating the interplay of communication, institutional structures and rhetorical strategy. We discuss surprising findings on structural power, the negotiation styles of Barnier and De Rynck, and the reforms the EU’s external action apparatus may need to preserve influence into 2025.
Dr. Patrick Holden is an Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Plymouth, where he leads the Online Master's programme in International Relations: Security and Development.
His research focuses on the European Union's external relations, international political economy, and development policy. Widely published and active in policy debates, he brings both academic depth and practical insight to questions of Europe's global role and the future of international order.
Content
00:00 – Introduction
01:54 – Why link the EU with hegemony? A Neo-Gramscian view
04:56 – EU power during Brexit: communication and political actions
07:28 – Structural power: how EU institutions shaped Brexit
11:43 – Surprising findings on EU structural power
13:42 – EU values vs. interests: norms as a tool of influence
16:10 – UK rejection of EU principles and vulnerabilities of integration
20:04 – Who understood vulnerabilities better: the EU or the UK?
21:25 – Researching vulnerabilities as a scholar
23:18 – Barnier, De Rynck, and rhetorical strategies in Brexit talks
26:56 – Power balance in EU–UK negotiations
28:47 – Barnier and De Rynck: communication styles and strategy
31:39 – Lessons from Barnier and De Rynck’s negotiation styles
33:05 – Why rhetoric matters: qualitative insights on EU hegemony
34:49 – Have scholars studied Brexit enough?
37:30 – Brexit’s impact on EU relations with non-members
43:18 – Should the EU’s External Action Service gain more power?
45:15 – Brexit as a test of EU hegemonic resilience
49:31 – EU hegemony in the shadow of US hegemony
56:20 – What EU hegemony needs in 2025
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From the storming of the US Capitol to riots on the streets of the UK and simmering tensions across Western Europe, the spectre of radicalisation looms large.
Professor Tahir Abbas explores the multifaceted nature of modern radicalisation, examining the unique drivers, dynamics, and dilemmas facing Western societies (USA, UK, Western Europe) today as they confront a threat that is constantly evolving online and offline.
Professor Tahir Abbas
https://www.tahir-abbas.com/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ftpxQ0MAAAAJ
Tahir is Professor of Criminology and Global Justice at Aston University in Birmingham, England. Previously, he was Professor of Radicalisation Studies at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
Professor Tahir’s research focuses on criminology, sociology, politics, Islamic studies, and critical terrorism studies, specifically exploring various forms of ‘radicalisation’, extremism, and political violence. He has written twenty books and edited volumes. I include all the links in the YouTube description.
Since 1996, Professor Abbas has been invited to over 100 cities in nearly 50 different countries to deliver around 130 lectures and talks.
The DRIVE project was a European Union H2020 Research and Innovation Actions initiative that investigated the relationship between social exclusion and extremism in north-western Europe.
Led by Professor Abbas, Leiden University’s Institute of Security and Global Affairs, the project sought to understand how feelings of disenchantment and marginalisation can affect polarising ideas, values, and beliefs.
More details: https://www.tahir-abbas.com/drive-project/
Content
00:00 – Introduction
02:07 – Online platforms, far-right mobilisation, and the January 6 attack (USA)
05:30 – Online communication patterns preceding offline violence (USA)
08:33 – Framing extremist groups as terrorist organisations: unintended consequences (USA)
10:46 – Drawing the line between extremism and terrorism (USA)
14:32 – The rise of the incel subculture and gendered vulnerabilities (USA)
19:13 – Summary of US radicalisation
22:32 – Post-Brexit identity politics and the Prevent strategy (UK)
31:11 – Transnational networks and the 2023 riots (UK)
34:57 – The Gaza effect, British Muslim identity, and electoral mobilisation (UK)
39:31 – Summary of UK radicalisation
42:51 – Intergenerational differences within migrant and minority communities (Western Europe)
48:44 – Youth, information exposure, and latent radicalisation risks (Western Europe)
51:33 – Crises of capitalism, migration debates, and social unrest (Western Europe)
54:02 – Summary of Western European radicalisation
56:06 – Researching Radicalisation: Challenges and Reflections
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In this conversation, Dr Emmanuel Matambo unpacks how Africa–China relations really work beyond the headlines. We dive into debates on 'debt-trap diplomacy', technology, governance, and the cultural impact of China across Africa.
Emmanuel Matambo
Dr Matambo is the Research Director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies (CACS) at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. His primary research interest has been in Africa's growing relationship with China. His ideological orientation and theoretical framework has been constructivism, but with a bias towards people-to-people relations between African citizens and their Chinese counterparts.
Using constructivism, Matambo's argument has been that this strand of analysing Africa-China relations is, ironically, more realistic that the more dominant analytical tool of realism. While highlighting the importance of multiple and layered ideas, identities and interests as key determinants of Africa-China relations, he eschews the convenient idealism so blithely peddled by the African and Chinese elite, especially those who form part of the incumbent stratum. His conclusions thus exude a guarded approach to analysing Africa-China relations, with a keen eye on the identities, interests and behaviours that take place at the level of increasingly salient people-to-people relations.
He holds a PhD in political science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). In 2018, five months after graduating, UKZN retained him as postdoctoral research fellow. In 2019, Matambo was a fellow of the Africa Program at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, in the United States of America. In 2020 he was chosen as a fellow of the Atlantic Council's Millennium Leadership Program.
In 2026, he will be an Iso Lomso fellow at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) conducting research titled Zambia's Shifting perceptions of China, the Chinese and Zambia-China Relations: From the State to the Subnational.
Content
00:00 – Introduction
01:55 – Pragmatism vs. “Debt-Trap Diplomacy”: How African Elites and Western Narratives Differ
07:29 – Africa’s Image in Chinese Media
10:17 – Trade Imbalances, Industrialisation, and Value Addition in Africa–China Relations
15:06 – Negotiating with China: Is African Directness an Advantage?
18:51 – Technology Transfer, the Energy Crisis, and China’s Role in Africa
24:54 – Western vs. Chinese Technology: Does the Source Matter for Africa?
29:07 – Non-Interference vs. Conditional Aid: Implications for Governance in Fragile States
34:20 – China’s Geopolitical Influence on the African Union
36:37 – The Calibre of Chinese Diplomats and Officials in Africa
39:14 – Confucius Institutes and Their Impact in Africa
43:05 – Is There a South African Equivalent of the Confucius Institute in China?
46:16 – Chinese Cultural and Media Outreach: Shaping African Youth Perceptions
49:07 – Labour Rights and Chinese Companies in Africa: Current Trends and Improvements
51:05 – The African Diaspora, China Research, and New Avenues of Cooperation
53:55 – Research Priorities of the Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg
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Dive into the complex world of maritime piracy and security in this insightful interview with Professor Tim Edmunds, as he explores the evolution and organization of piracy at sea, modern challenges such as grey-zone tactics and the protection of critical undersea infrastructure, and the key issues shaping the global maritime order today.
00:00 - Introduction
02:10 - Evolution of Maritime Piracy
10:11 - Organization of Pirate Groups
13:27 - Structural Conditions Fuelling Piracy
20:16 - Size and Scale of Piracy Groups
24:08 - Effectiveness of Anti-Piracy Measures
31:04 - Defining Assertiveness in Maritime Spaces
36:33 - Grey-Zone Tactics at Sea
43:50 - Innovating UNCLOS for Maritime Order
53:05 - Maritime Chokepoints: Ownership and Control
59:25 - Artificial Islands and Maritime Security
01:01:43 - Threats to Undersea Infrastructure
01:07:02 - Most Challenging Areas in Maritime Security Research
Professor Timothy Edmunds is a leading expert in international security, serving as Professor of International Security and Head of the School of Sociology, Politics, and International Studies at the University of Bristol. His research focuses on security policy, capacity building, and security sector reform, with a particular emphasis on the maritime domain. As Co-Director of the SafeSeas Network and through his published work, he shapes global maritime security discourse. Edmunds also advises UK government bodies and contributes to policy development, notably on the 2022 UK National Strategy for Maritime Security. His maritime security research has been funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council, British Academy and EU Horizon 2020 programme.
Between 2015-19, he was founding Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of International Security for Cambridge University Press and the British International Studies Association (BISA). Tim is a BISA Trustee and chair of the Bristol Military Education Committee.
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In this interview, Dr. Marina Cino Pagliarello explores how universities and academia shape the European Union’s foreign policy through soft power and informal diplomacy. From Ukraine to Africa, we examine the opportunities and challenges of academic diplomacy in today’s shifting geopolitical landscape.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
01:43 – Universities as Informal Diplomatic Actors in EU Foreign Policy
07:43 – Academic Diplomacy During the War in Ukraine
13:32 – Balancing Academic Autonomy and EU Foreign Policy Goals
19:37 – Challenges in Authoritarian or Contested Environments
25:00 – EU–Africa University Cooperation Frameworks
28:31 – Promoting EU Norms: Human Rights, Sustainability, and More
33:04 – EU Funding Mechanisms: Erasmus+, Horizon, MSCA
40:50 – Reforming and Strengthening EU Academic Programmes
44:54 – Institutional Hierarchies in Academic Diplomacy
48:15 – Geopolitical Pressures on Academic Engagement
53:36 – Inclusivity vs. Elitism in EU Academic Deployment
01:00:12 – Gaps and Underresearched Areas in Academic Diplomacy
About the Guest
Dr. Marina Cino Pagliarello is a strategic advisor and consultant specializing in academic diplomacy, university positioning, and international partnerships.
With extensive experience in European alliances and high-level institutional engagement, she has built a distinguished career at the intersection of academia and policy.
Currently a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow at the European University Institute and Senior Research Associate at LSE Consulting, Dr. Marina’s work focuses on EU politics, public policy, and transnational higher education. Her expertise contributes to shaping impactful strategies for universities and institutions in an increasingly globalized academic landscape.
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In this interview, Dr Satoru Nagao shares expert insights on the evolving strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines. From historical legacies to defence, diplomacy, and economic cooperation, we explore how both countries navigate today’s Indo-Pacific challenges.
Dr Satoru Nagao is a non-resident fellow at the Hudson Institute and a leading expert on security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. He holds a PhD from Gakushuin University.
Dr Nagao has advised Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence and held research positions at top strategic institutes in Japan, the US, India, and Sri Lanka. His work focuses on defence cooperation, maritime security, and strategic partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
In this interview, Dr Satoru Nagao shares expert insights on the evolving strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines. From historical legacies to defence, diplomacy, and economic cooperation, we explore how both countries navigate today’s Indo-Pacific challenges.
Content:
In this interview, Dr Satoru Nagao shares expert insights on the evolving strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines. From historical legacies to defence, diplomacy, and economic cooperation, we explore how both countries navigate today’s Indo-Pacific challenges.
Chapters:
Official Website
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In this episode, we’re joined by Associate Professor Hussein Banai, a leading scholar of international relations, for an in-depth journey through the shifting landscape of American foreign policy under Donald Trump.
Together, we travel across critical regions—from the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East to Europe, Russia, China, and Latin America—to scrutinise the core principles guiding U.S. actions on the global stage.
We discuss the most recent and dramatic development: the 2025 Israel-Iran conflict, during which the U.S. carried out major strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
👤 About the Guest
Dr Hussein Banai is an Associate Professor of International Studies at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, Indiana University, also a Research Affiliate at the Center for International Studies, MIT, and currently a visiting fellow at the Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania. In fall 2024, he was the Zahedi Family Fellow at the Program in Iranian Studies at Stanford University.
Dr Banai is widely recognised for his interdisciplinary approach, international relations and political theory, with particular focus on topics in political ideologies, conflict, diplomatic history and practice, and modern Iran.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
02:17 - From Disruption to Consolidation: Trump's Second Term Strategy
07:45 - Trump's Confident Unilateralism in Foreign Policy
10:54 - American Political Culture and the Think Tank Ecosystem
15:18 - America First Policy: Domestic Appeal and Implementation
22:16 - The Strategic Use of "America First" Despite International Concerns
24:29 - Inside the National Security Council: Roles and Functions
30:23 - Personnel Quality in US Foreign Policy Decision-Making
35:01 - Decoding US Foreign Policy Statements: Research Challenges
38:56 - North Korea Diplomacy: Prospects for a Second Trump-Kim Summit
41:38 - Middle East Triangulation: US-Israel-Iran Relations and Trump-Netanyahu Dynamics
50:11 - Steve Witkoff's Contrasting Negotiation Mandates
53:16 - Trump's Scepticism Toward Multilateral Institutions and Frameworks
57:27 - Neighbours First - Trump's Approach to Canada, Mexico, and Latin America
01:04:03 - Understanding Trump's Foreign Policy Through IR Theories
01:09:12 – EU vs. Member States: Trump’s Fragmented View of Europe
01:14:37 – Trump’s Geopolitical Take on the EU: Weakness, Irrelevance, or Rival?
01:20:28 – China Policy: Strategic Rivalry Meets Economic Interdependence
01:25:33 – Taiwan’s Role in Trump’s China Strategy
01:29:23 – Trump and Putin: Personal Chemistry and Strategic Ambiguity
01:37:20 – U.S. Sanctions on Russia: Tools of Pressure or Leverage for a Deal?
01:42:25 – Why Trump Believes Iran Must Never Go Nuclear
01:47:32 – Iran in Trump’s First Term: Maximum Pressure, Minimal Results?
01:57:58 – 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict - U.S Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure
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Welcome to today’s episode where we dive deep into one of the most compelling questions in international relations: Why do some regions achieve lasting peace while others remain trapped in cycles of conflict?
I’m joined by Professor Arie Kacowicz, a leading expert in Zone of Peace Concept and International Relations from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who will help us understand how entire regions can transform from conflict zones into peaceful communities.
Professor Kacowicz holds the distinguished Chaim Weizmann Chair in International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he has been a valued member of faculty since 1993. He previously served as Chair of the Department of International Relations from 2005 to 2008, and more recently as President of the Israeli Association of International Studies between 2017 and 2021.
As a distinguished peace scholar, Professor Kacowicz’s scholarly interests encompass alternative pathways for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the relevance of international society, the international relations of Latin America, globalisation, and International Relations Theory more broadly.
Content: (1) The Genesis of Zone of Peace Theory: From Regional Puzzles to Global Concepts; (2) Why Study Peace Over Conflict? A Scholar’s Perspective; (3) Theoretical Foundations: Which IR Schools Shaped Zone of Peace Theory?; (4) Beyond Security Communities: Distinguishing Zones of Peace from Deutsch’s Framework; (5) Decolonizing Peace Theory: Addressing Global South Perspectives in IR; (6) South America vs West Africa: Why Some Regions Achieve Lasting Peace; (7) ASEAN’s Peaceful Paradox: Non-Interference Despite Internal Tensions; (8) From Conflict to Peace: Can the Middle East Transform Its Security Dynamics?; (9) Practical Applications: Using Zone of Peace Theory in Today’s World; and (10) Authoritarian States and Peace: Navigating Democracy vs Stability.
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Tune in for an engaging discussion with Dr. Joseph Daher as we explore the future of post-Assad Syria. We’ll cover the war economy’s impact, the whereabouts of Assad’s inner circle, and the current state of Syria’s economy.
Dr. Joseph Daher is a distinguished academic and expert on the Middle East, specialising in political economy, political Islam, and contemporary regional history, with a particular focus on Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Palestine.
He is an associate researcher at the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies.
Between November 2018 and August 2024, he was a visiting professor at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence. At the EUI, he first participated in the research project entitled “Wartime and Post-Conflict in Syria.” He was responsible for one of the four research axes of the project, focusing on political economy: “The war economy and its impact on (potential) future reconstruction efforts.”
Then he co-managed the “Syrian Trajectories: Challenges and Opportunities for Peacebuilding” project at the EUI. His extensive publications appear in academic journals, research centres, and outlets in English, French, and Arabic. Dr. Daher also founded and manages the blog Syria Freedom Forever, a platform dedicated to analysing Syrian politics and society.
Content: (1) Post-Assad Order: Continuity or Break from Syria’s War Economy?; (2) Fate of Assad’s Inner Circle: Where Are They Now?; (3) Current State of Syria’s Economy; (4) Technocrats and Expatriates in Syria’s Government: Redistribution of Resources; (5) Role of Syrian Diaspora and Leaders in Exile; (6) Religion’s Influence in Syria’s Reconstruction and Post-Assad Era; (7) Main Potential Income Sources for Syria in Reconstruction; (8) Approaches of Middle Eastern States vs. Western Economies towards Syria: Solidarity or Profit-Driven?; (9) Role of Russia and China in Syria’s Reconstruction; (10) Geopolitical Triangle: Turkey, Syria, and the Kurds; and (11) Strengthening Syria’s International Diplomacy.
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In this insightful interview with Dr. Gilbert A. Ang’ana, we explore the multifaceted challenges and opportunities surrounding governance in Africa, touching on everything from institutional weaknesses to the impact of digitalisation. Ang’ana’s expertise sheds light on crucial topics such as intra-governmental collaboration, decentralisation, and the evolving role of technology in shaping the continent’s future.
Dr. Gilbert A. Ang’ana is a researcher and practitioner in leadership and governance, focusing on Africa. He is the CEO of Accent Leadership Group and the Executive Director of Accent Global Initiative, a think tank that advocates for good governance and policy innovation. He is a Policy Leader Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence.
Content: (1) Defining “Good Governance” in the African Context; (2) Reception of Good Governance Models Across African States; (3) Intra-Government Collaboration: An Overlooked Pillar of Governance; (4) Case Studies: Successes and Failures in Intra-Governmental Collaboration; (5) Institutional and Political Barriers to Effective Collaboration; (6) Roots of Institutional Weakness and the Role of the African Union; (7) Centralisation vs. Decentralisation of Power in Africa; (8) Challenges in Decentralising Key Governance Elements; (9) Intra-Governmental Collaboration as Mediator or Moderator of Governance Outcomes?; (10) Governance Education and Capacity-Building Initiatives in Africa; (11) “Responsible Negotiation” vs. Traditional Conflict Resolution Methods; (12) Role of Tribes and Minorities in Shaping Good Governance; (13) Navigating Donor Influence and Corporate Pressure: Striving for Epistemic Autonomy; (14) Digitalisation’s Role in Advancing Governance in Africa; (15) Competing Interests: International vs. Local Tech Enterprises; (16) The Power Challenge: Electricity Access as a Prerequisite for Digital Progress; and (17) Key Governance Reforms Needed for Africa’s Future.
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Is nuclear power the future of Kazakhstan’s energy strategy? In this expert interview, Eldaniz Gusseinov explores public opinion, uranium production, civil society’s role, and the geopolitical stakes of potential contracts with Russia, China, France, and South Korea.
Eldaniz Gusseinov is a Non-Resident Research Fellow at the Heydar Aliyev Centre for Eurasian Studies at Ibn Khaldun University (Istanbul), and co-founder of Nightingale Intelligence International, a political forecasting consultancy. He specialises in European and international studies, with a focus on the European Union’s foreign policy and its engagement with Central Asian countries, as well as the analysis of foreign policy processes within Central Asia.
Content:
(1) Is Nuclear Power Essential for Kazakhstan?; (2) Public Opinion on Renewable versus Traditional Energy in Kazakhstan; (3) Who Makes the Decisions on Nuclear Power Plants in Kazakhstan?; (4) The History of Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Power Plans: Why Wasn’t a Soviet Plant Built?; (5) The Current State of Kazakhstan’s Former Nuclear Test Sites; (6) The Role of Civil Society in Nuclear Power Decision-Making; (7) Will Kazakhstan Engage a Third-Party Consultant for Its Nuclear Plans?; (8) Kazakhstan’s Uranium Production and Its Role in Nuclear Strategy; (9) Implications if Russia Wins the Nuclear Power Contract; (10) Implications if China Wins the Nuclear Power Contract; (11) Implications if France Wins the Nuclear Power Contract; (12) Implications if South Korea Wins the Nuclear Power Contract; (13) Could a Multinational Consortium Build Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Plant?; (14) Timeline for Kazakhstan’s Final Decision on the Nuclear Plant; (15) Security Concerns Related to Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Power Project; (16) Public Perceptions of the Nuclear Power Development Process; and (17) Overlooked Dimensions of Kazakhstan’s Energy Security.
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In this insightful interview, Steven Gruzd, a leading expert on Russia-Africa relations, explores the multifaceted dimensions of Russia’s foreign policy towards Africa, from its Soviet legacy to contemporary geopolitical strategies. Delving into topics such as security, trade, energy partnerships, and soft power, this discussion offers a comprehensive analysis of Russia’s evolving role on the African continent.
Steven Gruzd is the Head of the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme and the Africa-Russia Project at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). Gruzd has authored influential analyses on Africa–Russia summits, BRICS cooperation, and the re-emergence of Russian influence in African foreign policy arenas. In addition to his policy work, Steven is also a contributing journalist to the South African Jewish Report, where he writes on international affairs, governance, and Jewish community issues, bringing a journalistic lens to complex geopolitical developments.
Content: (1) The Soviet Legacy: Shaping Russia’s Modern Foreign Policy Towards Africa; (2) Post-Soviet Space and Africa: How Africa Views Former Soviet Republics; (3) Russia’s Security Presence in Africa: The Role of the Wagner Group; (4) Arms Deals and Military Influence: Russia’s Weapon Sales to Africa; (5) Russia vs. China: Economic Influence in Africa; (6) Why is Russia’s Trade in Africa Still Lagging Behind?; (7) Russian Energy Companies in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges; (8) Do African Countries Seek Energy Partnerships with Russia?; (9) The Russia-Africa Summit: A Diplomatic Platform for Russia’s Interests; (10) Russia-Africa Summit vs. BRICS: Diverging Approaches to Russian Interests in Africa; (11) Russia’s Soft Power in Africa: Academic and Cultural Initiatives; (12) Peacekeeping and Counterterrorism: Russia’s Role in African Stability; (13) Russian Foreign Aid to Africa: Aid or Influence?; (14) Russian Media’s Influence in Africa: Shaping Public Opinion; and (15) Under-Explored Research Areas in Russia-Africa Relations.
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In this wide-ranging interview, energy analyst Dr Walter James offers an incisive assessment of Japan’s path to net-zero by 2050. From strategic coherence and institutional constraints to LNG diplomacy, hydrogen ambitions, and civil society’s role, James unpacks the dynamics shaping Japan’s energy transformation. This conversation provides valuable insights into the political economy of decarbonisation in one of the world’s most energy-dependent industrial economies.
Dr Walter James is a political scientist and energy policy consultant specialising in Japan’s decarbonisation strategy. Dr James holds a PhD in Political Science from Temple University, with research focusing on the political dynamics of financial regulatory reforms in the United States and Japan. His academic work included a research fellowship at Waseda University in Tokyo.
He is the principal at Power Japan Consulting and the author of the Power Japan Substack, where he provides detailed analyses of Japan’s energy transition.
He frequently contributes to platforms such as The Japan Times, Energy Tracker Asia, Climate Home News, and East Asia Forum.
His work critically explores the intersection of energy policy, governance, and geopolitics in East Asia.
Content: (1) Strategic Coherence: Can Japan Achieve Net-Zero by 2050?; (2) Understanding Domestic Scepticism Toward Climate Goals; (3) Institutions and Governance: The Role of the Basic Energy Plan; (4) Public vs. Private Ownership in Japan’s Energy Sector; (5) Who Owns Japan’s Major Energy Companies?; (6) The Strategic Role of LNG in Japan’s Energy Transition; (7) LNG Diplomacy and Japan’s Geopolitical Exposure; (8) Japan’s Hydrogen Society: Vision and Implementation; (9) Nuclear Power in Japan’s Future Energy Mix; (10) Barriers to Accelerating Renewable Energy Deployment; (11) Carbon Capture and Storage: Promise or Distraction?; (12) Corporate Collaboration in Decarbonisation Efforts; (13) Civil Society’s Role in Advancing Climate Action; (14) Start-Ups and Innovation in Japan’s Climate Ecosystem; (15) Households and Energy System Upgrades; and (16) Japan’s Greatest Untapped Opportunity in Decarbonisation.
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In this episode, we’ll examine how the EU uses its political, economic, and institutional resources to influence global affairs, often without resorting to direct confrontation. In particular, we’ll focus on soft balancing governance model, and its implications.
Anders Wivel is a Professor of International Relations at University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
His most fundamental research interest is how small states overcome power asymmetry and vulnerability in international relations.
Theoretically, his work begins from a critical and constructive engagement with the Realist tradition in International Relations, most importantly Neoclassical Realism.
Anders was Chief Investigator and Deputy Director of Research in the Independent Inquiry into Denmark’s military engagements in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq commissioned by the Danish Parliament (“Krigsudredningen“).
He is a chair (with Revecca Pedi) of the section “Small States in World Politics” at the European International Studies Association (EISA), and also an active member of the Global Research Network on Peaceful Change (GRENPEC).
Content: (1) Defining Soft Balancing vs Hard Balancing; (2) Soft Power vs Soft Balancing: Key Differences; (3) Relevance of Soft Balancing for EU Governance; (4) Inclusive vs Exclusive Institutional Soft Balancing; (5) Key Historical Milestones in EU Soft Balancing; (6) Lessons from Soft Balancing Failures; (7) Balancing National Sovereignty with Collective Decision-making; (8) The EU’s Institutional Structure: Too Many or Too Few?; (9) The Role of Plasticity in EU Governance Adaptation; (10) Successful and Unsuccessful Soft Balancing with Non-Members; (11) Causes of External Soft Balancing Failures; (12) Approaching Sanctions in Soft Balancing; (13) Official EU Resolutions on Soft Balancing; (14) Soft Balancing and International Relations Theories; (15) Challenges in Implementing Soft Balancing; (16) Soft Balancing in a More Centralized EU; (17) Regions Outside the EU and Soft Balancing Lessons; and (18) The Role of Non-State Actors in Soft Balancing.
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