International Relations Episodes

Foreign policy
Oct. 15, 2023

Australia's Voice to Parliament Referendum. Talking with Professor Chris Wallace, University of Canberra

Australia’s Voice to Parliament Referendum on October 14th 2023 was defeated 60% to 40%. Professor Wallace analyses what went wrong for the Yes campaign.
Oct. 2, 2023

The Communist Party of China and the Chinese Military: How they work together. Talking with James Char, Research Fellow at RSiS.

The CCP and Chinese Military have a unique relationship among developed nations. James Char explains.
Guest: James Char
Sept. 29, 2023

Overreach. How China derailed its' peaceful rise. In conversation with Professor Susan L. Shirk

China’s one man rule policy is a concentration of power that’s at the root of poor policy making.
Sept. 21, 2023

The Putin Kim Summit: What were the results ? Talking with Seong Hyeon Choi of the South China Morning Post.

Korea produces old Soviet era shells and ammunition that are interoperable with Russia’s current war machine. But why would Russia trade high tech weapons for shells and bullets ? Are they so weak ?
Sept. 6, 2023

Friends with Benefits: The India - US Story. In conversation with author Seema Sirohi.

How India and the United States are growing a global partnership for trade, finance, academic and cultural links to develop the defining relationship of the 21st century.
Guest: Seema Sirohi
Sept. 5, 2023

Sweden, Turkey and NATO: Where do we stand ? Talking with Paul Levin, Professor at Stockholm University.

Sweden’s application to join NATO continues to be blocked by Turkey, jeopardizing security in the Baltic Region. What’s next ?
Aug. 23, 2023

Reducing Russia's Nuclear Threat in the Baltic Region. Talking with Dr. Marion Messmer of Chatham House.

Putin from the start of the Ukraine invasion in 2022 has issued veiled threats of using nuclear weapons. Why now and why Ukraine ? Russia isn’t at existential risk so why threaten to use nukes ?
June 28, 2023

Prime Minister Modi's trip to Washington: A game changer or business as usual ? Talking to Seema Sirohi columnist for The Economic Times, India's leading business daily.

US and India’s relationship has waxed and waned over the last 76 years. However, PM Modi’s visit was described as a Hinge in Geopolitics by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Was it ?
Guest: Seema Sirohi
June 7, 2023

Finntopia: What we can learn from the World's happiest country ? Talking with author, Professor Danny Dorling.

Finland has ranked #1 in the World's Happiest Country listing for the sixth year in a row. How did this small Nordic country of 5 million, which 100 years ago was the poorest country in Europe and bullied by Russia for much o...
June 2, 2023

Pakistan: Origins, Identity and Future. In conversation with Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy

A sweeping review of history, culture and politics of the Muslim people on the Indian Subcontinent.
May 10, 2023

Everyday War: talking with author Greta Uehling.

An intervention how we think about war. War from the civilian perspective. Conscious ways non combatants participate in war.
Guest: Greta Uehling
April 11, 2023

The Black Sea Strategic Triangle: Talking with Rich Outzen of the Atlantic Council.

Turkey’s dominance of the Black Sea during the Ukraine War while maintaining commercial and diplomatic ties with Russia has been a tight rope walk.
Jan. 11, 2023

Global Discord: Values and Power in a Fractured World Order. Talking with author Paul Tucker.

China, an authoritarian state, is challenging the US dollar as the global reserve currency.
Guest: Paul Tucker
Dec. 19, 2022

Deep State: An overview of the current state of espionage during the age of Great Power Competition. Talking with Alp Sevimlisoy, geopolitical strategist and national security expert.

Failings of Russian Spycraft in Ukraine, the West’s sharing of intel with Ukraine and China’s moves in its global espionage reach.
Nov. 1, 2022

Saudi Arabia: No longer our reliable ally ? Talking with Professor Nicholas Grossman of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

Saudi Arabia decreased daily oil production despite Biden’s request to increase. The Saudi move favors Russia. Why did they do it ?
Oct. 6, 2022

Atlanticism versus Eurasianism : talking with Alp Sevimlisoy, the foremost Atlanticist in the Turkish Republic.

Atlanticism enshrines Western values of liberal democracy and personal freedom whereas Eurasianism represents authoritarian rule and limited liberty.
Sept. 12, 2022

The UK has a new monarch and prime minister. Talking with Georgina Wright of the Institut Montaigne, Paris.

Profile of new PM Luz Truss and her cabinet and King Charles III.
Sept. 1, 2022

Turkey and Ukraine: Walking a tightrope between NATO and Russia. Talking with Rich Outzen, geopolitical consultant and nonresident fellow of the Atlantic Council.

Turkey is arming its neighbor Ukraine and at the same time, trying to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. How do they pull it off ?
Aug. 28, 2022

Kim Jong Un: North Korea's savvy but brutal dictator.

North Korea 🇰🇵 is a hereditary, dynasty of the Kim family. The nation’s nuclear weapons and ICBMs ensure the regime’s survival.
Guest: Jim Herlihy
Aug. 26, 2022

China's push into the South Pacific: A New Zealand Perspective. Talking with Senior Lecturer at Victoria University, Iati Iati.

China recently signed a security pact with the strategic Solomon Islands. Australia and New Zealand fear that China could gain a military presence in their neighborhood.
Guest: Dr. Iati Iati
Aug. 21, 2022

Russian Speakers in NATO Countries : A Red Line for Putin ?

Will Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania be prey to Putin’s expansionist policies on the pretext of protecting their Russian speaking minorities ?
Guest: Jim Herlihy
June 21, 2022

Prisoners of Geography : 10 maps that explain everything about the world. By Tim Marshall. A Review by Jim Herlihy

A country’s physical geography still largely determines its global power and either advantages or disadvantages the geopolitical decisions of its leader.
Guest: Jim Herlihy