Best Peter Schechter Podcasts (2024)

1
Is Non-Alignment Dead? The Case for Countries Not Picking a Side [S6, E11] 38:07

11M ago38:07

38:07

In a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, alliances are changing fast. The US, Russia, and China are using their influence to rally support from previously neutral countries. Increasingly, nations -- especially developing nations -- are forced to pick a side. Is non-alignment possible in an increasingly polarized world? Who are the fence sitt…

1
Great Britain’s Identity Crisis [S6, E10] 30:12

11M ago30:12

30:12

Several years into Brexit, the country has not found its footing politically, economically, and in its very soul. The UK is working to rebuild relationships with Europe while dealing with renewed calls for independence from Scotland and Northern Ireland. The economy has fared better than expected, even though inflation has resulted in a deep cost-o…

1
NATO Veers North [S6, E9] 31:52

12M ago31:52

31:52

Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine eroded the concept of neutrality as an effective policy in a polarized world. That’s especially true for countries in close geographic proximity to Russia. Recently, Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, ending 100 years of neutrality. With 830 miles of border between Russia and Finland, NATO’s newest a…

1
The Mexican Paradox [S6, E8] 35:16

12M ago35:16

35:16

These days, Mexico is one contradiction after another. For example, President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador – or AMLO, as he is called – declared a rhetorical war on the private sector, yet the economy is holding on pretty well – at least for now. On the tourism front, it’s one of the world’s booming tourist destinations, despite travel advisories wa…

1
The Future of Work is Now [S6, E7] 37:40

1y ago37:40

37:40

COVID-19 turned many workplaces and schools into virtual or hybrid environments. Artificial intelligence has become part of daily life with new products such as Chat GPT. The UK just had a hugely successful 4-day workweek trial. With all of these new developments, what is the future of work? But not every industry or every country will transform in…

1
Nigeria: Trading Votes or Deeper Democracy [S6, E6] 33:11

1y ago33:11

33:11

Nigeria’s presidential vote constituted one of the most closely watched and significant elections of the year. One of the world’s top oil producers, Nigeria has suffered political and economic upheaval since its independence from the UK in 1960. In lead up to this election, young people were galvanized, and many hoped for change. But then, the elec…

1
Why Greece? The Curious Case of Country Rankings [S6, E5] 35:15

1y ago35:15

35:15

Country rankings – whether it’s about the economy, democracy, or environmental standards – are important for a country’s reputation. The Economist produces its annual Economic Rankings, which look at several economic factors to assess economic stability. Since COVID, the process of “measuring” countries has been turned upside down. The 2022 Economi…

1
Open Source Intelligence: What is it, and why should you (really) care? [S6, E4] 35:32

1y ago35:32

35:32

OSINT is the gathering and analysis of publicly available data from unlimited and all-encompassing sources. This new tool is shaping the frontlines of war, terror, and other geopolitical threats. Open Source Intelligence is a tool, and like any tool, its purpose and morality depend on how it’s used. Analysts use open sources to find illegal activit…

1
Spotlight on Biodiversity [S6, E3] 34:53

1y ago34:53

34:53

Biodiversity is crucial for our planet’s food security, climate resilience, supply chains, and our economy. Half of global GDP relies on nature. Governments are scrambling to create policies on conservation – is it too little too late? Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic div…

1
Breakdown in Brazil [S6, E2] 42:09

1y ago42:09

42:09

News around the world centered on the violent protests in Brazil by those who rejected election results and sought to overthrow the government following the presidential transition (sound familiar?). The riots were – at best – a collapse of military preparedness or – at worst – included the help and connivance of the military and business elites. H…

1
Everything Energy [S6, E1] 35:29

1+ y ago35:29

35:29

2022 put energy in the headlines nearly every day. The list of interlocking energy issues is huge: Europe’s spiraling prices and gas shortages, the war in Ukraine and the cutoff of Russia’s oil and gas from world markets, canceling Nordstream 2, the rift between the US and the Saudis, COP 27 and the green energy transition to renewables are only a …

1
Megatrends 2022 [S5, E26] 38:24

1+ y ago38:24

38:24

The big issues of our time transcend borders, countries, and geographies. This past year, power has become more diffuse. Many leading western countries are stifled by crises and polarization. New players are asserting themselves, taking a slice of the power pie. We identified eight macrotrends: shifting demographics, economic uncertainty, China’s s…

1
#Soccerpolitics [S5, E25] 45:22

1+ y ago45:22

45:22

As the first championship in the Middle East, the Qatar World Cup is both historic and controversial. Notwithstanding numerous bribing allegations, Qatar was selected as the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup. And the political controversies have been on full display during the Cup – from LGBTQ rights to Iran’s protests, the wor…

1
Bibi’s Extreme Comeback [S5, E24] 34:52

1+ y ago34:52

34:52

Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister – Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu – is back with a new strategy. This time, Bibi aligned himself with hard-right extremist parties to clinch a victory in a narrow election. His new allies are the ultra-nationalist Religious Zionist Party, who have expressed racist and homophobic propaganda. Will this new coalition …

1
Midterm Mayhem [S5, E23] 36:34

1+ y ago36:34

36:34

There was a lot at stake in the American midterm elections. The loss of the House will greatly impact Biden’s ability to accomplish his agenda in his last two years as president. But, Republicans did not win nearly as big as expected. The red wave was a fizzle. Democrats held on in important races and some unexpected upsets that led to doubts about…

1
Lula Strikes Back [S5, E22] 36:02

1+ y ago36:02

36:02

The Brazilian presidential election was a bickering, contentious and rancorous race between two opposing views of Brazil. Lula and Bolsonaro have dominated the country’s political story for over a decade, one a veteran politician with allegations of corruption, both beloved and criticized. The other an autocratic, right-wing populist with little re…

1
Germany in the Crossfire [S5, E21] 37:38

1+ y ago37:38

37:38

Shifting realities following Russia’s invasion have put Berlin in a tough position. Germany’s long history of trade and business with Russia has placed it deep into the crossfires of this conflict. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is facing an energy crisis and a difficult governing coalition at home while being criticized for not doing enough to help Ukrain…

1
Italy’s Right Turn [S5, E20] 33:08

1+ y ago33:08

33:08

Giorgia Meloni will be Italy’s first woman leader and first rightwing Prime Minister since WWII. The rise of the Brothers of Italy party is a case study in the continued prominence of culture war politics and the implosion of centrist parties. Just how radical will Meloni’s government be? The country progressing under the steady, technocratic and r…

1
Buses Fuel the Migration Fire [S5, E19] 37:53

1+ y ago37:53

37:53

Immigration seems unsolvable in the United States. The number of immigrants crossing the border has been spiking since at least 2013, haunting several presidents. The Trump administration was criticized for being inhumane. The Biden administration took a friendlier stance, but border traffic has increased exponentially. To make a political point an…

1
Marshall Plan 2.0 [S5, E18] 34:02

1+ y ago34:02

34:02

Western nations are struggling to cope with the onslaught of international and national crises from climate to a tide of authoritarianism. Developing countries have an even harder time as they face greater inequality with fewer resources to help their citizens. Government and international bodies have been unable to find lasting solutions to the ec…

1
Monkeypolitics [S5, E17] 29:16

1+ y ago29:16

29:16

The emergence of Monkeypox stress-tested the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic – and, again, the world is failing the challenge. Health institutions seem unprepared to deal with this new health scare, especially one that targets a stigmatized minority and involves complicated national security issues around vaccine stockpiles. As a resul…

1
Nuclear South Asia: The World’s Third Tripwire [S5, E16] 28:14

1+ y ago28:14

28:14

In 1947, free from British control, India and Pakistan split based on religious majorities – Hindu and Muslim. Soon thereafter, the two countries went to war over control of the Jammu and Kashmir provinces. Since then, the conflict escalated into confrontations on multiple fronts, with global implications. After all, both countries are nuclear powe…

1
The End of Trade [S5, E15] 33:32

1+ y ago33:32

33:32

The term “free trade” has fallen out of favor in recent years. Trade disputes, economic uncertainty, and a growing income gap have stoked a global protectionist fire. Nationalist parties across the world have flourished on a trade-unfriendly agenda. Latin American leaders run campaigns on “renegotiating” trade agreements. The Trump Administration’s…

1
Storm Clouds in Africa [S5, E14] 36:18

2y ago36:18

36:18

By 2050, Africa’s population will double; by 2100, one of three people on the globe will be African. While it’s hard to generalize in a continent so diverse, Africa has seen a lot of progress over the past twenty years. Economic growth and manufacturing expanded. Infrastructure was built. Social services such as education and healthcare improved. M…

1
Colombia Ousts the Center [S5, E13] 33:20

2y ago33:20

33:20

This is the first time that the left will rule in this democracy of 50 million historically conservative people, who have now expressed a deep desire for change. Gustavo Petro, a controversial former guerrilla, congressman, and Mayor, beat a rich and eccentric populist who ran from the right. Petro promises a radical transformation of Colombia’s ec…

1
Americas in Disarray [S5, E12] 32:40

2y ago32:40

32:40

This Summit of the Americas only served to underscore the fractures on the continent. Instead of resetting its relations with Latin American countries, the US seemed further apart than ever from the continent. The hotly debated RSVP list left out some major players, such as Mexico’s President Lopez Obrador. With countries facing such different inte…

1
The Globalization of Food Insecurity [S5, E11] 31:03

2y ago31:03

31:03

Global food insecurity was already an issue. Years of heightened climate change cut global production by about 20%. Then, a war happened. Russia and Ukraine together normally account for almost a third of the global production of wheat and are the main providers of barley, sunflowers, and maize. Human Rights Watch has warned that many countries hav…

1
Extreme Autocracy [S5, E10] 29:04

2y ago29:04

29:04

As Russia escalates its merciless attack on Ukraine, there is much talk of a newly reunited West taking a collective position and presenting a strong front against Putin. But is consensus real? All over the world, we are seeing large percentages of voters embracing a populist candidate with autocratic tendencies. From Marine Le Pen in France, Duter…

1
Corporations Cancel Russia [S5, E9] 31:44

2y ago31:44

31:44

In the first weeks of the war, we heard reports that brand after brand was closing their doors in Russia. Oil giants shut down their rigs, and tech companies unplugged their servers, sending workers home. Luxury good brands joined the exodus, sending powerful values-ridden press releases. The wave of global companies leaving Russia has not stopped.…

1
Serbia in the Middle [S5, E8] 29:39

2y ago29:39

29:39

The conservative Serbian Progressive Party easily won the elections at the presidential, parliamentary, and municipal levels. Vucic and his party have already ruled for over ten years. He stays in power with a comfortable mandate but with a difficult geopolitical agenda, stuck between Russia and the EU. Serbia has been an EU candidate since 2009 wh…

1
ASEAN Realigns [S5, E7] 33:11

2y ago33:11

33:11

Impressive economic growth and development made ASEAN an increasingly important geopolitical block. In the past few decades, China invested heavily in Southeast Asia through its Belt and Road Initiative and strengthened its ties with the ten countries. The result has been widespread economic growth, greater trade and investment flows, and growth in…

1
The Sanctions War [S5, E6] 32:33

2y ago32:33

32:33

The economic sanctions are unprecedented in both size and scope. The strongest blow was dealt by freezing assets of Russia’s Central Bank and the largest Russian sovereign wealth fund. Without reserves, the ruble has fallen to historic lows. To further isolate Russia, many countries have expelled Russian banks from SWIFT services and have targeted …

1
After A Century of Egyptian Independence, It’s Still Complicated [S5, E5] 33:59

2y ago33:59

33:59

Egypt’s revolt from Britain occurred decades before any other African or Asian country managed to throw off the yoke of British, French, Belgian, German colonial power. For years, this act of revolution propelled Egypt to a position of regional and global policy leadership – from its role as a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the pionee…

1
Sports or Politics? [S5, E4] 33:56

2y ago33:56

33:56

Now, countries with poor human rights records are using wealth to clean reputations and advance personal gain. Sportswashing - coined by Amnesty International in 2018- describes how countries clean their reputation by becoming the epicenter of global athletic events. Sportwashing is the newest example of the intertwining of sports and politics. And…

1
The Italian Job [S5, E3] 29:33

2y ago29:33

29:33

Italian Prime Minister Draghi, former European Central Bank head, managed to keep the country’s economy growing, its vaccine calendar in check, and his popularity strong both at home and abroad. Italy has also managed 248 billion Euros in recovery granted by the ECB. Even though The Economist’s prize of “Country of the Year” prize was not very comp…

1
Europe's Extreme Right: How Real is The Threat? [S5, E2] 33:24

2y ago33:24

33:24

Extreme right-wing ideology is spreading. As France prepares for presidential elections in April, two candidates on the far-right are vying to replace current centrist President Emmanuel Macron. The right-wing darling Marine Le Pen and the even more extreme Eric Zemmour drive a daily political agenda of xenophobia, anti-globalization, anti-elites, …

1
The Rise of Latin America’s Young Progressives [S5, E1] 33:40

2+ y ago33:40

33:40

The year ahead is a difficult one for Latin America as the region tries to reverse its democratic and economic backsliding. A new generation of leaders is on its way to power. 2022 has a critical electoral calendar in Latin America, as elections loom ahead in Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica. In Chile’s recent presidential elections, the country vo…

1
The Good, The Bad and the Scary [S4, E24] 31:23

2+ y ago31:23

31:23

This year has been an absolute whirlwind of the Good, the Bad, and the Scary. Our end-of-year episode’s positive highlights include the scientific collaboration that led to vaccines for both COVID and malaria, a growing consensus on climate change, an emphasis on holding China accountable, and the end of the Trump era. Our drawbacks are the ever-gr…

1
Rocky Recovery: These Strange Economic Times [S4, E23] 27:36

2+ y ago27:36

27:36

The London Interbank Overnight Rate (LIBOR) – one of the world’s longest-lasting financial benchmarks – disappears this month. It’s just one of the many signs of a new uncertainty in economics. Rising inflation, high energy bills, real estate crises in China, lockdowns, supply chain breakdowns, and labor shortages are creating an unusual economic s…

1
Russia Turns 30 [S4, E22] 29:42

2+ y ago29:42

29:42

It’s been 30 years since the Soviet Union fell. With the dismantling of communism, the US became the sole superpower. Market economies and liberal democracies became the new norm. But, Russia has once again reverted to old habits. Russia is an authoritarian superpower and one of the West’s principal antagonists. What is in Russia’s imminent future?…

1
The US: A Nation at Risk [S4, E21] 40:23

2+ y ago40:23

40:23

National security is more complex than ever before. The dangerous rivalry between the US and China continues to grow. The Middle East’s balance of power is shifting. And threats to democracy are deepening around the world. Not to mention, the heightened cybersecurity risks due to heightened dangers of hacks and data thefts from the COVID-era’s tele…

1
Is COP26 a Copout? [S4, E20] 26:16

2+ y ago26:16

26:16

After 18 months of COVID and a turbulent geopolitical map, this crucial global convening of leaders will set the stage for the environmental future of planet Earth. COP is coordinated by the UN and produced the Paris Accord five years ago. Now, many of the world’s top leaders are back to discuss what happens next. COP 26 comes at a time of huge ene…

1
Dirty Money [S4, E19] 31:33

2+ y ago31:33

31:33

First the Panama Papers in 2016, then the Paradise Papers in 2017, and now the Pandora Papers. The massive leaks expose financial maneuverings and corruption at the world’s highest levels. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists worked with more than 140 media organizations on its biggest-ever global investigation. Data reveals hi…

1
Is there Life after Angela? [S4, E18] 30:09

2+ y ago30:09

30:09

Everyone’s looking at Germany. Not because its general elections are typically an exciting affair, but because Chancellor Angela Merkel is stepping down after more than a decade and a half at the helm of Europe’s most powerful nation. Germany’s youth wanted a female, young, climate activist to take her place, but the leader of a likely coalition wi…

1
Woke Corporations and Cancel Capitalism [S4, E17] 35:30

2+ y ago35:30

35:30

Social activism and conscious consumerism are on everyone’s mind. Should businesses be taking stances on the social justice debate of the day? Given the repeated failures of government to resolve long-festering issues such as widening inequality, injustice, and racism, corporations have now become more engaged in pushing social causes. Is this simp…

1
‘Friendshoring’ in the Caribbean [S4, E16] 30:52

2+ y ago30:52

30:52

Since the early 2000s, most US and European companies have cut significant costs by moving manufacturing operations to China and Southeast Asia. Because of COVID disrupted supply chains, growing tensions and trade disputes between China and Western nations, and backlash over China’s dismal human rights records, companies are seeking diversity. As C…

1
Cuba Libre? Not So Much. [S4, E15] 28:51

2+ y ago28:51

28:51

Calls for freedom and change ring in Cuba as the country faced the most widespread, violent protests since 1959. What spurred these demonstrations and what lies in store for the island’s future? Exhausted by food shortages, lack of opportunity, and a declining economy, protests exploded across the island as people – from novelists and singers to co…

1
Afghanistan: The Graveyard of Empires [S4, E14] 29:44

2+ y ago29:44

29:44

America’s “longest war” has again entered the spotlight as the Biden Administration announced a complete withdrawal of U.S. military forces. Nicknamed ‘the graveyard of empires,’ Afghanistan has defeated many global powers – the British, the Soviets, and now the Americans. The U.S. leaves after having spent close to $800 billion and lost countless …

1
COVID, Diplomacy and Populism [S4, E13] 32:18

2+ y ago32:18

32:18

The worldwide vaccination effort has deepened the fault lines between rich and poor countries. While more developed countries are welcoming a long-anticipated reopening, developing countries continue to live a hellish public health crisis. The global initiative, COVAX, spearheaded by the WHO, GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance), CEPI, and UNICEF, aims to p…

1
Sports, Money, and Politics [S4, E12] 31:48

3y ago31:48

31:48

With the end of Copa America and the Eurocup, and the Olympics starting soon, sports are on everyone’s mind this Summer. Most sports now share various commonalities: a huge influx of money from sponsors, venture capital and huge corporations, injured athletes, corruption, and political ambition. Sports have become an arena for countries, companies,…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Peter Schechter Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide