Best Foreign Policy Research Instit Podcasts (2024)

1
Ukraine: Where Are We Now, and What's At Stake 32:12

1d ago32:12

32:12

As US assistance to Ukraine resumes after a long delay, Russian forces are making gains in northeastern Ukraine, and may be poised to expand their offensive push this summer. Will the resumption of US aid allow Ukraine to blunt this offensive, what is the likely trajectory of the war, and what does it mean to the US? To discuss these questions, ret…

1
Dead, but not Forgotten: Commemoration in Medieval Livonia 28:34

7d ago28:34

28:34

What did commemoration of the dead look like in Medieval Livonia and how did memoria shape group identities in the region? Dr. Gustavs Strenga shares insights into his research and parallels with modern-day memory wars. Baltic Ways is a podcast brought to you by the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies, produced in partnership with the…

1
Kyrgyzstan Sinks Into Authoritarianism 14:35

21d ago14:35

14:35

In the early 1990s, Kyrgyzstan was often referred to as an “island of democracy” in Central Asia. Three distinguishing features of Kyrgyzstan include an active political opposition, a vibrant civil society, and independent media outlets.The current government is eliminating all three of those distinctions. On this episode of Report in Short, Aaron …

1
The F-Word: Is Russia Fascist? 34:13

27d ago34:13

34:13

Russia has taken an increasingly authoritarian turn over the last decade, but is its political system fascist? Marlene Laruelle and Julian Waller join to discuss the blurry lines between politics, ideology, and terminology. Subscribe to the Bear Market Brief newsletterBy Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
The Death Of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi 26:16

29d ago26:16

26:16

The death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi this past weekend has prompted questions about the future of the Islamic Republic, the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in Iranian domestic politics, and succession race for Supreme Leader Khamenei. Afshon Ostovar, a FPRI Senior Fellow, joined FPRI President Aaron Stein to discuss the lates…

1
Russia Launches New Offensive in Ukraine 34:12

1M ago34:12

34:12

Russia launched a new offensive near Kharkiv, amidst continuing questions about Ukraine’s ability to mobilize enough manpower to blunt Russian advantages. FPRI President Aaron Stein sat down with Senior Fellow Rob Lee to discuss the latest from the Russo-Ukrainian war.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Georgian Dream or Russian Nightmare? 37:35

2M ago37:35

37:35

For weeks tens of thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets of Tbilisi and other cities to protest their government's attempt to pass a so called "foreign agents" law, which they claim is intended to neutralize civil society and destroy independent media. To discuss the implications of these events for Georgia and the West, Ian Kelly, who se…

1
The Baltic States Mark Two Decades of NATO Membership 35:02

2M ago35:02

35:02

This year, NATO marks its 75th anniversary, while the Baltic countries celebrate 20 years as members of the alliance. Dr. Lukas Milevski speaks about the history of that inclusion, and shares his thoughts about the future. Milevski is a tenured assistant professor at Leiden University, where he teaches strategic studies in the BA International Stud…

1
No Nukes is Good Nukes 24:24

2M ago24:24

24:24

The Bear Market Brief goes nuclear! Andrey Baklitskiy dropped by to discuss all of Russia's strategic red lines, what the introduction of hypersonic weapons means for global security, and more. Subscribe to the Bear Market BriefBy Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Russian Women in the Face of War Against Ukraine 15:10

2M ago15:10

15:10

Russia’s war against Ukraine has revealed stories about the heroic resistance efforts of Ukrainian women: from a grandmother launching a pickle jar against a drone to volunteers with territorial defense units. However, comparable stories have been entirely lacking on Russia’s side: How come? On this episode of Report in Short, Aaron Schwartzbaum is…

1
Women's Work: History of Women in Academia at the University of Tartu 33:53

3M ago33:53

33:53

In this episode of Baltic Ways Dr. Janet Laidla shares her work on charting the roles and contributions of women at the University of Tartu from the early days of the Estonian Republic, and what it means today. Explore from FPRI's Baltic Intiative here.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
The British Royal Family, Western Elections, and the Death of an Editor 27:29

3M ago27:29

27:29

In this month’s episode of The 1st Draft, Robert Kaplan and Dominic Green discuss the royal photo scandal, the upcoming US election and the importance of a great editor at The Atlantic.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Russia's Election: It Ain't Vova 'till it's Vova 32:49

3M ago32:49

32:49

If we know how Russia's presidential election is going to turn out... why even bother holding the election? Join András Tóth-Czifra and Olga Khvostunova for an exploration of electoral autocracy and the political moment. Subscribe to the Bear Market Brief newsletterBy Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Russia's Invasion Through Ukrainian Eyes 40:04

3M ago40:04

40:04

Amid the commentary on the war in Ukraine, the voices of those who live it every day are sometimes lost. In this episode of Chain Reaction, we hear from Sophia Opatska of Lviv, Hanna Shelest of Odessa, and Maksym Skrypchenko of Kyiv.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Has Russia Won the Sanctions War? 30:58

4M ago30:58

30:58

Despite Western economic policy, Russia has been able to continue its war against Ukraine, and even seen economic growth. Join as we kick off our season with Nick Trickett and Iikka Korhonen investigating what's driving Russia's economy these days, and whether sanctions are "working."By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Dark Days Ahead in Ukraine? 39:22

4M ago39:22

39:22

As the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, the optimism that reigned a year ago has largely faded. The failure of Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive and the uncertainty of future US assistance seem to augur tough times ahead for Ukraine and its supporters. Joining host Bob Hamilton to discuss the current state of …

1
Malthus, Drones, and the Transformation of War 25:48

4M ago25:48

25:48

In this month’s episode of The 1st Draft, Robert Kaplan and Dominic Green discuss how population theory is misunderstood, and how low-tech countries are fielding high-tech weapons.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Report in Short: A "Frozen Conflict" Boils Over 15:25

5M ago15:25

15:25

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijani forces initiated a massive attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-populated and effectively self-governing region inside internationally recognized Azerbaijani territory. Within 24 hours, the Nagorno-Karabakh leadership gave in, and, for the first time, Baku could claim full control over the contested territory. …

1
Out of the Shadows and Into the Sun: The (Re)-Emergence of Central Asia 38:07

5M ago38:07

38:07

From the "Great Game" of the 19th century to the NATO war in Afghanistan, Central Asia has periodically been at the center of geopolitics. But more often, it has faded into the geopolitical shadows, as other regions and other issues take precedence. The two years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine have seen the region again become a focal point of …

1
The New Bipolar Conflict and the Fate of Western Elites 31:10

5M ago31:10

31:10

In this month’s episode of the 1st Draft, Robert Kaplan and Dominic Green discuss what the war in the Middle East is showing about our world.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Report In Short: Russian Military Drones 13:52

6M ago13:52

13:52

Since 2009, Russia has invested significant effort into developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, for military purposes. However, after a year of war in Ukraine, the Russian military has lost the biggest part of its tactical reconnaissance and targeting UAVs. Pavel Luzin joins Aaron Schwartzbaum to discuss his latest report "Russian Mi…

1
Why Do Autocrats Make Mistakes? 21:53

7M ago21:53

21:53

Almost two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, Bear Market Brief investigates how we got here in the first place. What does theory say about Vladimir Putin’s decision making? Seva Gunitsky joins to discuss. Join the Bear Market Brief on Substack!By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, Populism, and all the Interlinkages 31:27

7M ago31:27

31:27

In this month's episode of the 1st Draft, Robert Kaplan and Dominic Green discuss the "polycrisis" afflicting our world.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Wagner Group: Where Are They Now? 39:27

7M ago39:27

39:27

It’s been just over five months since the Wagner Group’s insurrection against the Russian government, and three months since the group’s leader was killed in a place crash, almost certainly orchestrated by the Kremlin. But the Wagner Group has not faded away. Colin Clarke, *Christopher Faulkner, and Raphael Parens join to discuss what the Wagner Gr…

1
KZ Right Now: Kazakhstan's Politics in a Changing Global Order 27:50

8M ago27:50

27:50

The Continent takes a (slight) detour to learn how trends over in Eurasia compare with what we're seeing in Europe. The complicated neighbor is the same; what about the domestic and geopolitical landscape? Temur Umarov offers insights on the effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Kazakhstan's domestic and foreign policy.…

1
Watching Russia 27:13

8M ago27:13

27:13

Where does Russian public sentiment on politics and war stand these days? And on a more basic level, how is it measured? Bear Market Brief talked with Isabelle DeSisto of Russia Watcher to learn more! Join the Bear Market Brief on Substack! Learn more about Russia Watcher hereBy Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
"The Loom of Time" in the Middle East 31:10

8M ago31:10

31:10

Robert Kaplan and Dominic Green offer historical and philosophical perspectives on the upheavals in the region. The Loom of Time: Between Empire and Anarchy from the Mediterranean to China (Random House, 2023)By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Economic War: Ukraine and the Conflict Between Russia and the West 40:02

9M ago40:02

40:02

On this week's special episode of the Bear Market Brief, Aaron Schwartzbaum sits down with FPRI Fellow Maximilian Hess to talk about his new book "Economic War: Ukraine and the Global Conflict Between Russia and the West" (Hurst, 2023). This episode was recorded live on September 28, 2023. For more on the international economic order and the confli…

1
Reflections on a Life in Special Operations, Intelligence, and Strategy: A Conversation with Dr. Michael Vickers 31:35

9M ago31:35

31:35

In a career spanning from the height of the Cold War to the fight against Al Qaida, Michael Vickers worked at every level of the US national security community. From his time as an Army Green Beret trained to parachute behind Soviet lines in Europe with a “backpack” nuclear weapon, to his final assignment as the senior official responsible for all …

1
Kyiv Dispatch: How are Ukraine's Politics and Society Changing as the War Continues? 27:45

9M ago27:45

27:45

Politically and socially, how are Ukrainians contending with a difficult, long war? Fabrice Deprez joins from Kyiv to give us an update on this week's Bear Market Brief. Check out Fabrice's newsletter, Eastern Radar Subscribe to the Bear Market BriefBy Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Apocalypse Chisinau: Identity Politics in Moldova 29:45

9M ago29:45

29:45

How much do Moldovan politics rhyme with some of what we've seen in Ukraine? FPRI Senior Fellow Ecaterina Locoman sheds light on language politics, Ukraine war spillover, and frozen conflict.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Dark Heritage: Exploring Memory Building in Estonia 25:59

10M ago25:59

25:59

How do we remember tragedies? How do populations construct memories and memory institutions around these events? How can contemporary researchers begin to make sense of these complex landscapes? On this episode of Baltic Ways, Dr. Margaret Comer of University College London joins us to discuss heritage studies, dark heritage, and her fieldwork in R…

1
Africa, Russia, and Geopolitical Imagination 29:23

10M ago29:23

29:23

On this episode of the 1st Draft, Robert Kaplan and Dominic Green discuss the recent coups in Africa, the military stalemate in Ukraine, and predict big events on the horizon.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Black Sea Security: The View from Bucharest 34:31

10M ago34:31

34:31

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 put the Black Sea region on the map in Washington, DC and Brussels after decades of relative neglect. Among regional countries Romania was an early, vocal and persistent proponent of greater US and NATO focus on the region and has emerged as a leader in the drive for greater regional integration and c…

1
Two Years After the Fall of Afghanistan – What Have We Learned? 38:27

10M ago38:27

38:27

Two years ago this month, Taliban forces rolled into Kabul, completing their takeover of Afghanistan. After 20 years of U.S.-led effort and investment in the Afghan government and security forces, they collapsed almost instantly in the face of an enemy with less training and rudimentary equipment. To understand the sources of this strategic failure…

1
Lessons of Ukraine for the US Army 49:51

11M ago49:51

49:51

Clausewitz wrote that the first task of a commander is to establish “the kind of war on which they are embarking; neither mistaking it for, nor trying to turn it into, something that is alien to its nature.” After two decades of counterinsurgency operations, the US Army now finds itself observing – and supporting – Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s …

1
Defense 101: Military Basics and the War in Ukraine 31:50

11M ago31:50

31:50

Robert Hamilton and Rick Landgraf join Aaron to tackle (almost) every question you were too embarrassed to ask about the defense and security issues central to Ukraine. Term by term, concept by concept, jargon by jargon. No acronym is safe!By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Latvian-Lithuanian Connections from Morta to Modernity 21:03

11M ago21:03

21:03

How have Latvian and Lithuanian histories intertwined over the last millennium? Who was Queen Morta, a Latvian princess by birth who became the wife of Lithuania’s first and only king, Mindaugas? How close did we come to a Latvian-Lithuanian state in the early 20th century? How do Latvians and Lithuanians see their shared commonalities today? James…

1
Ukraine, the Wagner Group, and the Difficulty Journalists Have In Interpreting it All 27:24

11M ago27:24

27:24

By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
How Do Wars End? 34:46

11M ago34:46

34:46

Have you heard calls for Ukraine and Russia to "just negotiate"? What does theory say about how (and why) wars come to an end? Christine Cheng joins to discuss.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Changing Tides in the Black Sea Region 36:36

12M ago36:36

36:36

The Black Sea region looms increasingly large as the locus of of great power, military, political, and economic competition. FPRI’s Eurasia Program partnered with Ilia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia, to hold a two day conference on Black Sea geopolitics, security, strategic connectivity, and resilience. In this episode, Head of Eurasia Resear…

1
Powderkeg Party: Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina 54:51

12M ago54:51

54:51

On this special double feature, The Continent visits the Balkans. How do we make sense of continued nationalism, the conflict it spurs, and Russia's regional influence? Mladen Mrdalj and Jasmin Munjanovic join to discuss. Related Reading: Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the BalkansBy Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
The New Tragic Age, Henry Kissinger at 100, and the Birth of "Late Antiquity" 30:00

1y ago30:00

30:00

Kaplan and Green discuss the current age in which we live and the world of almost 2,000 years ago, bringing into the discussion such varied authors as Evan Thomas, Peter Brown, and Lawrence Durrell.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Fight or Flight: Resistance in Russia 30:28

1y ago30:28

30:28

If you're a Russian against the war in Ukraine, what options do you have? And how has resistance evolved as the war has continued? Colleen Woods joins the Bear Market Brief. Related Reading: Is Russia’s anti-war movement changing people’s minds? by Colleen WoodsBy Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
The War as an Accelerator 15:01

1y ago15:01

15:01

How has Russia's (latest) invasion of Ukraine exacerbated issues in domestic governance and political economy? András Tóth-Czifra joins Aaron Schwartzbaum to discuss his latest report "The War as an Accelerator: How Russia's War Against Ukraine Showcased and Exacerbated Domestic Governance Challenges."…

1
The School of Democracy in Interwar Estonia 29:51

1y ago29:51

29:51

How did Estonian democracy erode in the 1930s? How did liberal dissidents express their discontent under a more oppressive regime? Why is political rhetoric important, both now and then? Dr. Liisi Veski, fellow at the Skytte Institute, University of Tartu, dives into this complex, informative world of letters. Baltic Ways is brought to you by the A…

1
Ukraine and US National Security Policy 41:50

1y ago41:50

41:50

US assistance has been a key factor in Ukraine's ability to not only survive Russia's invasion but turn the tide in some places. But could the US have done more, and done it sooner? Some in Ukraine and in the West have critiqued the US effort as incremental and risk-averse. Is this a fair critique, and if so, is this type of policy a feature or a b…

1
A Secret Coronation, Malthusian Fears, and a Ukrainian Fork in the Road 29:38

1y ago29:38

29:38

This month's discussion ranges from the part of King Charles' coronation that the public did not see, to a discussion of environmental limits, and to the prospect of a Ukrainian military victory. We also squeeze in Orwell and a legendary Manhattan editorial team.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
The Fast and the Pistorius 31:42

1y ago31:42

31:42

Germany announced bold remilitarization plans after Russia's latest invasion of Ukraine. A year later, where do we stand? Minna Alander returns to The Continent to discuss progress made, and the challenges ahead.By Foreign Policy Research Instit

1
Dark Sarcasm in the Classroom 31:44

1y ago31:44

31:44

Patriotic education in Russia: how does it work? Is this any different from in the West? And among Russia's young people, are we seeing generational differences as far as political attitudes go? Allyson Edwards joins Aaron Schwartzbaum on the Bear Market Brief. Dark Sarcasm in the ClassroomBy Foreign Policy Research Instit

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