Chain Reaction is the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s flagship network of podcast series examining the political, security, economic, and social trends shaping Europe and Eurasia. Throughout the year we are talking with experts about developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine, the new European security order, the past, present, and future of the Baltic States, Russia’s political economy, and great power competition in the region. Join us each month for : The Continent, Bear Market Brief, Ba ...
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Audio from FPRI events.
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FPRI Radio is a podcast dedicated to topical discussions between members of the FPRI staff and leading experts on current events relating to and affecting world affairs in the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic domains. These conversations generally range from between 15 and 45 minutes in duration.
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The 1st Draft is a new podcast from the Foreign Policy Research Institute in which Robert D. Kaplan and Dominic Green examine ideas emanating from world affairs. New episodes released monthly. To be the first to know about new episodes, please subscribe to our mailing list and follow us on Twitter @FPRI.
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The Global Demons Podcast: Pandemics, Cyberattacks, and Other Terrors in the New Age
Foreign Policy Research Instit
Hosted by best-selling author Robert D. Kaplan, this 13-episode bi-weekly podcast features interviews with preeminent foreign policy experts discussing the critical issues and challenges facing the U.S. and its allies in this new era of great power rivalry. Each episode will cover how pandemics, climate change, massive cyber-attacks, and other terrors of a global media age will affect potential conflicts between the United States and China, and the United States and Russia.
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Aro Velmet is an associate professor of history at the University of Southern California, where he is a historian of modern Europe, colonialism, science, technology, and medicine with an overarching interest in gender studies. For Baltic Ways, he shares insights into the progression of LGBTQ+ rights in Estonia and the broader region and the path th…
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From Ukraine, to the Middle East, to the Indo-Pacific, American officials claim to see an increasing level of policy coordination among China, Russia, and Iran. In this view, the three authoritarian powers work to support each other and challenge the US. In the worst case, their cooperation could take the form of a combined military challenge to th…
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In this episode we go back to the beginning. What is NATO? What challenges has NATO faced in the past? How are these similar or different to today’s issues? Why is NATO important for US national security? Why should Americans care about the security of Europe? Former NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, and S…
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Yug Gotta Be Kidding Me: Russia and the Global South
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Why has the Global South, historically on the receiving end of colonialism and imperialism, maintained what might be called a neutral stance towards Russia's war against Ukraine? Ivan Grek, Director of the Russia Program at George Washington University’s Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, joins Aaron Schwartzbaum to discuss. For …
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High Stakes: What is NATO’s Role in the War in Ukraine?
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Introducing a new limited series: The Ties That Bind: NATO at 75 and Beyond Maintaining political cohesion on the issue of continuing the flow of Western military aid to Ukraine is a pressing concern for NATO and will be at the top of the agenda when the heads of state and government of the 32 allies meet in Washington, DC from July 9th to 11th. Wh…
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Ukraine: Where Are We Now, and What's At Stake
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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…
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Dead, but not Forgotten: Commemoration in Medieval Livonia
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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…
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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 …
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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
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The Death Of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi
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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…
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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
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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…
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The Baltic States Mark Two Decades of NATO Membership
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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…
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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
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Russian Women in the Face of War Against Ukraine
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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…
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Women's Work: History of Women in Academia at the University of Tartu
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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
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The British Royal Family, Western Elections, and the Death of an Editor
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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
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Russia's Election: It Ain't Vova 'till it's Vova
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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
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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
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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
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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 …
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Malthus, Drones, and the Transformation of War
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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
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Report in Short: A "Frozen Conflict" Boils Over
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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. …
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Out of the Shadows and Into the Sun: The (Re)-Emergence of Central Asia
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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 …
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The New Bipolar Conflict and the Fate of Western Elites
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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
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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…
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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
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Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, Populism, and all the Interlinkages
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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
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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…
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KZ Right Now: Kazakhstan's Politics in a Changing Global Order
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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.…
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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
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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
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Economic War: Ukraine and the Conflict Between Russia and the West
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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…
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Reflections on a Life in Special Operations, Intelligence, and Strategy: A Conversation with Dr. Michael Vickers
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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 …
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Kyiv Dispatch: How are Ukraine's Politics and Society Changing as the War Continues?
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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
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Apocalypse Chisinau: Identity Politics in Moldova
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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
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Dark Heritage: Exploring Memory Building in Estonia
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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…
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Africa, Russia, and Geopolitical Imagination
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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
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Black Sea Security: The View from Bucharest
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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…
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Two Years After the Fall of Afghanistan – What Have We Learned?
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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…
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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 …
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Defense 101: Military Basics and the War in Ukraine
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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
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Latvian-Lithuanian Connections from Morta to Modernity
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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…
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Ukraine, the Wagner Group, and the Difficulty Journalists Have In Interpreting it All
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By Foreign Policy Research Instit
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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
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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…
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Powderkeg Party: Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
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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
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The New Tragic Age, Henry Kissinger at 100, and the Birth of "Late Antiquity"
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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
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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
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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."…
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