Best Geostrategy Podcasts (2024)

1
Ep 134: Michael Sobolik on China’s Geostrategy 50:28

3h ago50:28

50:28

Michael Sobolik, author of Countering China's Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance and Senior Fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies at the American Foreign Policy Council, joins the show to talk about China. ▪️ Times • 01:38 Introduction • 04:29 Belt and Road • 07:54 The Beginning • 13:12 Chinese imperialism • 20:50 Mackinder’s math • 25:19 Nazi …

1
Ep 136: Ronald C. White on Joshua Chamberlain 43:24

1h ago43:24

43:24

Ronald C. White, Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum and author of On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, joins the show to talk about the hero of Little Round Top, Joshua L. Chamberlain. ▪️ Times • 01:37 Introduction • 01:51 Why Chamberlain? • 09:01 Fighting for the Union • 14:05 The 20th Maine • 18:10 Arrivi…

1
Analysis: Netanyahu's U.S. Visit 4:17

2h ago4:17

4:17

Last week, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington D.C. to deliver a speech to a joint meeting of Congress. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the implications of Netanyahu’s visit on U.S. foreign policy in the region. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.…

1
Ep 135: Rich Goldberg on Israel‘s Northern Crisis 53:18

3h ago53:18

53:18

Rich Goldberg, senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joins the show to talk about the expanding war between Israel and Iran. ▪️ Times • 01:40 Introduction • 03:30 Where things stand • 15:25 Israeli expectations • 24:44 Retaliation • 31:39 Iran’s strategic concept • 36:16 American interests • 44:20 Projection • 50:36 Once Iran…

1
Hasan Alhasan: The Strategies of Gulf States 43:02

1h ago43:02

43:02

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Hasan Alhasan, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) based in Manama, Bahrain. Prior to joining IISS, he served for five years on the staff of the Crown Prince of Bahrain as a senior analyst on foreign policy and national security. Together, they compare Gulf s…

1
Ep 133: James Holland on World War II in Italy, 1943 43:45

2h ago43:45

43:45

James Holland, author of The Savage Storm: The Battle for Italy 1943 and host of the We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast, joins the show to talk about the Allied campaign in Italy. ▪️ Times • 02:08 Introduction • 04:23 “No greater moment of human drama…” • 11:08 Why go into Italy at all? • 18:24 Mission to Rome • 29:33 Baytown and Avalanche • 3…

1
Analysis: Iran's Presidential Election 5:49

1h ago5:49

5:49

Masoud Pezeshkian recently won the runoff election to replace Iran's late president, Ebrahim Raisi. This week, Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, about Pezeshkian and the election's impact on regional politics. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program. Jon Alterman, "The Impacts of Raisi's De…

1
Ep 132: Michael Kofman on the Battlefield in Ukraine (War in Ukraine #4) 47:33

41m ago47:33

47:33

Michael Kofman, Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and contributor to War in Ukraine: Conflict, Strategy, and the Return of a Fractured World, joins the show to talk about the operational phases of the war in Ukraine. ▪️ Times • 01:28 Introduction • 02:14 A case of “Two Wars” • 09:37 Operatin…

1
Karim Haggag: Egypt's Balancing Act 41:03

26d ago41:03

41:03

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Ambassador Karim Haggag. After an Egyptian diplomatic career that spanned more than 25 years, Amb. Haggag is now a professor of practice at the American University in Cairo's School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, the director of the university’s Middle East Studies Center, and a non-resident visiti…

1
Ep 131: Thomas Mahnken on Strategic Fallacies (War in Ukraine #3) 55:11

24d ago55:11

55:11

Thomas Mahnken, President and CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and contributor to War in Ukraine: Conflict, Strategy, and the Return of a Fractured World, joins the show to talk about how strategic fallacies have played a role in Ukraine. ▪️ Times • 01:33 Introduction • 02:30 Fallacies of rationality • 05:36 Is war irration…

1
How governments, corporates and investors can unlock a brighter future together 16:33

9d ago16:33

16:33

This podcast explores opportunities and actions for governments, corporates and institutional investors to boost collaboration with the goal to unlock a faster acceleration toward a sustainable future. 16 minsBy EY Parthenon Global Government and Infrastructure

1
Why government executives should focus on decarbonization strategies now 14:54

10d ago14:54

14:54

This podcast provides insight for government executives into the current state of global climate action, the importance of inclusive policy-making, and the role of public-private partnerships in facilitating the transition to a greener economy. 14 minsBy EY Parthenon Global Government and Infrastructure

1
How government executives can build better economic resilience 15:04

27d ago15:04

15:04

Even as central banks work to tame higher for longer inflation through monetary policy, many economies are facing a structural mismatch between supply and demand in critical sectors. These imbalances are creating sustained inflationary pressures that will remain even after cyclical inflation recedes. In this episode of The Government Insights podca…

1
Why government leaders need a robust geostrategy 16:46

1M ago16:46

16:46

In this episode of The Government Insights podcast, host Kait Borsay discusses with her guests key geopolitical developments and what they mean for government leaders. 16 minsBy EY Parthenon Global Government and Infrastructure

1
A Mezze: The Voice Inside AI's Head Speaks English 2:18

1M ago2:18

2:18

On March 20, Saudi Arabia announced that it planned to invest $40 billion into AI development. This move comes on the heels of the UAE's creation of two large language models developed within the last year. However, as these Arabic-speaking nations race for AI supremacy, they are starting behind the pack. Josh Phillips, "The Voice Inside AI's Head …

1
Ep 130: John Spencer on Israel’s Unprecedented War (or, Urban Warfare 101) 58:58

25d ago58:58

58:58

John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute and host of the Urban Warfare Project, joins the show to talk about urban combat and how Israel is fighting an unprecedented war against Hamas with justice and humanity. ▪️ Times • 01:50 Introduction • 02:08 Fighting and teaching • 09:31 Changes in urban warfare • 17:14 Terrai…

1
Karim Elgendy: Climate Diplomacy in the Middle East 31:07

1M ago31:07

31:07

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Karim Elgendy, an expert on climate and energy policy in the Middle East and North Africa. Elgendy is the associate director at Buro Happold, an associate fellow at Chatham House, and a senior non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute. They talk about the geopolitics of climate change, the challe…

1
Ep 129: Frank Gavin on Nuclear Strategy and Ukraine (War in Ukraine #2) 53:21

28d ago53:21

53:21

Frank Gavin, the Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor and inaugural director of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS and contributor to War in Ukraine: Conflict, Strategy, and the Return of a Fractured World, joins the show to talk about nuclear strategy and the war in Ukraine. ▪️ Times • 01:36 Introduction • 0…

1
Analysis: Lebanon's Dangerous Campaign against Refugees 6:28

2M ago6:28

6:28

Recently, the Lebanese government developed a plan to deport Syrian refugees who were not registered with the United Nations, which accounts for almost half of all refugees in Lebanon. Although Lebanon’s sovereignty is important, so are its humanitarian obligations and its role in regional security. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.…

1
Ep 128: Stephen Kotkin on Russia and Ukraine (War in Ukraine #1) 58:38

1M ago58:38

58:38

Stephen Kotkin, Kleinheinz Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and contributor to War in Ukraine: Conflict, Strategy, and the Return of a Fractured World, joins the show to talk about the war in Ukraine and what the endgame might look like. ▪️ Times • 02:24 Introduction • 05:09 Four victories • 11:48 “Winning only on Twitter” • 22:36 10/7 and U…

1
Jonathan Rynhold: Israel's Divided Politics 39:29

2M ago39:29

39:29

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Professor Jonathan Rynhold, the head of the Department of Political Studies at Bar Ilan University and a senior researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. Together, they talk about how Israeli public opinion has evolved since October 7th, the divisions within Israeli politics, and Israel…

1
Ep 127: Robert Blackwill & Richard Fontaine on the Failed Pivot to Asia 54:08

1M ago54:08

54:08

Robert Blackwill & Richard Fontaine, authors of Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power, join the show to talk about America’s failed pivot to Asia and why they think it still needs to happen. ▪️ Times • 01:59 Introduction • 03:10 Was the pivot serious? • 07:40 Absent compulsion • 13:25 War in Europe? • 22:46 Changes to the …

1
Analysis: Environmental Politics in Postrevolutionary Tunisia 3:19

2M ago3:19

3:19

Since the revolution, Tunisia has had 12 different governments. Amid chronic political instability, Tunisian institutions lack the legitimacy necessary to implement policies. Environmental policies have taken a particularly hard hit. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program. Mohamed Omar Kardous, "Political Instability and Environmental Pol…

1
Ep 126: Michel Paradis on D-Day and Eisenhower 49:36

2M ago49:36

49:36

Michel Paradis—litigator, national security law scholar, and author of The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower—joins the show to talk about D-Day and the man behind the invasion, Dwight Eisenhower. ▪️ Times • 01:49 Introduction • 01:56 “Wildly under appreciated” • 05:17 Upbringing • 11:40 Seeing the world as…

1
Sanam Vakil: Iran's Trajectory after Raisi 37:43

2M ago37:43

37:43

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House and a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies for almost 20 years. They talk about the fallout from President Raisi’s death, how Gulf states are likely to react, and the feasibilit…

1
Ep 125: Nick Bunker on America and the Early Cold War 52:30

2M ago52:30

52:30

Nick Bunker, journalist and author of In the Shadow of Fear: America and the World in 1950, joins the show to talk about the first decade of the Cold War. ▪️ Times • 01:36 Introduction • 02:26 Countdown to war • 05:17 Biden and Truman • 09:05 A failure of American policy? • 13:09 Present at the Creation • 21:16 Stalin’s view of the world • 25:50 St…

1
Analysis: The Impacts of Raisi's Death 4:02

2M ago4:02

4:02

This week, Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, about the impacts of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi's death in a helicopter crash, and how it will affect Iran's foreign and domestic policy. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program. Jon Alterman, "The Impacts of Raisi's Death," CSIS, May 20, 20…

1
Ep 124: Shane Brennan on Xenophon and Leadership 45:38

2M ago45:38

45:38

Shane Brennan, Associate Professor of History and Classics at the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh and author of Xenophon's Anabasis: A Socratic History, joins the show to talk about why the Anabasis remains an important part of the Western canon of military writing. ▪️ Times • 01:30 Introduction • 02:05 Dubai to Bangladesh • 05:37 Xenophon…

1
Nicholas Blanford: Hezbollah’s Struggle Against Israel 30:04

3M ago30:04

30:04

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Nicholas Blanford, a Beirut-based security consultant, the author of two books on Lebanon, and a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. They talk about Hezbollah’s evolution, its ties to other actors in the region, and the role the group is playing in the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict…

1
Ep 123: Sergey Radchenko on Soviet Motivations in the Cold War 49:32

2M ago49:32

49:32

Sergey Radchenko, Wilson E. Schmidt Distinguished Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and author of To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power, joins the show to talk about the strategic aims of the U.S.S.R. during the Cold War and how the Soviets attempted to run the world. ▪️ Times • 01:17 In…

1
A Mezze: The Bonds of Marriage between Syria and Iraq 2:19

3M ago2:19

2:19

Desperate for stability and lured by promises of a life of luxury, a Syrian widow accepted a marriage proposal from a member of an Iraqi militia. She did not know that she would become one of dozens of Syrian women to fall victim to Iraqi marriage exploitation in the past year alone. A new Mezze from the CSIS Middle East Program. Josh Phillips, "Th…

1
Ep 122: Mike Gallagher and Matt Pottinger on a Victory Strategy for China 36:30

2M ago36:30

36:30

Mike Gallagher and Matt Pottinger join the show to discuss their recent Foreign Affairs essay on the need for a victory strategy in America’s cold war with China. ▪️ Times • 01:53 Introduction • 03:25 Meeting in Iraq • 07:43 “There are bad guys…” • 13:15 Why detente isn’t working • 23:45 Real statesmanship? • 32:12 Rearm/Reduce/Recruit • 35:20 TikT…

1
Hans Grundberg: Mediation in Yemen 29:00

3M ago29:00

29:00

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Hans Grundberg, the United Nations' special envoy of the secretary-general for Yemen. They discuss what a UN mediator does, why successful mediation is about more than just reaching a peace agreement, and how the internationalization of conflicts complicates mediation. Then, Jon continues the conversatio…

1
Ep 121: Andy Lowery on Drones and Directed Energy 47:59

3M ago47:59

47:59

Andy Lowery, CEO of EPIRUS and a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander, joins the show to talk about directed energy weapons on the modern battlefield. ▪️ Times • 01:45 Introduction • 02:02 Before EPIRUS • 06:29 Drones on the battlefield • 13:30 Current countermeasures • 19:40 An answer for autonomy • 21:32 How does it all work? • 29:54 Beam specs…

1
Analysis: Iran and Israel's Cycle of Retaliation 6:50

3M ago6:50

6:50

Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, about the tensions rising between Iran and Israel, as well as the potential for regional escalation. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

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