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PODCAST

Independent Thinking

Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox hosts conversations with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts to provide insight into the latest international political issues. Independent Thinking gives listeners the opportunity to engage with the high level conversations hosted by Chatham House.

news politics

All Episodes

32:17

Should Europe start planning for the worst?

Independent Thinking ·

2025/02/21

Ties between the US and Ukraine have soured with Donald Trump calling Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’ in a public war of words. Meanwhile US and Russian diplomats met in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine’s future without representatives from Kyiv or Europe. Should the continent be preparing for a future without the US as an ally? Bronwen Maddox is joined by historian and author Timothy Garton Ash, Georgina Wright, visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund and Orysia Lutsevych, deputy

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27:04

After Paris: Are the US and UK leaving Europe behind...

Independent Thinking ·

2025/02/14

Sixty countries signed a declaration on 'inclusive' artificial intelligence at a global summit in Paris this week, but the UK and US refused. What was agreed at the summit, why did London and Washington decline to sign and what comes next? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Professor Birgitte Andersen from Birkbeck Business School, Lord Tim Clement-Jones, Co-Chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI and Alex Krasodomski, Programme Director, for Chatham House’s Digital Society Programme. Read our

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31:22

How dangerous are Trump’s trade threats?

Independent Thinking ·

2025/02/07

President Trump has threatened to put tariffs on Mexico and Canada and imposed them on China, fuelling fears of a looming global trade war. With the European Union likely next in his sights – what is the US president trying to achieve with these tactics? And what are the consequences? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Creon Butler, the director of our Global Economy and Finance programme, economist Linda Yueh and ambassador Julian Ventura, both associate fellows with our US and Americas programme. Read

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28:54

Can Donald Trump end the war in Ukraine?

Independent Thinking ·

2025/01/31

President Trump wants a peace deal in Ukraine and has signalled he’s willing to put pressure on Vladimir Putin to achieve it. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also appears more open to a deal – if there is a guarantee for Ukraine’s security. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Mark Landler, London Bureau Chief of the New York Times, The Telegraph’s Francis Dearnley who hosts the award-winning podcast Ukraine: The Latest and Orysia Lutsevych, the deputy director of our Russia and Eurasia programme. Read our latest: Can

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35:11

What did we learn from Trump's first days?

Independent Thinking ·

2025/01/24

Donald Trump has signed a wave of executive orders in his first days as America’s 47th President. The panel discuss the president’s changes to US foreign policy and their potential impact on America and the world. Guest host Mike Higgins, editor of The World Today magazine, is joined by Leslie Vinjamuri, the director of our US and the Americas Programme, Samir Puri, the director of our Centre for Global Governance and Security, and Susan Glasser, a staff writer with The New Yorker. Read our latest:

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33:27

Will the Israel-Hamas ceasefire hold?

Independent Thinking ·

2025/01/17

A fragile ceasefire and hostage deal has been agreed between Israel and Hamas to end 15 months of war and suffering. Chatham House experts discuss the timing of the deal, whether it can hold and what comes next. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Sanam Vakil, the director of our Middle East and North Africa (MENA) programme, Leslie Vinjamuri, the director of our US and Americas programme, and Amjad Iraqi and Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellows with our MENA programme. Read our latest: The new Trump

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34:53

What will be the flashpoints of 2025?

Independent Thinking ·

2025/01/10

From the devastating wars in Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza to Donald Trump’s threats over Greenland and the Panama Canal, what are the places to watch this year? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Gideon Rachman, the FT’s chief foreign affairs commentator, Leslie Vinjamuri, the director of our US and America’s programme and Renad Mansour, a senior fellow for our Middle East and North Africa programme. Read our latest: As the UK government seeks greater engagement with China, a clearer strategy is crucial –

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35:48

What next for Syria and the Middle East after Assad?

Independent Thinking ·

2024/12/13

Does Bashar al-Assad’s removal offer a renewed chance for peace in Syria, or is his fall the start of a new phase of conflict in the Middle East? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Gideon Rachman, the FT’s chief foreign affairs commentator, former BBC Persia journalist Rana Rahimpour and Haid Haid, a senior consulting fellow for our Middle East and North Africa programme. Read our latest: The fall of Assad has exposed the extent of the damage to Iran’s axis of resistance While international support is

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39:15

Europe, Trump and Chagos: What will UK foreign policy...

Independent Thinking ·

2024/12/06

Five months in, has Sir Keir Starmer's foreign policy been a success? The UK-EU relationship remains a major challenge for 2025, as does the prospect of a new US president. How will Starmer respond, and will the recent Chagos Islands deal impact the UK's international standing? Bronwen Maddox is joined the BBC’s diplomatic editor James Landale, Professor Anand Menon, the director of UK in a Changing Europe at King's College London and Olivia O’Sullivan and the director of our UK in the World

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33:29

Is Europe falling apart?

Independent Thinking ·

2024/11/29

Europe is contending with a stagnating economy, political dysfunction in Germany and France, and Russia's relentless attacks on Ukraine, all while it looks to the return of Donald Trump. Will the continent's democracies hold together in the face of such challenges? Bronwen Maddox is joined by journalist and historian Timothy Garton Ash, Mujtaba Rahman, Europe Managing Director at the Eurasia Group and Armida van Rij, senior research fellow and the Head of our Europe programme. Read our latest:

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36:25

Has COP29 made a difference on climate change?

Independent Thinking ·

2024/11/22

The panel discuss whether the COP29 climate summit delivered anything meaningful and what Donald Trump's election means for combating climate change. As the world moves closer to crossing the 1.5 degree threshold, Bronwen Maddox is joined by former BBC journalist Roger Harrabin and Maria Netto, executive director of the Institute for Climate and Society in Brazil. Also with them from COP29 in Baku is Ruth Townend, senior research fellow with our Environment and Society Centre. More from Roger

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33:03

How will China respond to Donald Trump 2.0?

Independent Thinking ·

2024/11/15

The re-election of Donald Trump has major consequences for America’s relations with China. The panel discuss how the US-China relationship might change under the next president. Guest host Ben Bland is joined by historian and political scientist Professor Rana Mitter, the FT’s US-China correspondent, Demetri Sevastopulo and Dr Yu Jie, a senior research fellow with our Asia-Pacific programme. Read our latest: Trump’s ‘America First’ foreign policy will accelerate China’s push for global leadership

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37:35

What does Donald Trump's re-election mean for the world?

Independent Thinking ·

2024/11/08

Donald Trump has decisively defeated Kamala Harris in the US presidential election. What does his return to the White House mean for America and the world? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Edward Luce, the FT’s North America editor, Gerald Seib, the former Washington bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal and Leslie Vinjamuri, the head of our US and Americas programme. Read our latest: The election shows that Trumpism is here to stay America chooses a new role in the world 2024 US election results:

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34:57

Why is North Korea sending troops to Russia?

Independent Thinking ·

2024/11/01

North Korea is sending troops to Russia, but what is Kim Jong Un hoping to get from Vladmir Putin for military assistance against Ukraine? The panel also discuss the role military conscription plays in Israel, South Korea and Ukraine. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Edward Howell, the Korea Foundation fellow at Chatham House, Orysia Lutsevych, the head of our Ukraine Forum and Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow with our Middle East and North Africa Programme. Read our latest: As the ruling

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36:11

Will debt constrain Western foreign policy?

Independent Thinking ·

2024/10/25

Ahead of a crucial budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the UK’s national debt is at almost 100 per cent of GDP - and it's not alone. Many G7 economies face massive debt levels, restricting ambitions when it comes to foreign policy and global engagement. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Patrick Wintour, the Guardian’s Diplomatic Editor and Ranil Dissanayake, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Global Development. With them are Olivia O’Sullivan and David Lubin from Chatham House. Read our latest:

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36:36

How can France survive its budget crisis?

Independent Thinking ·

2024/10/18

France is facing political turmoil. The survival of Michel Barnier’s new government rests on whether he can pass a controversial budget intended to rescue the country from its huge fiscal deficit. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Sophie Pedder, the Paris Bureau Chief of The Economist, Shahin Vallée, a former advisor to Emmanuel Macron and Armida van Rij, the head of our Europe programme. Episode includes a clip of Nancy Pelosi at Chatham House. Read our latest: Four scenarios for the end of the war in

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30:38

Do sanctions work?

Independent Thinking ·

2024/10/11

Sanctions regimes are intended to be preferable to military force as a tool of foreign policy, but do they work to change behaviour or end up hurting ordinary people? With Bronwen Maddox is Daniel W Drezner, Professor of International Politics at Tufts University, Allie Renison, Associate Director at SEC Newgate, and Chris Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America with our US and Americas Programme. Read our latest: How not to sanction | International Affairs journal Why the US–India

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34:32

Can there be peace for Israelis and Palestinians...

Independent Thinking ·

2024/10/06

On the first anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, we discuss the possible pathways for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Daniel Levy, the president of the US/Middle East Project. With them are Sanam Vakil, director of our Middle East and North Africa programme (MENAP) and Amjad Iraqi, a MENAP associate fellow. Read our latest: Israel needs a strategy for its place in the region that is not just attacks on current threats Israel’s wars have sustained the

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36:15

Why is Israel striking Hezbollah now?

Independent Thinking ·

2024/09/27

With the Israeli military launching sustained attacks across Lebanon against Hezbollah, we explore why Israel has decided to ramp up strikes on Hezbollah now, even as the war in Gaza rages on and tensions continue to rise in the West Bank. Bronwen Maddox is joined by The Economist’s Middle East correspondent, Gregg Carlstrom. With them are Lina Khatib and Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellows with our Middle East and North Africa Programme. Read our latest: Could Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah open

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36:52

Missile diplomacy: What is a winning strategy in...

Independent Thinking ·

2024/09/20

As Ukraine waits to hear if it can use Western missiles to strike deep into Russia, we explore the current state of the Kursk offensive and the front lines in Donbas, and ask what if any strategy might change the course of the war into 2025. Guest host James Nixey is joined by the FT’s Christopher Miller and military analyst Michael Kofman. With them is Olga Tokariuk, the OSUN academy fellow with our Ukraine Forum. Read our latest: Attacks on Hezbollah pagers will not improve Israel’s situation

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146 results

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