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PODCAST

The IR thinker

The IR thinker features in-depth interviews with leading experts in international relations, foreign policy, and global affairs. The IR thinker is an independent, non-partisan and non-aligned platform. It hosts a wide range of perspectives on international relations but does not endorse any political party, government or ideological position. Since its first episode in 2023,The IR thinkerhas produced more than 100 episodes as a pro bono initiative established byMartin Zubko, an international

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All Episodes

42:48

British Journal of Politics and International...

The IR thinker ·

2026/04/07

Today, we are hosting an episode that provides an opportunity to present a research journal together with its editor. The aim is not only to introduce the journal, but also to offer a critical assessment of suitable venues for publishing research articles. In this context, we turn our attention to the British Journal of Politics and International Relations (BJPIR).Impact Factor: 3.4 / 5-Year Impact Factor: 3.4Indexed: Scopus / Web of Science First Decision: 6 daysAcceptance Rate: 18.7%14th out of

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49:53

Understanding China-Russia Relations - Philip Snow |...

The IR thinker ·

2026/03/30

This episode features a conversation with the historian Philip Snow on the evolution of relations between Russia and China. Drawing on archival research, the discussion traces the relationship from the early border settlements at Nerchinsk and Kyakhta to contemporary geopolitical and economic cooperation, highlighting how frontier regions such as Manchuria, Mongolia, and Xinjiang have shaped interaction between the two powers.The interview examines key turning points, including the Sino-Soviet

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58:23

The Changing World Order - Mark N. Katz | Ep. 5 (2026)

The IR thinker ·

2026/03/24

This interview with Professor Mark N. Katz explores one of the central debates in contemporary international relations: the transition from unipolarity to a more complex multipolar world. Drawing on historical cases and current geopolitical developments, the discussion examines whether multipolarity is truly the global norm, how great powers are defined, and what the post-Cold War “unipolar moment” tells us about today’s shifting balance of power.The conversation also addresses the rise of emerging

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50:54

Catalonia's Pursuit of Self-government - Marc...

The IR thinker ·

2026/03/17

In this interview, political scientist Marc Sanjaume‑Calvet examines the constitutional status of Catalonia, the distribution of powers within the Spanish state, and the evolving debates surrounding Catalan autonomy and identity. The discussion also explores Catalonia’s external action, from its relations with the European Union and international organisations to the constraints imposed by Spanish constitutional law, including the legacy of the 2017 referendum and Article 155.Marc

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1:10:24

The New Constructivism - David McCourt | Ep. 3 (2026)

The IR thinker ·

2026/03/10

In this episode, Professor McCourt unpacks the foundations of New Constructivism: where it came from, what it demands of researchers, and where it's heading. From the theory/method distinction to the practice and relational turns, from C. Wright Mills to Multiple Correspondence Analysis, this is a wide-ranging conversation about how social science can move beyond positivist inheritances without losing analytical rigor. We also explore New Constructivism's blind spots, its uneven development across

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1:06:08

New Zealand's Geopolitics - Reuben Steff | Ep. 2 (2026)

The IR thinker ·

2026/03/03

In this episode, together with Dr Reuben Steff, we explore how New Zealand’s geographic isolation, colonial legacies, and small-state status have shaped a distinctive strategic culture; one that combines alliance cooperation with a persistent commitment to autonomy, non-nuclear norms, and multilateralism.Reuben SteffReuben Steffis a Senior Lecturer at Mendel University in Brno whose scholarship engages some of the most pressing questions in contemporary international relations and security. His

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53:10

Decolonising Norms in IR - Charlotte Epstein | Ep. 1...

The IR thinker ·

2026/02/18

In this episode, Professor Charlotte Epstein reflects on how postcolonial perspectives reshape the study of norms in international relations, challenging conventional accounts of diffusion, compliance, and legitimacy. The conversation explores colonial inheritances embedded in contemporary normative orders, while examining positionality, experience, and the epistemological stakes of critical scholarship.Charlotte EpsteinCharlotte Epstein is Professor at Tokyo College, University of Tokyo, where her

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40:52

Transformative Realism - Marc Saxer | 2025 Episode 31

The IR thinker ·

2025/12/17

In this episode, we sit down with political analyst Marc Saxer to explore his theory of Transformative Realism and why he believes we’re living through a profound systemic crisis. From the erosion of international norms to the urgent need for reimagined statecraft, Marc offers a compelling framework for understanding the forces reshaping our world and what political leadership must look like in response.Marc SaxerMarc Saxer is a political analyst, strategist, and writer with two decades of

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1:00:38

India's Diplomacy - Vineet Thakur | 2025 Episode 30

The IR thinker ·

2025/12/08

In this episode, Vineet Thakur unpacks the historical and intellectual foundations of Indian diplomacy. We discuss classical strategic traditions, civilisational and colonial legacies, caste and elite networks in diplomatic culture, non-alignment and strategic autonomy, neighbourhood diplomacy, and India’s contemporary practice of multi-alignment amid shifting great-power rivalries.Vineet ThakurVineet Thakur is a University Lecturer in International Relations at the Institute for History, Leiden

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45:05

Bulgaria's Energy Security - Martin Vladimirov | 2025...

The IR thinker ·

2025/12/01

In this episode, Martin Vladimirov unpacks Bulgaria’s evolving energy landscape in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine. We discuss shifts in the country’s energy mix, offshore wind prospects in the Black Sea, the strategic role of gas pipelines and interconnectors, and the future of key assets such as the Chiren gas storage facility, the Maritsa Iztok lignite complex, and potential new nuclear reactors.Martin VladimirovMartin Vladimirov is Director of the Energy and Climate Program at the Center for

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1:11:31

EU Citizenship - Dimitry Kochenov | 2025 Episode 28

The IR thinker ·

2025/11/24

This episode ofThe IR thinkerfeatures a wide-ranging conversation with Professor Dimitry Kochenov on what it really means to “belong” in a world where citizenship is conditional, unequal, and sometimes absent altogether. We unpack the paradox of citizenship as both a legal fiction and a lived necessity, probing whether institutions truly “grant” citizenship, what it means to live as stateless, and whether “real” EU citizenship exists beyond the rhetoric. The discussion traces how EU citizenship can

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1:11:42

Contemporary Meaning of Nuclear Weapons - Stephen...

The IR thinker ·

2025/11/16

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dr. Stephen Herzog as we explore the intricate landscape of nuclear strategy, from the fundamentals of deterrence theory to the geopolitics of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. We dive deep into pressing questions about who should have access to nuclear weapons, how arms control agreements shape global security, and what emerging technologies mean for the future of nuclear governance.Dr. Stephen Herzog is a leading expert in nuclear nonproliferation and arms

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1:04:41

China's Institutional Genes - Chenggang Xu | 2025...

The IR thinker ·

2025/11/10

In this episode, Chenggang Xu discusses the ideas behind Institutional Genes and how they explain the evolution of political systems from imperial China to modern authoritarian regimes. Join us for a deep dive into the hidden structures that shape power, governance, and global politics.Chenggang XuChenggang Xu is a Senior Research Scholar, Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions (SCCEI), and Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution.His research spans institutional economics, political

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59:52

Does African IR Theory Exist? - Madalitso Zililo...

The IR thinker ·

2025/11/05

In this incisive interview, Dr Madalitso Zililo Phiri dismantles the epistemic hegemony of Eurocentric International Relations theory and maps an emergent African IR scholarship that centres Ubuntu, reimagines sovereignty through communal ontologies, and interrogates the racialised exclusions baked into global multilateralism. Spanning Pan-Africanism’s contemporary mutations, South Africa’s realist power plays, and the perils of essentialising an “African school,” Phiri advances a decolonial

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45:00

Natural Gas in Germany: Security, Supply, Transition...

The IR thinker ·

2025/10/29

In this interview, Andreas Schroeder maps Germany’s gas security from short-term contracts to new gas-fired plants and LNG infrastructure. He weighs the nuclear phase-out, EU dependence on non-Russian suppliers, and the risks ahead.Before we begin, I would like to highlight two milestones. First, this is the 100th episode of IR thinker. Second, our very first episode, published on 5 January 2023, also featured Andreas Schroeder. Andreas was the first expert who accepted my invitation and, in doing

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56:39

Mongolia's Energy Security - Telmen Altanshagai |...

The IR thinker ·

2025/10/22

In this episode, Telmen Altanshagai discusses Mongolia’s evolving energy landscape, from diversification strategies and regional connectivity to the governance challenges shaping the country’s path toward greater energy security.Telmen AltanshagaiTelmen is a Washington, D.C.-based independent policy analyst, Energy and Climate Intern at Observer Research Foundation America, Global Policy Institute Fellow, specializing in energy security and development economics across the Global South, with

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1:14:00

Australia's Security - Risks & Realities - Peter...

The IR thinker ·

2025/10/14

In this interview, strategist and defence analyst Dr. Peter Layton offers a clear-sighted assessment of how Australia is recalibrating strategy, capability, and partnerships amid intensifying regional competition. Drawing on policy and academic expertise, he probes alliance choices with the United States and Japan, AUKUS and submarine procurement, the Quad and ASEAN engagement, and the trade-offs between economic dependence on China and national security.Dr. Peter Layton is a Visiting Fellow at the

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1:06:59

Georgia's Energy Security - Murman Margvelashvili |...

The IR thinker ·

2025/10/07

Professor Murman Margvelashvili charts Georgia’s path from Soviet-era systems to a contested contemporary energy landscape, where hydropower dependence, emerging technologies, and grid vulnerabilities intersect with strategic autonomy.Murman MargvelashviliProfessor Murman Margvelashvili is a Georgian energy policy expert with more than 30 years of experience, in energy sector. His broad interests include energy security, sustainability, and geopolitics of energy transition.As Director of Energy

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1:04:52

Ireland's National Security Strategy - Kenneth...

The IR thinker ·

2025/09/30

Ireland is in the midst of a historic shift, moving from its long-standing tradition of neutrality towards a more structured national security strategy. In this interview, Dr. Kenneth McDonagh unpacks the drivers, dilemmas, and implications of Ireland’s evolving security posture at home, in Europe, and on the global stage.Kenneth McDonaghKen McDonagh is Associate Professor of International Relations at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University. His research focuses on EU foreign

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57:45

Georgia's EU Accession Journey - David Bujiashvili |...

The IR thinker ·

2025/09/23

What does Georgia’s EU integration really mean for democracy, regional security, and great power competition? David Bujiashvili unpacks the past, present, and future of this pivotal process.Content00:00 – Introduction02:37 – Historical and Normative Drivers of Georgia’s EU Integration14:10 – EU Response to Georgia’s Membership Application17:01 – Democracy, Rule of Law, and Human Rights Narratives18:26 – Public Access to EU Information During Accession21:22 – Example of Russian Disinformation

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114 results

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