x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

IR thinker

IR thinker podcast features expert interviews on international relations, foreign policy, and global affairs. Founded and produced by Martin Zubko, an international relations lecturer. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.Official website: https://irthinker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

science social sciences

All Episodes

1:11:42

Contemporary Meaning of Nuclear Weapons - Stephen...

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

en

1:04:41

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

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

en

59:52

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

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

en

45:00

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

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

en

56:39

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

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

en

1:14:00

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

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

en

1:06:59

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

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

en

1:04:52

Ireland's National Security Strategy - Kenneth...

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

en

57:45

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

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

en

1:00:16

Brexit and EU Hegemony - Patrick Holden | 2025...

IR thinker ·

2025/09/14

In this conversation with Professor Holden we examine how the EU exercised power during Brexit, interrogating the interplay of communication, institutional structures and rhetorical strategy. We discuss surprising findings on structural power, the negotiation styles of Barnier and De Rynck, and the reforms the EU’s external action apparatus may need to preserve influence into 2025.Dr. Patrick Holden is an Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Plymouth, where he leads

en

1:00:16

Radicalisation in the Global North - Tahir Abbas |...

IR thinker ·

2025/09/09

From the storming of the US Capitol to riots on the streets of the UK and simmering tensions across Western Europe, the spectre of radicalisation looms large.Professor Tahir Abbas explores the multifaceted nature of modern radicalisation, examining the unique drivers, dynamics, and dilemmas facing Western societies (USA, UK, Western Europe) today as they confront a threat that is constantly evolving online and offline.Professor Tahir

en

57:45

China-Africa Engagement - Emmanuel Matambo | 2025...

IR thinker ·

2025/09/02

In this conversation, Dr Emmanuel Matambo unpacks how Africa–China relations really work beyond the headlines. We dive into debates on 'debt-trap diplomacy', technology, governance, and the cultural impact of China across Africa.Emmanuel MatamboDr Matambo is the Research Director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies (CACS) at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. His primary research interest has been in Africa's growing relationship with China. His ideological orientation and

en

1:11:45

Global Maritime Security - Timothy Edmunds | 2025...

IR thinker ·

2025/08/26

Dive into the complex world of maritime piracy and security in this insightful interview with Professor Tim Edmunds, as he explores the evolution and organization of piracy at sea, modern challenges such as grey-zone tactics and the protection of critical undersea infrastructure, and the key issues shaping the global maritime order today.Chapters00:00 - Introduction02:10 - Evolution of Maritime Piracy10:11 - Organization of Pirate Groups13:27 - Structural Conditions Fuelling Piracy20:16 - Size and

en

1:06:59

Universities as EU Diplomatic Actors - Marina Cino...

IR thinker ·

2025/08/18

In this interview, Dr. Marina Cino Pagliarello explores how universities and academia shape the European Union’s foreign policy through soft power and informal diplomacy. From Ukraine to Africa, we examine the opportunities and challenges of academic diplomacy in today’s shifting geopolitical landscape.Chapters00:00 – Introduction01:43 – Universities as Informal Diplomatic Actors in EU Foreign Policy07:43 – Academic Diplomacy During the War in Ukraine13:32 – Balancing Academic Autonomy and EU

en

55:25

Why Japan & the Philippines Are Closer Than Ever -...

IR thinker ·

2025/08/06

In this interview, Dr Satoru Nagao shares expert insights on the evolving strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines. From historical legacies to defence, diplomacy, and economic cooperation, we explore how both countries navigate today’s Indo-Pacific challenges.Dr Satoru Nagao is a non-resident fellow at the Hudson Institute and a leading expert on security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. He holds a PhD from Gakushuin University.Dr Nagao has advised Japan’s Ministry of Foreign

en

2:11:00

Trump's US Foreign Policy - Hussein Banai | 2025...

IR thinker ·

2025/06/24

In this episode, we’re joined by Associate Professor Hussein Banai, a leading scholar of international relations, for an in-depth journey through the shifting landscape of American foreign policy under Donald Trump.Together, we travel across critical regions—from the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East to Europe, Russia, China, and Latin America—to scrutinise the core principles guiding U.S. actions on the global stage.We discuss the most recent and dramatic development: the 2025 Israel-Iran

en

1:02:18

The Zones of Peace Concept - Arie M. Kacowicz | 2025...

IR thinker ·

2025/06/17

Welcome to today's episode where we dive deep into one of the most compelling questions in international relations: Why do some regions achieve lasting peace while others remain trapped in cycles of conflict?Professor Arie M. Kacowicz, a leading expert on the Zone of Peace Concept, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, elaborates in detail. Professor Kacowiczholds the distinguished Chaim Weizmann Chair in International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he has been a valued

en

1:03:27

Rebuilding Syria - Joseph Daher | 2025 Episode 10

IR thinker ·

2025/06/10

Tune in for an engaging discussion with Dr. Joseph Daher as we explore the future of post-Assad Syria. We’ll cover the war economy’s impact, the whereabouts of Assad’s inner circle, and the current state of Syria’s economy.Dr. Joseph Daheris a distinguished academic and expert on the Middle East, specialising in political economy, political Islam, and contemporary regional history, with a particular focus on Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Palestine.He is an associate researcher at the Bonn International

en

1:03:41

Good Governance in Africa - Gilbert A. Ang'ana | 2025...

IR thinker ·

2025/06/03

In this insightful interview with Dr. Gilbert A. Ang’ana, we explore the multifaceted challenges and opportunities surrounding governance in Africa, touching on everything from institutional weaknesses to the impact of digitalisation. Ang’ana’s expertise sheds light on crucial topics such as intra-governmental collaboration, decentralisation, and the evolving role of technology in shaping the continent’s future.Dr. Gilbert A. Ang’anais a researcher and practitioner in leadership and governance,

en

1:00:30

Kazakhstan's First Nuclear Plant - Eldaniz Gusseinov...

IR thinker ·

2025/05/26

Is nuclear power the future of Kazakhstan’s energy strategy? In this expert interview, Eldaniz Gusseinov explores public opinion, uranium production, civil society’s role, and the geopolitical stakes of potential contracts with Russia, China, France, and South Korea.Eldaniz Gusseinovis a Non-Resident Research Fellow at the Heydar Aliyev Centre for Eurasian Studies at Ibn Khaldun University (Istanbul), and co-founder of Nightingale Intelligence International, a political forecasting consultancy. He

en

103 results

Similar Podcasts

Classic Radio Science Fiction

solgoodmedia.com

Mission to Mars

Inception Point Ai

The 365 Days of Astronomy

365DaysOfAstronomy.org

Creek Devil

william Jevning

UFO Chronicles Podcast

Nik Hunter