POLEMICS REC.

In the age of the digital revolution, freedom of the media is ever harder to govern and ensure. Each year on the 3rd of May, World Press Freedom Day reminds us that the media is not a subsidiary component of civil society, but a core and essential pillar-stone of both democracy and security. So how do we defend that freedom at times when threats keep multiplying? In this month's episode, we s...

In the current geopolitical environment, multilateral institutions are being tested like never before. The OSCE, bringing together 57 participating states from Vancouver to Vladivostok, continues to serve as a crucial forum where dialogue is maintained across political and geographic divides. But what does that actually look like in practice, and how does the organization meet today's securit...

In an increasingly digital world, security challenges are no longer confined to physical borders. Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, coordinated disinformation campaigns, and other hybrid threats have become central concerns for governments, international organizations, and societies alike. In this month’s episode, we take a closer look at these evolving dynamics. Together with Michael Zinka...

Just in time for International Women's Day, this episode explores a topic that has gained increasing international and academic attention: Feminist Foreign Policy. Together with Ambassador Ana María Alonso Giganto, Ambassador-at-Large for Feminist Foreign Policy at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and member of the Alliance of Feminist Foreign Policy Ambassadors, our hosts Hannah Huber...

Welcome to the first episode of In Conversation , our new expert interview format, where we bring you in-depth conversations with distinguished voices in foreign policy, diplomacy, and other pressing issues in global governance. In this episode, Hannah and Phil sat down with Ambassador Martin Eichtinger, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. Together, they discussed a wide range of topics,...

We're so back baby, with a new season of Polemics Rec.! With 2 new formats, In Conversation and The Roundtable! In this first episode of The Roundtable, Ilana and Phil dive into the election of Zohran Mamdani to the NYC mayor's office and its implications for the wider United States and the rest of the world. Stay tuned for more! --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polem...

In this episode, we speak with Linda Lyberth Kristiansen about what it means to decolonise education systems in Greenland. Together, we explore how colonial legacies still shape classrooms today, why change is needed, and how education can become a tool for cultural empowerment and self-determination. Linda shares her experiences and insights from Greenland, and we discuss how to rethink and resha...

Together with the current Austrian UN Youth Delegate Markus Wane we explore how he uses his position to promote the interests of young people, and discuss how you as a young person can get actively involved as well. --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of the...

This new episode of the Polemics Podcast introduces the politics and foreign policy of Poland! Just as presidential elections are going on, Viktoria Mroz, a second year student @da_vienna shares her insight, and explains why Poland is so important! --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contribu...

This new season of the Polemics Podcast kicks off with a mini-series on the politics and foreign policy of the countries of origin of our students. First up: Bulgaria, brought to you by Svetoslava Stoyanova, a second year student @da_vienna. --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions,...

This interview invited Professor John Williams to share his insights on intelligence theory and the open society and reflect on the recent publications re-thinking intelligence from an international society perspective in a chat with co-author Professor Robert Schuett.  --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voi...

This interview invited Ambassador Salome Meyer to share her insights on the career path of a contemporary diplomat, the role of women in diplomacy, and the current state of international affairs in a chat with Professor Giulia Pelillo. --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions, and ed...

This interview invites a former Taoiseach, or Head of the Government of Ireland (1997 – 2008), Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern to share his insights on the legacy of his career, and particularly the Good Friday Agreement, as well as the intricacies of the past and current state of international affairs. --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run p...

Dr. Henry Farrell shares his insights on how complex economic networks and advanced technologies (including AI) enable powerful global actors in this special episode, hosted by the Diplomatische Akademie’s one and only Dr. Martin Feldkircher.  --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions...

This interview invites Dr. Holger Hestermeyer to share his insights with Polemics REC. and their audience on a career path in international law, differences between international law practitioners and academia, as well as comment on the current state of international law, existing dispute settlement mechanisms and the reality of international affairs. --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podc...

Ambassador Emil Brix shares his insights on the past, present, and future of the Vienna School of International Studies, which has been educating diplomats since 1754. As Ambassador Brix reflects on his own career in diplomacy, he sheds light on some of the tips that will help aspiring diplomats today. --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run product...

What does it take to take diplomacy to the next level? And who represents our countries in the digital world? All questions answered in the new episode of POLEMICS REC. with Oxford’s digital diplomacy pioneer Dr. Corneliu Bjola. Tune in now and learn more about the new trust system, virtual tools and organizations, hybrid experience and digital embassies... as well as the new Master program at the...

Austrian Ambassador Martin Sajdik talks about his role in the drafting of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and his perspectives on global development in the context of current events. During our conversation, we discussed a variety of topics relating to the past, present and future of international cooperation and diplomacy. --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazin...

Commemorating the women's history month, we bring you a live-recorded experience of a discussion panel on "The Role of Women in Global Crises" that took place at the DA's Festsaal and was hosted by Vienna Rotary Club and Club DA. The three keynote high-level speakers bring the insights on women's role in several key areas: agriculture, energy, sustainable development, heal...

In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Gerhard Mangott to discuss the one-year anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. During our conversation, we discussed a variety of topics relating to the broader geopolitical implications of the war, the prospects for a peaceful solution, and the likely future scenarios of the conflict.  --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official p...

Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast will feature the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of the diverse student body at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien. The podcast will take advantage of the vibrant international community here in Vienna by interviewing diplomats, policymakers, academics, and cultural figures. As tim...