Ten Minutes On...

This week Guy looks at the differences that exist between the US and Europe - not just between the leaderships on Ukraine, but beyond them to other issues like NATO and tariffs as well as in terms of public sentiment. Guy looks at some of the recent polling that has come out in both the US and Europe. He notes that there is a growing gulf grows between American and European publics and asks what t...

This week, Guy explores the pros and cons of tariffs, exploring the conflicting motivations behind US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose them last week. He also examines the options available to smaller, more vulnerable developing countries, which range from pursuing independent strategies to taking collective action—potentially including negotiating a deal with the United States. But wha...

Last week Myanmar experienced a 7.7 magniture earthquake which has so far killed 2000 people. This is a natural disaster which is taking place in a country wracked by war. In this week's episode Guy looks at the state of the conflict in Myanmar and the relative positions of the military junta and various opposition groups, as well as the role and actions of outside actors like China and ASEAN...

Last week, several central banks chose to hold interest rates steady, reflecting broader uncertainty about both domestic and global economic conditions. While central bankers have signaled their intention to cut rates later this year, Guy notes that inflation remains a concern. In the longer term, the key challenge remains fostering faster and more productive economic growth.

Last week Armenia and Azerbaijan looked close to signing a peace agreement and which would put an end to a conflict that has persisted for 40 years. But while a resolution to conflict is welcome, what is the cost? To answer this, Guy uncovers the territorial and ethnic disputes at its heart and questions whether their elimination - in this case the displacement of people by threat of force - is a...

March 11 marks the fifth anniversary that the World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 coronavirus a global pandemic. Guy takes a look at what happened in the months and years that followed that announcement and whether or not this led to any lasting changes in society, global politics of the global political economy.

This week Guy reflects on the fallout from the Americans' abandonment of Ukraine and European leaders' realisation they need to step up in terms of their own defence. Guy explores the difficulty of Europeans becoming fully independent of the US as well as whether this crisis can overcome internal differences and help consolidate Europe into a more concrete political entity.

 One month into Donald Trump’s second term, his foreign policy approach is becoming clear—driven by raw power and unilateralism. From tariff threats to criticism of Europe and Ukraine, and even suggestions of force to seize Greenland and the Panama Canal, Trump’s America is reshaping the global order. What does this mean for other states? How can they respond? In this episode, Guy Burton, drawing...

On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with private sector entrepreneurs in an effort to boost confidence and chart a way forward in the wake of U.S. tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. Among those present was Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who has largely remained out of the public eye since Chinese authorities blocked his company’s merger in 2020. But this meeting is about more than...

This week, several major players failed to submit their latest mitigation and adaptation plans by the UN's COP30 deadline, scheduled for November in Brazil. This development comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s second decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement and the appointment of a COP president who has placed a strong emphasis on climate finance. To make matters even m...

With incoming US President Donald Trump threatening tariffs on both rivals like China as well as American partners like Canada and Mexico, what does it all mean? Why is he doing this and what may be the likely consequences? And can the US come out well from it? Looking at evidence from Trump's previous presidency, the prospects aren't good for the US economy and American consumers. But i...

On Monday, the rebel group M23 announced it had seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since reigniting its armed campaign in 2022, M23 has displaced over 3 million people, including 400,000 in January 2025 alone. In this episode, we try to answer s everal pressing questions: Who is M23, and what drives their rebellion? Who is backing them? Why has the governm...

On Monday Reuters reported the headline grabbing figure of 60% surveyed for the the Edelman Trust Barometer survey could justify the use of violence to bring about change. Digging deeper, Guy finds that the survey reveals growing public frustration and grievances, which is fueling distrust in key institutions like business, government and the media. But as Guy points out, the recommendations made...

In this week's episode we look beyond the current wildfires taking place in California over the past week to look at the broader themes and challenges associated with them and other extreme weather events, from their increasing frequency and intensity and the options for responding to them. 

In the first episode of the year, Guy examines Elon Musk's controversial commentary on British politics over the New Year. Why do we give figures like Musk so much attention despite their apparent ignorance? Drawing on insights from his holiday reading, including Anthony Seldon's Prime Ministers series and academic studies on the disconnect between scholars and public servants, Guy unpac...

In this week’s episode, we unpack the political turmoil in South Korea. After President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law, only to see it voted down by the legislature on December 3rd, events quickly spiraled. The past week has seen the police attempt to raid his office and the National Assembly vote to impeach him. So, how did Yoon miscalculate so badly? We compare his self-coup attempt to simila...

The fall of the Assad regime in Syria caught many by surprise, including seasoned regional analysts. As attention turns to what might happen next, Guy decides to take a side step and instead look at what the research and data on post-civil war settings tell us; whether peace through government or rebel victories and negotiated settlements or military victories are more durable. Understanding these...

Since 2018, Syria has largely been viewed as a frozen conflict, with neither the government nor rebel factions showing the capacity or willingness to make significant moves. However, this dynamic shifted at the end of November when the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham advanced against government forces in the northern city of Aleppo, forcing them to retreat. While it’s unclear if this marks a t...

On Thursday, November 21, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and several Hamas leaders for their roles in the conflict that escalated on October 7 and the ongoing war in Gaza. This episode examines the implications of these warrants, providing context on the ICC's investigation into...

This week Guy looks at the dramatic rise in users on the BlueSky app and explores whether some of Twitter's user base has finally had enough of Elon Musk’s ownership and management. He takes a look at the current social media landscape, examining Twitter's role within it and the significant changes it has undergone over the past two years. Guy discusses why users have been hesitant to le...

This week, we dive into the latest meeting between the Greek and Turkish foreign ministers, who discussed ongoing differences and explored potential areas for cooperation. While diplomatic dialogue is a positive step forward—especially compared to past military confrontations—will it be enough to truly resolve the complex maritime issues between the two nations? In this episode, I examine why dial...

This week we dive into the state of American politics as citizens head to the polls for a pivotal presidential election. After a long and contentious campaign, many are asking just how polarized—or even radicalized—American society has become. We explore these questions in depth, comparing political division in the U.S. to that of other countries around the world. Our discussion also focuses on po...

This week we take a look at the evolving landscape of AI regulation in response to recent court cases against major AI companies and controversies surrounding the misuse of their products. While superintelligent AI and the apocalyptic scenarios seen in films like Terminator and The Matrix remain speculative, there are real-world challenges and ethical dilemmas in today’s AI development and deploym...

In this episode, we dive deep into the BRICS+ summit hosted by Russia in Kazan, which is attracting global attention. While the media often frames this event as Russia's attempt to demonstrate that it's not diplomatically isolated, the reality is much more complex. The summit brings together a diverse group of countries with varying interests, agendas, and levels of enthusiasm, especiall...

On October 20, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, affectionately known as "Jokowi," will officially hand over power to his successor, Prabowo Subianto. In this episode, we explore who Prabowo is and what his leadership might mean for Indonesia's future. We’ll also reflect on Jokowi's 10-year legacy and discuss the current state of Indonesian democracy. We’ll also delve int...