The IR thinker

This episode of  The IR thinker  explores the practice and pedagogy of diplomatic negotiation with Ida Manton, examining how teaching methods have evolved, how technology intersects with human skills, and how sensitive topics such as climate change and human rights are incorporated into training. The conversation also considers the use of case studies, the role of theory, emerging specia...

This episode of  The IR thinker  examines the geopolitics of East Mediterranean gas with Alexander Kislov, from the impact of the Abraham Accords on regional energy cooperation to the non-development of Cypriot reserves, Israeli–Turkish projects and Egypt’s balancing act between domestic needs and export commitments. The discussion also considers the role of major international energy co...

This episode of  The IR thinker  examines the role of Nikolai Patrushev inside the Kremlin, focusing on his position within Russia’s Security Council, his long relationship with Vladimir Putin and his influence over the country’s security and foreign policy. The conversation explores Patrushev’s FSB legacy, his rivalry and cooperation with figures such as Sergey Naryshkin, his anti Weste...

This episode of  The IR thinker  offers a comprehensive exploration of China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Dr Ivo Ganchev, unpacking its core objectives, governance and funding, and engaging with debates around debt diplomacy and BRI’s adaptability to shifting geopolitical realities. The discussion also examines how BRI relates to BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and co...

This episode of  The IR thinker  explores the complex relationship between Iran and Azerbaijan, tracing its historical roots and examining how ethnicity, geography and regional rivalries shape contemporary relations. The discussion considers the position of the Azeri minority in Iran, the Huseyniyyun Brigade, the Zangezur corridor, the Caspian Sea, Iran’s security ties with Armenia and I...

This episode of  The IR thinker  examines Saudi Arabia’s evolving national identity and foreign policy with Dr Aziz Alghashian, focusing on its self-perception as defender of the Muslim world, custodian of Mecca and an often misunderstood actor in Western diplomacy. The discussion explores Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s influence on Saudi identity, the implications of the Abraham Acc...

This episode of  The IR thinker  explores the world of Russia’s high society, from philanthropy and the “genetic” dimensions of wealth to gender roles, generational divides and the everyday lives of the rich. The discussion follows Dr Elisabeth Schimpfössl’s research journey, examining how she gained access to affluent interviewees, why politics and business were set aside, how she handl...

This episode of  The IR thinker  explores the shifting geopolitics of the Arctic with Professor Klaus Dodds, examining how climate change, great-power rivalry and evolving governance arrangements are transforming the region’s strategic significance. The conversation considers the role and limits of the Arctic Council, rising tensions among Arctic and non-Arctic states, China’s Belt and R...

This episode of  The IR thinker  explores Israel’s evolving cyber threat landscape and the international implications of its rise as a leading cyber power. The discussion considers the balance between security and civil liberties, the impact of regional and global geopolitics on Israel’s cyber strategy, and insights from Professor Chuck Freilich’s 2023 book on the country’s cybersecurity...

This episode of  The IR thinker  revisits the Fukushima disaster, examining its diplomatic repercussions, its impact on global energy policy, and the transformation of Japan’s nuclear research and governance. The discussion also addresses the controversy surrounding the release of treated radioactive water, the Japanese government’s crisis communication, the lived experience of those aff...

This episode of  The IR thinker  explores the evolution of higher education in Kazakhstan, from the arrival of foreign universities and shifts in language policy to state support for innovation, digitalisation and the internationalisation of PhD programmes. The discussion examines the influence of Islam, the role of the Kazakh diaspora, education as a form of soft power, the state of aca...

This episode of  The IR thinker  offers a detailed examination of the Wagner Group, tracing its emergence, leadership and overseas operations, and assessing its performance and limitations in the war in Ukraine. The conversation considers what Wagner’s methods reveal about Russian military strategy, explores the group’s mutiny and seizure of Rostov-on-Don, and discusses the wider implica...

This episode of The IR thinker examines how two key religious communities in Israel, Haredim and Datiim, understand and relate to the State of Israel, its institutions and its policies. Haredim The term “Haredi” comes from the Hebrew word for “trembling” or “fearing”, and is often used to refer to “ultra-Orthodox” Jews. Haredim are characterised by their strict adherence to Jewish law (Halacha) an...

This episode of  The IR thinker  returns to Syria more than a decade after the outbreak of war, asking what the country looks like today, who exercises control on the ground, and how regional and external powers shape its future. The discussion addresses the evolution of ISIS and other jihadist groups, President Bashar al-Assad’s position, the roles of Turkey, Russia and Iran, Syria’s re...

This episode of  The IR thinker  examines a proposed new Russian constitution developed under the leadership of Dr Petr Safronov and grounded in republican political philosophy. The discussion considers why a new constitutional framework is being advanced, the core values and institutional reforms it envisages, and what a republican reconfiguration of Russia’s legal order, separation of...

This episode of  The IR thinker  offers an in-depth examination of President Aleksandar Vučić’s foreign policy, focusing on his management of Serbia’s diplomatic relations, the four pillars of its external orientation and the implications for EU accession. The conversation also considers how Belgrade navigates mounting geopolitical tensions between East and West, including the questions...

This episode of  The IR thinker  examines the evolving landscape of Scottish politics in the decade since the 2014 independence referendum, with particular attention to the Scottish National Party, the repercussions of Brexit and the enduring question of independence. The discussion explores the relationship between Holyrood and Westminster, and considers how debates over energy, investm...

Recent tensions, in 2023, between Serbia and Kosovo have flared anew following a raid by Kosovo police on Serb-majority areas in the north of the region, including the seizure of local municipal buildings. The operation sparked violent clashes between Kosovo police and NATO-led peacekeepers on one side and local Serbs on the other, leaving dozens injured on both sides. In response, Serbia has rais...

This episode of  The IR thinker  explores whether Chinese political leadership can be better understood through the lens of the traditional Chinese stratagems, commonly known as the Thirty-Six Stratagems. The discussion examines how these historical and cultural concepts, expressed in proverbial form, continue to inform patterns of strategic thinking, decision-making and foreign policy i...

Academic research on political myth remains relatively sparse, and the literature that does exist is scattered across several disciplines, despite the influential work of Roland Barthes in Mythologies and earlier semiological insights by Ferdinand de Saussure. This episode of  The IR thinker  examines what political myth means in theory and how it operates in practice, focusing in partic...

This episode of  The IR thinker  explores the role of students in international relations, focusing on their contribution to diplomacy and to problem-solving arenas such as international institutions and professional organisations. The discussion features Max Browning from Scotland, a recipient of the Schwarzman Scholars scholarship, which supports emerging global leaders. Max Browning M...

A scholar who has interviewed more than 800 terrorists worldwide, helped to establish rehabilitation programmes in Iraq, and worked with leading international institutions to understand terrorism, extremism and hate crime, Dr Anne Speckhard brings a uniquely informed perspective to this discussion. This episode of  The IR thinker  features an in-depth conversation with Dr Speckhard on th...

In this episode of  The IR thinker , the conversation turns to the complex relationship between Serbia and Russia, with a particular focus on energy, foreign policy and the limits of Russian influence in the Western Balkans. From gas and oil routes to soft power and security ties, the discussion unpacks how Belgrade navigates its position between Moscow and the West. Vuk Vuksanovic Dr Vuk Vuk...

In this episode of  The IR thinker , the discussion turns to Japan as seen through the eyes of long-term foreign residents, examining how expats perceive the country’s politics, society, demographics and place in global affairs. Maya Matsuoka I am joined by  Maya Matsuoka , host of the talk show  Japan Expert Insights , whose professional experience across education, travel and tour...

Recently, I came across an intriguing book title built around three keywords: “EU”, “Law” and “Geopolitics”. In 2022, the European Union’s foreign and security policy was subjected to a series of real-world tests at the intersection of these very themes. In this edition of The IR thinker, we explore what these developments reveal about the EU’s external action through the lenses of law and geopoli...