Episodes
This week, Bronwen Maddox discusses whether we are seeing a resurgence of the threat posed by nuclear weapons, given recent events in the Middle East and rhetoric from world leaders. She is joined by Robert E Kelly, Professor of Political Science at Pusan National University, Dr Hanna Notte, Director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and Dr Patricia Lewis, Director of the International Security Programme at Chatham House. Read...
Published 05/03/24
Published 05/03/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by journalist Oz Katerji and Phillips P. O’Brien, a Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrews. Joining them both in the studio is Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk, the OSUN Academy Fellow in the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House. Read our latest: The US aid package to Ukraine will help. But a better strategy is urgently needed As yet another UN Libya envoy quits, his successor must be bolder The Baltic Sea is far from a ‘NATO lake’...
Published 04/25/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Sanam Vakil, the director of our Middle East programme to discuss Iran's missile attack on Israel and the possible consequences across the region. Joining them both are Professor Yossi Mekelberg and Dr Elham Fakhro, Associate Fellows with our Middle East programme.  Read our latest: Iran-Israel exhanges are a test for China’s influence in the Gulf Iran’s attack on Israel was not the failure many claim but it has ended Israel’s isolation The strike...
Published 04/19/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Mohammed al-Ta’ishi, a civilian member of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council - where he served as the chief negotiator and main architect of the Juba Peace Agreement. Joining them both are BBC journalist James Copnall and Rosalind Marsden, an Associate Fellow with our Africa programme and the former UK ambassador to Sudan. Read our latest: Sudan’s forgotten war: A new diplomatic push is needed The ‘conflict economy’ of sesame in Ethiopia and Sudan How...
Published 04/12/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined by Soli Özel, a Professor of International Relations at Istanbul Kadir Has University, and Hürcan Aslı Aksoy, the Head of the Centre for Applied Turkey Studies at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. With them is Galip Dalay, a Senior Consulting Fellow with our Middle East and North Africa programme. Read our latest: Has David Cameron’s return revitalised UK policy in the Middle East? Maduro is flouting his commitment to hold free...
Published 04/04/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Mujtaba Rahman, the Managing Director Europe of the Eurasia Group and Georgina Wright, a Senior Fellow with Institut Montaigne. Joining them all is journalist John Kampfner, the former head of Chatham House's UK in the World Programme. Read our latest: Is Moldova a new battleground in Russia’s war? Has David Cameron’s return revitalised UK policy in the Middle East? Britain must rearm to strengthen NATO and meet threats beyond Russia and...
Published 03/27/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined from Dakar, Senegal by Gilles Yabi, the founder and CEO of WATHI, the West Africa Citizen Think Tank and Idayat Hassan, a Senior Associate with CSIS. Joining them in the Chatham House studio is Paul Melly, a Consulting Fellow with our Africa Programme. Read our latest: Democracy in West Africa: Why Senegal’s election crisis matters Sudan’s forgotten war: A new diplomatic push is needed The UK should help coordinate support for Ukraine by backing EU defence...
Published 03/21/24
Bronwen Maddox is in Japan this week, and is joined from Taipei by journalist Bethany Allen to discuss China's National People's Congress and the political calculations of Beijing's neighbours. Joining them are Robert Ward from The International Institute for Strategic Studies and Dr Yu Jie – a Senior Fellow with our Asia-Pacific programme. Read our latest: Why Egypt’s improved economic outlook is mostly down to luck, not skill This time Haiti really is on the brink. The US and UN must...
Published 03/13/24
Guest host Leslie Vinjamuri is joined on the podcast this week by Ben Smith, the Editor-in-Chief of Semafor News and Professor Jennifer M Lind – an Associate Fellow with our US and Americas programme. Read our latest: How foreign policy might impact the outcome of the US election This time Haiti really is on the brink. The US and UN must act to restore order How geopolitical competition in the Black Sea is redefining regional order Presented by Leslie Vinjamuri. Produced by John...
Published 03/08/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined on the podcast this week by Gregg Carlstrom, the Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Siavash Ardalan from BBC Persia and Dr Sanam Vakil – the Director of our Middle East and North Africa programme. Read our latest: The Gaza war is testing Hezbollah’s strategic capability Sweden brings benefits for NATO but accession delay raises difficult questions Watch the keynote address by Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin Presented by Bronwen...
Published 02/29/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Bill Browder – who for years has worked as a human rights and anti-corruption campaigner against the Putin regime. Alongside him is Nikolai Petrov, a Consulting Fellow with our Russia and Eurasia programme and Yulia Mineeva, an Academy Fellow with Chatham House, who was previously Head of News for Novaya Gazeta, the main independent newspaper in Russia. Read our latest: Alexei Navalny’s most powerful legacy is urging Russians to imagine their country...
Published 02/23/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week from Jakarta by Professor Burhanuddin Muhtadi, executive director of the Indonesian polling organization Indikator Politik Indonesia, and Dewi Fortuna Anwar, a former advisor to Indonesia’s Vice President and chair of Indonesian think tank, The Habibie Center. Joining them all is Ben Bland, the director of our Asia-Pacific program at Chatham House. Read our latest: ‘Continuity’ Prabowo means change for Indonesia Indonesia’s Democracy Is Stronger Than...
Published 02/16/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Ciaran Martin, the former Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre; Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo, Vice Chair of the African Union’s Cyber Security Experts Group; Amy Hogan-Burney, General Manager of Cyber Security Policy at Microsoft and Joyce Hakmeh, the Deputy Director of our International Security Programme. Read our latest: Yes, China pressured Iran on Red Sea attacks – but only to protect its own ships A long war works against Ukraine –...
Published 02/08/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Madiha Afzal, an author and Research Fellow at Brookings in Washington DC. Joining them are Dr Farzana Shaikh, an Associate Fellow with our Asia-Pacific Programme and Dr Chietigj Bajpaee, our Senior Research Fellow for South Asia. Read our latest: Pakistan must ensure free and fair elections to avert a meltdown February/March issue of The World Today Russia’s withdrawal from its border agreement with Finland is an expansion of its hybrid warfare...
Published 02/02/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by journalist Olga Tokariuk, an Academy Fellow in our Ukraine Forum, and Natalie Sabanadze, a Senior Research Fellow in our Russia and Eurasia Programme to discuss Viktor Orbán and Ukraine. Don't miss our expertise: The Director’s Annual Lecture 2024 Orban’s Ukraine gamble is a blow to the EU’s geopolitical ambitions Are we heading for World War Three – and is Britain’s military ready? Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by...
Published 01/25/24
Roxanne Escobales, Editor of The World Today, is joined this week by Tom Sharpe, a former commander in the Royal Navy and defence columnist with The Telegraph. Joining them are Dr Sanam Vakil, the Director of our Middle East and North Africa programme, and Farea Al-Muslimi, a Research Fellow with Chatham House and Yemen specialist. Don't miss our expertise: The Director’s Annual Lecture 2024 The Houthis won’t back down after strikes on Yemen When Netanyahu falls, Israel’s democracy...
Published 01/18/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by journalist Jojje Olsson and Dr Chun-Yi Lee from the University of Nottingham's Taiwan Research Hub to discuss Taiwan's presidential election. Joining them in the studio is Ben Bland, Director of our Asia-Pacific programme. Don't miss our expertise: Taiwan elections offer no clear answers to China challenge The horrors of Ecuador are not just Ecuador’s The Director’s Annual Lecture 2024 Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound...
Published 01/12/24
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times to discuss the elections and geopolitical flashpoints in 2024. Joining them in the studio are Leslie Vinjamuri, Ben Bland and Armida van Rij. Don't miss our expertise: The Director’s Annual Lecture 2024 Collapsing foreign direct investment might not be all bad for China’s economy The hidden scale of laboratory accidents: The need for transparency and engagement COP28:...
Published 12/15/23
At the Doha Conference, Bronwen Maddox speaks with Dr Majed Al Ansari, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr Al Ansari shares the Qatari perspective on the war between Hamas and Israel and the role the country has played as a key interlocutor. Don't miss our expertise: What does Turkey’s policy on the Gaza war mean for the region? Why the time is now for a Palestinian national unity government The UK’s Safety of Rwanda Bill is a reminder that democracies are...
Published 12/13/23
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by writer and academic Nishtha Gautam to discuss what India's state elections mean ahead of the 2024 general election. Joining them in the studio are Professor Louise Tillin  from Kings College London and Senior Research Fellow Chietigj Bajpaee from our Asia-Pacific programme. Don't miss our expertise: Reducing nuclear weapons risk Maduro hoped to mobilize Venezuelans around an old grievance in Guyana. He seems to have failed Why the time is now for...
Published 12/08/23
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Ana Yang, Bernice Lee and Ruth Townend from our Environment and Society Centre to discuss the COP28 summit in the United Arab Emirates. Don't miss our expertise: What is COP28 and why is it important? What COP28 needs to address to avoid climate disaster The emerging global crisis of land use Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty.
Published 12/01/23
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Professor Kerry Brown and journalist Latika Bourke to discuss China's economic slowdown, amid signs of a more assertive foreign policy in Asia. Joining them is economist David Lubin, an Associate Fellow with our Global Economy and Finance program. Don't miss our expertise: China's new scientists Is China building a military base in Cambodia? China–US talks offer optimism at bleak time for arms control Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John...
Published 11/23/23
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by journalist Jon Sopel, the host of the News Agents podcast, to discuss the 2024 US presidential election. Joining them are Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Director of our US and Americas programme and Laura Rozen, a journalist formerly with Politico and Foreign Policy magazine. Don't miss our expertise: US foreign policy in a critical year ahead Biden–Xi meeting: A must-win in high stakes diplomacy The Supreme Court’s decision requires fresh thinking – not...
Published 11/17/23
Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Shashank Joshi, the Defence Editor at The Economist, to discuss Iran's role in the Hamas-Israel War. Joining them are our experts, Dr Sanam Vakil, Director of our Middle East and North Africa programme and Dr Renad Mansour, a Senior Research Fellow with the MENA programme. Don't miss our expertise: The war in Gaza is aligning Russia against Israel Netanyahu’s premiership will not outlast the war with Hamas Iraq shows a political settlement without...
Published 11/10/23