Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes ECFR
-
- News
-
Weekly podcast on the events, policies and ideas that will shape the world.World in 30 minutes is curated by Mark Leonard, Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), and features top-level speakers from across the EU and beyond to debate and discuss Europe’s role in the world. It was awarded “Best podcasts on EU politics” by PolicyLab in 2019.Member of the EuroPod network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Pathways to peace in Gaza: the prospects for Palestinian statehood
As the world awaits Israel’s response to Iran’s Saturday attack, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza persists and the territory remains on the brink of famine. While Israel’s attention is momentarily diverted towards Iran and its proxies, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu insists he is still planning an offensive on Rafah, discussions around a ceasefire and hostage exchange remain in deadlock, and a possible two state-solution recedes further into the distance.
In this week’s episode, Mark Leonard welcomes senior policy fellow Hugh Lovatt and chief of programmes and communications at the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Muhammad Shehada from Gaza, to discuss the war in Gaza and the prospects for Palestinian statehood. What pathways for a solution to the conflict remain? Should the emphasis continue to be on Palestinian statehood, or on self-determination in a broader sense? Can Europeans play a constructive role in finding a peaceful solution?
This episode was recorded on 17 April 2024
Bookshelf:
Crossing the Divide: Intergroup Leadership in a World of Difference by Todd Pittinsky
The Bank Manager and the Holy Grail: Travels to the Weirder Reaches of Wales by Byron Rodgers
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Podcast special: Iran attacks Israel
On Saturday evening, Iran launched a major attack on Israeli territory, with a combination of 300 drones and missiles. Israel’s air defense seems to have intercepted most of these and the airspace over Israel and Jordan has since been reopened.
In this special episode, Mark Leonard welcomes Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of ECFR’s Middle East and North Africa programme, and Hamidreza Azizi, visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin, where he focuses on Iranian foreign policy and regional issues. But the attack remains historically unprecedented and leaves the Middle East sliding to the edge of a regional war. What motivated Iran to attack? How will Israel respond? And what role is the us playing?
The podcast was recorded on 14 April 2024
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Shifting sands: The geoeconomic triumphs of the Gulf
Amid growing geopolitical fragmentation and the rise of middle powers, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia stand out for their successful attempts to reinvent themselves as regional linchpins. Despite having to operate within an increasingly difficult economic environment, the Gulf states have simultaneously expanded their ties with China, Europa, Russia, and the United States and reaped remarkable economic rewards in the process.
In this week’s episode, Mark Leonard welcomes senior policy fellow Agathe Demarais, visiting fellow Cinzia Bianco, and policy fellow and Deputy Head of ECFR’s Paris office, Camille Lons, to discuss the geoeconomics of the Gulf. How have the UAE and Saudi Arabia managed to juggle different competing powers? What lessons do their strategies hold for other middle powers? And what should the European Union be doing to pursue its own interests in the region?
This episode was recorded on 11 April 2024
Bookshelf:
3 Body Problem – a Netflix TV Series by David Benioff, Daniel Weiss, and Alexander Woo
Blind Man’s Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage by Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew, with Annette Lawrence Drew
The Power of Currencies and Currencies of Power by Alan Wheatley
There’s Still Tomorrow – a film by Paolo Cortellesi
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
From crisis to crisis: evaluating Biden’s foreign policy
With the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the war in Gaza, US president Joe Biden has been forced to deal with some major foreign policy crises. Guiding him through these, a team of seasoned foreign policy professionals, among which Antony Blinken, Bill Burns, Avril Haines, and Jake Sullivan, were brought on to “restore” America’s foreign policy after four years of Donald Trump’s presidency.
In this week’s episode, following the launch of ECFR’s Washington office, Mark Leonard welcomes national security reporter at Politico, Alexander Ward, and research director and director of ECFR’s new US programme, Jeremy Shapiro, to discuss Biden’s foreign policy performance. Has it been a success? Where has it fallen short of the goals Biden set? And has his team of foreign policy experts lived up to the promise of restoring America’s foreign policy?
This episode was recorded on 27 March 2024
Bookshelf:
The Internationalists: The Fight to Restore American Foreign Policy after Trump by Alexander Ward
20 Days in Mariupol - an AP News and Frontline documentary film by Mstyslav Chernov
Collisions: The Origins of the War in Ukraine and the New Global Instability by Michael Kimmage
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
The role of international law and justice in a fragmented world
The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have led questions of international law and justice to filter into everyday discourse. Both conflicts are deeply rooted in complicated and at times controversial discussions concerning the validity of territorial claims, the permissibility of use of force, the role of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice in prosecuting wrongdoers, and the complexities of international humanitarian law.
In this week’s episode, Mark Leonard welcomes ECFR senior policy fellow Anthony Dworkin to discuss the role of international law and justice in an increasingly fragmented world. What are the limits of international law? Is there any merit in accusations of Western double standards? And what role can international law play when it comes to justice in Ukraine, Gaza, and other places around the world?
This episode was recorded on 13 March 2024
Bookshelf
Equality: The History of an Elusive Idea by Darrin M. McMahon
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Under fire: Unpacking Germany’s defence policy drama
It has been a rocky month for German defence policy. With a naval frigate almost shooting down a US drone in the Red Sea by mistake, discussions of military officers on the deployment of Taurus missiles leaking, and Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron openly arguing about military aid to Ukraine, Germany’s policy on European defence is embroiled in internal and external intrigue.
In this week’s episode, Mark Leonard welcomes senior policy fellow Ulrike Franke and senior policy fellow and head of ECFR’s Berlin Office, Jana Puglierin, to discuss the current state of Germany’s policy on the war in Ukraine and European defence. What does the recent turmoil say about Germany’s strategic culture and its so-called Zeitenwende? What are the sources of tension for Franco-German defence relations? And how much potential does the attempted revival of the Weimar triangle between Berlin, Paris, and Warsaw have for agreeing on a common path forward?
This episode was recorded on 18 March 2024
Bookshelf:
Zeitenwende: The Bundeswehr’s Paradigm Shift by Léo Péria-Peigné and Elie Tenenbaum
Breaking Bad – an AMC television series
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Customer Reviews
What Europe can expect from the next US president
This episode introduces the new ECFR US country team, which is focused on US foreign affairs developments relative to Europe and NATO interests. The commentary is excellent since the ECFR team stays pragmatic; for instance, reviewing if a Trump presidency were to occur, what would this mean for Europe and NATO? Trans-Atlantic supporters want to be prepared for this Plan B contingency.
What’s so funny about genocide?
It might be a technique or something similar but Leonard last episode on genocide was full of laughs and chuckles. I can’t understand why the podcast host can’t take it seriously.I am done with this podcast.
Great content, needs better audio
This podcast has tons of thoughtful conversations and has helped broaden my perspective on global issues.
5 stars for content quality, but 4 stars for audio quality. Conversations can be hard to hear at times.