Explore the new frontiers of disinformation and disruption with futurist and policy expert Chris Kremidas Courtney. We discuss the threat of surveillance in the metaverse and how new metaverse technologies could supercharge disinformation, the fight for digital rights, how emotion overrides reason within immersive experience, the role of nation-states in this new space, how policymakers can get ahead of the private sector in defining norms for emergent technologies, the divergence of...

Delve into semiconductor geopolitics with Chris Miller, author of the new book Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology. We discuss chips evolution in modern warfare, the US-China tech race, Taiwan’s ‘Silicon Shield’, what could happen to the supply chains amid a war over Taiwan, the risk posed by Huawei and SMIC, the big players across each segment of the chip industry and their geopolitical weight, the CHIPS Act, the inefficiencies of state-led technology strategies, the...

In this conversation, I discuss Taiwan’s international relations with Russel Hsiao. We discuss Taiwan’s current context of and its place in the world, the perception gap around the risk of a Chinese invasion on Taiwan, the role of think tanks in crafting American policy toward Taiwan, how Taiwan has managed to win strong support from both parties in the US, factionalism within the KMT and the future of the party, where Taiwan fits within the Indo-Pacific, and many more topics. You can...

In this conversation, I discuss cybersecurity battlefields with David Warshavski. We discuss how the digital and physical conflict are merging together, why threat actors are targeting manufactures, the problem of attribution and false flags, the geopolitics of cyberwarfare, how North Korea generates national revenue from cyber attacks, how private firms can take control of the cyber battlespace, how to build an impenetrable digital fortress or lure cyber criminals away with fake assets, and...

In this conversation, I discuss the case for an open world with Johan Norberg. We discuss cosmopolitanism in the 21st century, the importance of open systems throughout human history, why merchants were looked down upon in ancient times, whether polytheistic cultures are more open than monotheistic ones, the medieval ‘cacophony of Europe’ and why the continent birthed modernity, different interpretations of neo-civilizationalism, why China is closing after decades of opening, the threat of...

In this two-part conversation, I discuss civilizationalism as a new force in global politics with Anvesh Jain. Part 1 covers the Western half of Eurasia — the West and Russia, while Part 2 covers the Eastern half of Eurasia — India and China. In Part 2 we discuss why the state-society power balance is so different in India and China, whether civilizationalism in Asia is a new form of anti-colonialism, the role of religion in India and China, Confucianism and state ideology, how the British...

In this conversation, I talk with Brad Glosserman on why it is so hard for Japan and South Korea to put the past behind them, the ongoing effects of bilateral relations on the broader security context of the Indo-Pacific, Japan’s future within the region, the dynamic of the US-China rivalry and many more topics. You can listen to the episode right away in the audio player embedded above, or right below it you can click “Listen in podcast app” — which will connect you to the show’s...

In this two-part conversation, I discuss civilizationalism as a new force in global politics with Anvesh Jain. Part 1 covers the Western half of Eurasia — the West and Russia, while Part 2 covers the Eastern half of Eurasia — India and China. In Part 1 we discuss the rise of civilizationalism across the world, civilizationalists as alternative intellectuals, the ignorance of elites on the movement’s appeal, Russia as a Eurasian civilization, whether Russia is the true inheritor of the Roman...

I talk with Mohamed Zeeshan on what the UN’s recent report on climate change means for us all, how Russia will reap geopolitical gains from global warming, weigh up China’s options in Afghanistan and ponder the dynamics of Japanese politics as the ruling party chooses its next leader. You can listen to the episode right away in the audio player embedded above, or right below it you can click “Listen in podcast app” — which will connect you to the show’s feed. Alternatively, you can click...

In this conversation, I discuss our new geopolitical reality ‘The Cold Peace’ with Erich Elkins. We discuss the importance of design thinking for policy problems, the roots of Western decline, Erich’s experience meeting Xi Jinping and how it shaped his thinking on the leader, the objective of China’s recent family-friendly reforms, the upcoming Philippines election, the country’s position in the Indo-Pacific, whether the first island chain can hold, why we are living in a ‘Cold Peace’ rather...

In this conversation, I explore new frontiers of drone warfare and the defense strategies for small countries with Ali Haxhimustafa. We discuss how drones are turning the tides of battles across Eurasia, various offensive and defensive drone tactics, how drone swarms give smaller forces affordable asymmetric advantages, what to do in a military withdrawal, the evolution of Kosovo’s military mandate and capacity, the country’s plans to join NATO, defense sharing and aerial defense systems, the...

In this conversation, I discuss Canadian and Japanese policy in the Indo-Pacific with Stephen Nagy. We discuss where Canada fits in the region, the perils of hostage diplomacy, why Canada needs to further align with other liberal democracies, the Arctic as a new space for geopolitical contest, Canada and Australia’s shared ‘China paradox’, how Ottawa should deal with the superpower in a nuanced way, whether Japan is serious about revising its Taiwan policy, what’s at stake for Tokyo in the...

In this conversation, I take a walk down India’s winding path toward great power status with Aparna Pande. We discuss whether India can really catch up with China, how each country traditionally views the entrepreneur, the caste system in contemporary India, state-society relations in the country, whether majoritarian nationalism can be reversed, the conflicting ‘ideas’ of India, the economic reforms the country needs to make, why China poses an existential threat India, the challenge of...

Rasheed Griffith is a fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue. He has professional experience in AML Compliance for cryptocurrency/digital asset firms. I have a focus on market making, liquidity provision, and proprietary trading operations. Additional expertise in Chinese geoeconomics in the Caribbean. He is also the host of China in the Americas. You can listen to the episode right away in the audio player embedded above, or right below it you can click “Listen in podcast app” — which will...

“The economics profession has let down the American people.” - Jeff Ferry In this conversation, I discuss policy solutions for rebuilding American industry with Jeff Ferry. We discuss the impacts tariffs on China have had on the U.S. economy, whether those tariffs should be made permanent, whether the White House should use tariffs as bargaining leverage with China, the fate of third countries in U.S.-China decoupling, Taiwan and its dominance in the semiconductor industry, the transition...

Listen now | What is HK's future? What about its diaspora? Can wolf warrior diplomacy be tamed? EU-China relations credible model? Lab leak hypothesis? Why US and China in opposing realities? All these and more. Get full access to Policy People at policypeople.substack.com/subscribe

In this conversation, I discuss the nature of think tanks and their function as diplomatic actors in the international system with Melissa Conley Tyler. We discuss the diplomatic functions think tanks perform, Australia’s policy scene and how the country’s think tanks can bolster its international influence, the profitability of think tanks, why think tankers are cautious communicators, the challenge of transparency around funding, reputation as the ‘currency of think tanks’, the differences...

Welcome to the Policy Pulse - a breakdown summary of some of the most compelling recent reports to come out of think tanks from around the world. This edition of the Policy Pulse is recorded as an episode of the Policy People Podcast. You can find all the links to the reports mentioned here in the show notes or in the newsletter. Thank you to Sasanka Kanuparthi for curating this edition of Policy Pulse. And now I bring you Policy pulse, (Date). Do Russia-Turkey pose a joint threat to EU...

In this conversation, I discuss the changing dynamics of India’s relations with China and Taiwan with Namrata Hasija. We discuss how history continues to shape relations between the three, why Nehru’s government misread China, United Front operations in India today, Tibet in Sino-India relations, recent Himalayan border skirmishes, the differences between BJP and Congress policy toward Beijing, how India’s one China policy differs from the US, burgeoning people-to-people links between Taiwan...

In this conversation, I discuss how a state-sponsored transnational crime operation is eroding Canadian sovereignty with Sam Cooper. We discuss how the global drugs trade is a vector of geopolitical superpower competition, the strategic weaponization of underground banking, the Vancouver model of money laundering, the CCP’s role in the fentanyl trade throughout the Americas, drug war zones in Canada’s cities, the elite capture of Canadian business leaders by Chinese tycoons, the vulnerability...

Welcome to the Policy Pulse - a breakdown summary of some of the most compelling recent reports to come out of think tanks from around the world. This edition of the Policy Pulse will be recorded as an episode of the Policy People Podcast. You can find all the links to the reports mentioned here in the show notes or in the newsletter. Thank you to Sasanka Kanuparthi for curating this edition of Policy Pulse. Can the Biden administration keep US-Turkey tensions in check?        What should...

I talk with Mohamed Zeeshan about the geopolitical power vacuum forming in the heart of Eurasia - Afghanistan - and speculate on who could try to fill it next. We look to the twin crises playing out in Haiti and Cuba and ponder how the US should respond. We also delve into why the IOC holds the upper hand over Japan in the politics of the Olympics. If you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to reply to this email, leave a comment or message me at my LinkedIn profile. Stay well and...

In this conversation, I discuss economic deglobalization with Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan. We delve into the dual disruption of populist and pandemic politics, Badri’s forecasts for full decoupling between China and the Five Eyes countries, the securitization of trade and the necessity of recalibrating neoliberal policy, the trifurcation of the post-pandemic economy, falling economic migration and remittance transfers, the fate of digital nomads and the business travellers, new taxation...

Richard Heydarian In this episode, I go on a whirlwind tour of global geopolitics with author, academic, serial columnist, policy adviser and TV host, Richard Heydarian. We discuss… Why the Middle East is the best starting point for a geopolitics analyst (02:00) India’s place as a ‘pivot power’ in the Indo-Pacific (8:00) The real ‘Silk Roads’ and Eurasia’s new multicentric geopolitical order (10:00) Neo-Ottomanism and the resurgence of Turkish adventurism (12:00) Biden’s Indo-Pac...