On Geopolitics: Recent Episodes
Centre for Geopolitics
With the new academic year comes a relaunch of the Centre for Geopolitics’ podcast, now called ‘On Geopolitics’. Regular hosts Ali Ansari and Suzanne Raine will discuss geopolitics issues within a historical context with guests from academia, government, science, and business.
John Nilsson-Wright talks with Noah Sneider, the Economist’s bureau chief in Japan, on the ways in which the United States' two key Asian allies are adapting to an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment, both in confronting hostile foreign powers and a United States that appears aggressively transactional and increasingly unreliable as a dependable ally. They discuss foreign policy, domestic politics, and the personal leadership strengths and weaknesses of the country’s two leaders, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and President Lee Jae Myung, as they grapple with the challenge of implementing far-reaching policy changes while keeping their domestic publics on side.
In this concluding episode of the On Geopolitics Explorations: War series, Professor William Hurst returns to the question that he began with: what is war? He pulls this thread through a review of the many themes and ideas explored with his guests throughout the series.
Professor William Hurst is joined by Ayşe Zarakol, Professor of International Relations at the University of Cambridge. They discuss how empire models and concepts of international orders have shifted over time. They also consider how history and historical grievances can be mobilised politically, as forces that lead a state towards war or predispose a state not to go to war.
Professor John Nilsson-Wright talks to Dr Nick Wright, a neuroscientist and adviser to the Pentagon Joint Staff who researches the brain, technology and security at University College London, Georgetown University, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the National Defence University in Washington, DC. They consider how fear, perception, misperception, and memory are tied to different physiological elements of the brain, and how they influence our predisposition to engage in conflict. While we may be conditioned to engage in conflict, we also have the capacity, unlike other species, to reflect on our own internal mental processes — a capacity that offers an optimistic basis for minimising the risk of conflict in the future.
Professor William Hurst is joined by Tang Shiping, Distinguished Professor of International Relations at Fudan University. They discuss the origins of war and the reasons why states fight. They also consider how war has become a defining force in shaping international order, and examine the social evolution of the rules that surround order.
Professor John Nilsson-Wright talks with Sir Robin Niblett, former Director of the leading British think-tank Chatham House, about the key foreign policy challenges and opportunities facing the Labour Government of Sir Keir Starmer. They discuss the legacy of previous Conservative governments’ foreign policies, key bilateral relationships with the United States, China, and Britain’s European and Indo-Pacific partners, and the perennial challenge of balancing strategic priorities against the economic constraints associated with slow growth and rising national debt. At a pivotal time in domestic politics, following Labour’s poor performance in Britain’s recent local elections, they also consider the Prime Minister’s political future and the prospects for British foreign policy of a change in the Labour leadership or a future transition to a new UK government.
Professor William Hurst is joined by Ron Hassner, the Chancellor's Professor of Political Science and Helen Diller Family Chair in Israel Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. They discuss the importance of understanding the religious terrain of a country when going to war with it, and the necessity of states engaging religious leaders, and those with religious expertise, when making decisions around war.
Professor William Hurst is joined by Dr Rohan Mukherjee, Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Deputy Director of LSE IDEAS. They consider how some states may act aggressively to prove their great power status and to seek recognition from other states. They also discuss states’ need of symbolic equality, particularly those that experience a potential gap between their capabilities and the degree of respect they receive.
Professor William Hurst is joined by Peter Trubowtiz, Professor of International Relations and Director of the Phelan US Centre at the London School of Economics. They discuss liberal versus realist approaches to war. They look at how political economy and security considerations interact, and consider how domestic politics have profound impacts upon how states behave internationally.
Professor William Hurst is joined by Caroline Baxter, Director of the Converging Risks Lab at the Council on Strategic Risks and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education and Training within the United States Office of the Secretary of Defense. They discuss the necessity of focusing on critical vulnerabilities –such as those resulting from climate change, AI, or quantum technologies– as wars continue to be fought through non-traditional means.
Professor William Hurst is joined by Ian Hurd, Professor of Political Science and President of the Faculty Senate at Northwestern University. They discuss how norms, laws and expectations can prevent and impact wars. They analyse how waging wars became less legally permissible in the 20th century, and how the use of new technologies developed in the 21st century have greyed legal constructs around war.
Professor William Hurst is joined by Dr Lauren Sukin, the John G. Winant Associate Professor in US Foreign Policy in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. They discuss the prevention of war through deterrence and institutional arrangements, or security architectures, which increasingly face difficulties as global conflicts become more complex.
Professor William Hurst is joined by Jack Snyder, the Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Relations at Columbia University, to discuss confrontational diplomacy and its unintended consequences, particularly throughout the world wars. They also discuss how the offensive approach of authoritarian states leads them to struggle in the balance of power game compared to democracies.
Professor William Hurst is joined by Dr Victoria Vdovychenko, Joint Programme Leader at the Centre's Future of Ukraine Programme, to discuss how, whilst fighting for its sovereignty amidst Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine navigates democratic responsiveness to its citizens, innovation to improve its war-fighting technologies, and its international alliances.
Former British Army officer Lieutenant General Doug Chalmers — who served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy & Operations) from 2018 to 2021, and is the current Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge — joins Professor William Hurst to discuss the importance of having local and regional political understandings whilst carrying out military campaigns. They also explore how actors in war should understand their own positionalities, and reflect on how their own biases and relationships impact their knowledge and judgements.
Professor William Hurst and Lieutenant General Doug Chalmers, former British Army officer who served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy & Operations) from 2018 to 2021, and current Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge explore different concepts of war and how different types of actors initiate and prosecute conflict.
Joined by John Mearsheimer, R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, we explore the strategic dynamics of security competition between states and how they seek to mitigate the distinct threat that war poses to their survival.
John Nilsson-Wright talks to Professor Chungin Moon of Yonsei University about the foreign policy of South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung, and how Seoul is handling its ties with both Tokyo and Washington. The discussion explores tensions between South Korea and the US over tariffs, growing uncertainty regarding the US commitment to the security of the Korean peninsula, how best to manage relations with North Korea, and the increasingly cooperative partnership with Japan in the midst of a new leadership election for the presidency of Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
This podcast is part of a larger Centre for Geopolitics project, Alliances in Alignment, supported by the Korea Foundation, examining the future of trilateral cooperation between the US, South Korea and Japan.
Our first Explorations series takes a deeper dive into the subject of war. In this introductory episode, we begin by tracing the history of war as a concept, from ancient poetry, tragedy, and philosophy through to contemporary international relations theories. In doing so, we set the stage for some of the arguments and ideas that will be explored in greater depth across episodes to come.
John Nilsson-Wright talks to Steve Herman — until recently Voice of America’s Chief National Correspondent — about the Trump administration’s relationship with private and public media organisations in the United States. They consider the threats to democratic freedoms in the US, the role of public broadcasting domestically and as part of US foreign policy during the Cold War as well as today, and also the question of what individual citizens can do to protect their civil liberties at a critical juncture in American history.
John Nilsson-Wright and Suzanne Raine talk to Nobukatsu Kanehara, former assistant chief cabinet secretary to late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (from 2012-2019) and one of Japan’s leading strategic thinkers. The conversation covers Japan’s diplomatic options in handling security and economic relations with the United States, regional security in the Middle East, the domestic political circumstances faced by the Liberal Democratic Government of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s regional diplomacy in dealing with China and North Korea, nuclear deterrence, alliance policy, and also relations with the new government of President Lee Jae-myung in the Republic of Korea.
This podcast is part of a larger Centre for Geopolitics project, Alliances in Alignment, supported by the Korea Foundation, examining the future of trilateral cooperation between the US, South Korea and Japan.
What just happened? To look back at a momentous month Suzanne Raine and Ali Ansari are joined by Bill Hurst and John Nilsson-Wright. Ali offers his views on Iran, Bill on China, John on Japan and North and South Korea, and Suzanne asks the questions. This will be, for now, the last OnGeopolitics hosted by Suzanne and Ali, as they hand over to John and Bill at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Geopolitics.
Suzanne Raine and John Nilsson-Wright talk with Professor John Delury, Sinologist, Korea expert and currently a visiting professor in Rome, about the current state of policy under Donald Trump towards the United States' key allies in Northeast Asia, the Republic of Korea and Japan. How resilient and reliable is cooperation between leaders in Washington, Tokyo and Seoul in confronting geopolitical risks in Asia, particularly the challenge of a closer partnership between North Korea, Russia and China.”
This podcast is part of a larger Centre for Geopolitics project, Alliances in Alignment, which is supported by the Korea Foundation and examines the future of trilateral cooperation between the US, South Korea and Japan.
Ali and Suzanne are joined by John Nilsson-Wright, who was in Seoul in early December when President Yoon Suk-yeol moved to declare martial law, to discuss the recent tumultuous events in South Korea and the implications for the Korean peninsula and the wider region.
Ali and Suzanne take stock of the dramatic events in Syria and the implications of the collapse of the Assad regime for Iran, looking at themes common across many revolutions and possible areas to watch.
Ali and Suzanne are joined by Professor Bill Hurst to look at the implications of Trump's election win on US policy positions towards China and Iran. How might China navigate what America does next?Why are some in Iran secretly pleased Trump has won? And will the next US President have the expertise on China and Iran he needs?
Ali and Suzanne take stock on the contest between Iran and Israel, especially considering the impact in Iran of recent setbacks.
What might be the consequences domestically and in terms of the conflict?
Suzanne Raine is joined by Dr John Nilssen-Wright and Alexandra Leonzini to learn more about the story behind a recent North Korean viral TikTok hit. Alexandra and John explore the role of music in the creation and strengthening of North Korean identity, explaining on the way how the society functions, the change in attitude since the meeting of Kim Jong Un and President Trump, and signs to watch for in the future.
What happens next in Iran? Ali Ansari and Suzanne Raine look at the consequences of the death of President Raisi, and discuss the forthcoming Iranian elections on 28 June. Who will stand, and how will the process play out? Who decides and how much does it matter anyway?
Suzanne and Ali look back over the events of April -May 2024, including the first direct military exchange between Israel and Iran, and ask where this leaves us. How are we to judge the failure of the Iranian firing of missiles and projectiles towards Israel? What does this mean for the state of Iran itself, and for its reputation and control of its proxies? Where might Iran go from here?
Suzanne and Ali talk with Ciaran Martin, the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre on the threats – real and imagined – posed by the rapid transformation of our digital world, the role of state and non-state actors, and how we need to rise to the challenge of revolutionary change in telecommunications technology.
Ali and Suzanne are joined by Renad Mansour and Zmkan Ali of Chatham House to discuss their new report on cross-border conflict. Why is Sinjar, stuck between Iraq and Syria, enmired in other ongoing conflicts? And can anything be done to improve the situation in Sinjar while those conflicts are unresolved? Renad and Zmkan argue that unless the non-state armed groups active in Sinjar are involved in negotiations about the future of Sinjar, then there will be no lasting resolution.
Professor Ali Ansari and Suzanne Raine are joined by Professor Bill Hurst, Director of the Centre for Geopolitics, to ask what we should conclude from the results of the Taiwanese elections on 13 January. Does the election of a President from the Democratic People's Party make tensions with China more likely, or is the lack of a clear winner in the legislature a counter-balance? And how will these changes impact Taiwan's posture towards China, and China's decision-making regarding Taiwan?
Suzanne Raine and Ali Ansari start with Baluchistan, and then widen the lens to look at what is driving Iranian aggression in the Middle East. They examine how the threat of force becomes the use of force, and the extent to which apparent co-ordinated Iranian activity might not be quite as simple as it seems.
Professor Phillips O'Brien joins Suzanne and Ali to discuss why enabling Ukraine to win is in the US's strategic interest, and why limited assistance not only protracts the conflict but raises the risk of wider long-term instability in Europe.
Recent events in Israel and Gaza have highlighted how hard it is to orientate in the absence of clear facts. At these times of crisis, how do political leaders decide what to do? Ali Ansari and Suzanne Raine are joined by the Rt Hon Charles Clarke, who was British Home Secretary at the time of the 7/7 bombings in London, and talks about having to take the decision whether or not to close down the London transport system that day.
Dr Charlie Laderman joins Ali and Suzanne to explore the origins of the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the current situation, and the real and increasing risk of renewed violence in the Caucasus.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
In 2024, approximately four billion people will be involved in national elections, which in turn will shape how states take geopolitical positions and decisions. Suzanne and Ali consider key themes such as misinformation, manipulation and division which are likely to feature heavily in this major global electoral year.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Suzanne and Ali discuss the origins of the term and ask how states navigate between pursuit of their interests and being true to their values and ideals.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Professor Bill Hurst joins Suzanne to explore what — if anything — the expansion of the BRICS signifies for those countries joining and for China, and look at how to interpret indicators about the current state of the Chinese economy.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Suzanne and Ali are joined by Air Marshal (Retd) Ed Stringer to look at what defines heroic leadership, whether it can be taught and whether the idea of the genius leader is fit for today's challenges.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Ali and Suzanne are joined by Professor Mike Hulme, a climate change specialist, and author of Climate Change Isn’t Everything, who argues that the current approach to climate change targets and deadlines oversimplifies a complex problem and makes it less likely that we will meet them.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Ali and Suzanne discuss the idea of ‘authoritarian resilience’, the broader relationship between theory and practice, and how we should avoid becoming prisoners of paradigms.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Ali and Suzanne are joined by Richard Williams of Bunker Hill Mining Corporation to explore global competition for resource, and look at how and whether the US aim to 'de-risk' global supply will work in practice.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Ali and Suzanne are joined by Centre Affiliate Dr John Nilsson-Wright to consider this trilateral relationship in the run-up to the G7.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Ali and Suzanne are joined by the Centre's Dr Hugo Bromley to consider the historical drivers behind the formation of the UK Union and their relevance today.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Iran-China expert Bill Figueroa joins Ali and Suzanne to look at the dynamics of the new triumvirate of Iran, Saudi Arabia and China.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
The second part of Suzanne and Ali's discussion on the difference personal relationships between leaders can make at critical geopolitical moments.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Suzanne and Ali ask how much difference personal relationships between leaders make at critical geopolitical moments.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Professor Brendan Simms gives Ali and Suzanne his impressions of the key themes from this year's Munich Security Conference and what this means for European security and Russia's war in Ukraine.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Ali and Suzanne ask whether we are trapped by history — and how we might use it better to approach today's challenges.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Ali and Suzanne ask whether we are trapped by history — and how we might use it better to approach today's challenges.
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Expert on international summits Professor Tristen Naylor joins Ali and Suzanne to ask what summits are for, whether they are worth it, and what makes them successful (or not).
About the hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Suzanne and Ali discuss the current protests with Dr Anahita Arian from the Centre for Geopolitics.
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Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Professor Bill Hurst and Suzanne Raine examine the significance of the recent outbreak of protests in many cities in China, and the CCP's response.
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The host:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Jade McGlynn joins Suzanne and Ali to discuss how memory and myth are used to build support for Russia's War on Ukraine, and why it isn't quite right to call it "Putin's War".
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The hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
What happened at the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and what does it mean for China's future direction? Ali and Suzanne are joined by Professor Bill Hurst, who talks us through personalities, drama, and the new Chinese focus on persistence and security.
The hosts:
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Suzanne and Ali discuss how the anti-Western case is made by leaders from Putin to Bin Laden (and everyone in between).
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
After an eventful summer, Suzanne and Ali discuss the role and limitations of predictions and forecasting in geopolitics.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Ali Ansari updates us on the state of negotiations on the JCPOA, and we discuss Iran's relationship with Russia.
Suzanne and Ali explore this short but significant border.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Ali and Suzanne discuss Russia's vast Asian territory and ask what effect it has on the identity of the largest country in the world.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Dr Donatas Kupciunas joins Ali and Suzanne to discuss their shared history and whether they will ever escape it.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Professor Bill Hurst explains the complex relationship between Russia and China as China grapples with the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine, it’s wider geopolitical and economic relationships and its aspirations for the future of the international order.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Waking up to Conflict: War in Europe is just one of the many live conflicts in the world. Do we need a new systemic approach to conflict, post conflict and peacekeeping? With Chris Loughran from The Halo Trust.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Crisis! How can history help decision-makers in moments of crisis? Can it do more harm than good? What is the role of the historian in providing advice? With Gill Bennett, former Chief Historian of the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Professors Rory Finnin and Brendan Simms on how we got here and what happens next. With hosts Suzanne Raine and Professor Ali Ansari.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Ali Ansari and Suzanne Raine consider the prospects for the nuclear negotiations and for Iran's place in the world.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Professor Bill Hurst on the Geopolitics of the Chinese games.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Demonstrations in January were controlled with the support of Russian troops at the President's invitation. What do these disturbances tell us about the state of the large country on Russia's southern border? Raff Pantucci explains.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Nora Topor Kalinskij demystifies some of the issues around the European energy crisis, green energy transition, and the role of Russia and China.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
How can the world's leaders be persuaded that international cooperation is the key to their countries' success and prosperity? Simon Anholt discusses his new book The Good Country Equation with Ali and Suzanne to explore how a good reputation and image can help countries to overcome the major international challenges facing humanity today.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
We know Belarus as the home of Europe's last dictator, 'weaponising' of migrants, suppression of dissidents, but how much do we understand of the wider context? Dr Donatas Kupciunas joins Ali and Suzanne to explore the background to Belarus/Lithuania/Poland/Russia tensions and what the future might hold.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Professor Brendan Simms and Dr Charlie Laderman introduce their latest book, Hitler's American Gamble, which shows mistrust and uncertainty in decision-making between allies and adversaries in the five days between Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbour and Hitler's declaration of war on the USA.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Convention holds that the world is organised into nation states, but this is challenged by the existence of "ungoverned space": non-state actors are on the rise both in areas of conflict and instability and in the West. Lt General Sir Graeme Lamb joins Ali Ansari and Suzanne Raine to explore the implications.
The hosts: Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
In this inaugural episode of our new series, Suzanne Raine and Ali Ansari discuss Afghanistan and look in detail at the historical and cultural significance of the Khorasan, a historical territory whose name survives in Persian and Islamist narratives about the future of the region and their own roles in global history.
Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
Philipp Hirsch asks John Kampfner, author of the best-selling 2020 book “Why the Germans do it better”, about his observations on where Germany stands after Angela Merkel’s time as chancellor and what sort of choice the country faces in the September election.
Suzanne Raine talks to Gordon Corera, BBC Security Correspondent, about a story of bravery, belief, hope, patriotism, loyalty and pigeons.
Philipp Hirsch and Ulrike Franke from the European Council on Foreign Relations talk about current debates on German security policy in Berlin as well as on the role of defence questions in the September election. Recorded 7th June, 2021.
Philipp Hirsch and Nicolai von Ondarza from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs discuss the role and importance of Europe for German politics as well as German perspectives on Brexit. Germany and the World, Episode 3.
Resistance, Radicalisation and Religion, Episode 5. Suzanne Raine speaks with Dr Nayanka Paquete Perdigao about the Islamist extremist movements in Mozambique, West Africa and the Sahel.
Philipp Hirsch talks with Tony Barber, European Affairs Commentator at the Financial Times, about European and British views on German politics and what expectations there might be outside of Berlin about Merkel’s successor.
Philipp Hirsch and John F. Jungclaussen, historian and former London correspondent of the German newspaper Die Zeit, discuss Angela Merkel’s 16 year-long tenure as German chancellor, her possible successors as well as the main themes shaping this September’s election in Germany.
Thomas Peak speaks with Alex Bellamy and Stephen McLoughlin about their new book Rethinking Humanitarian Intervention and the role of history in studying military intervention and the responsibility to protect.
Thomas Peak speaks with Alice Wairimu Nderitu about the nature of atrocity prevention in the modern world.
Thomas Peak speaks with Luke Glanville, associate professor at Australian National University, on his new book Sharing Responsibility, the History and Future of Protection from Atrocities.
Suzanne Raine talks to Professor Timothy Garton Ash about resistance to the Iron Curtain and the scars it left behind.
Hugo Bromley speaks with James Crabtree, the incoming executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia, about the role of financial services in supporting the ‘tilt to the Indo-Pacific’ outlined in the UK's recent Integrated Review.
Suzanne Raine speaks with Sara Khan, the U.K. Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser for Social Cohesion and Resilience and author of the recent report Home Office report "operating with impunity" to discuss counter-extremism in the UK.
Hugo Bromley speaks with Matthew Klein, author and economics commentator at Barron’s, about how domestic inequality, facilitated by financial markets, drives trade conflicts with geopolitical implications.
Suzanne Raine and Professor Ali Ansari discuss what led to the 1979 revolution and the creation of the radical, resistance state.
Hugo Bromley speaks with former CFTC Chairman Christopher Giancarlo about the geopolitical impact of central bank digital currency, and the need for the US to embrace a digital dollar.
Suzanne Raine talks to Rafaello Pantucci about what far-right extremists have learned from Islamist terrorists.