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Named by The Guardian as “a podcast to make you smarter,” Global Dispatches is a podcast for people who crave a deeper understanding of international news.
By now, of course, you are well aware that Emmanuel Macron won a stunning election victory in France, besting by huge margins the far right candidate Marine Le Pen. But if you are like me, you probably did not know too much about Macron -- who he is, where he came from, and how he emerged from the political wilderness to become one of the most intriguing personalities in politics today. On the line with me to discuss the election, give a biographical sketch of Macron and offer insights into the implications of his entrance to the political scene is Christopher Mesnooh a lawyer and media personality in France. I caught up with Christopher from his office in Paris just a few days after the election. If you have 20 minutes and want a deeper understanding of the domestic and international consequences of this election, including on the debate over immigration, the European Union and France's role in the world then have listen.
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Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show!
Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include:
#1: International Relations Theory, explained.
#2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation
#3: A Brief History of NATO
#4: The Syrian Civil War, explained.
#5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea.
#6: Better Know Vladimir Putin
#7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!)
#9: "Sustainable Development," explained (Coming soon!)
Lisa Palmer is author of the new book Hot Hungry Planet: The Fight to Stop a Global Food Crisis in the Face of Climate Change. As the title suggests, the book examines the intersection of climate change, population growth and the politics of food all -- of which we discuss in this episode.
Lisa is a journalist who writes for both popular and academic outlets. She's been covering climate change and environmental issues for many years and she discusses how her upbringing in an agrarian community informed her career path.
We discuss how fighting food insecurity requires a very broad based approach that touches on politics, technology, women's empowerment and many, many other issues.
You can EMAIL Mark by clicking here.
Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show!
Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include:
#1: International Relations Theory, explained.
#2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation
#3: A Brief History of NATO
#4: The Syrian Civil War, explained.
#5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea.
#6: Better Know Vladimir Putin
#7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!)
#9: "Sustainable Development," explained (Coming soon!)
Millions of people in Yemen are facing a potential famine. The country was already the poorest in the region and for the last several years has been beset by a civil conflict stoked by key regional players. And now, one of the lifelines into the country, the Port of Hoedeida, could be beset by intense fighting. On the line with me to discuss the conflict in Yemen and why despite the availability of food Yemen is still at serious risk of famine is Joost Hiltermann, the Middle East and North Africa Director for the International Crisis Group. We discuss how and why this conflict erupted, the role of key regional players like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran and how the United States is shaping the conflict. This is a useful look into one of the world's worst conflicts that gets the least amount of attention.
Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show!
Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include:
#1: International Relations Theory, explained.
#2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation
#3: A Brief History of NATO
#4: The Syrian Civil War, explained.
#5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea.
#6: The Sustainable Development Goals, explained (Coming soon!)
#7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!)
#9: Better Know Vladamir Putin (Coming soon!)
The internationally acclaimed and award-winning photojournalist Marcus Bleasdale has a spread in the latest issue of National Geographic magazine from his collection of photos documenting the conflict in the Central African Republic.
His work in CAR is a good demonstration of how Marcus puts his significant talents to work in the service of human rights around the world. We kick off with an extended conversation about the conflict in CAR and how he want about documenting.
Marcus started out his career as a banker in London, but the conflict in the Balkans in the 1990s inspired him to change career paths in a very dramatic way. He describes that transition as well as some of his work in the DRC and Sierra Leone. And I also want to thank Marcus for opening up about the PTSD and the emotional impact of his work to his own well-being.
Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show!
Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include:
#1: International Relations Theory, explained.
#2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation
#3: A Brief History of NATO
#4: The Syrian Civil War, explained. (Well, sort of -- it's complicated!)
#5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea.
#6: The Sustainable Development Goals, explained (Coming soon!)
#7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!)
When I reached Ahmad Shuja in Kabul the country was still reeling from the deadliest single Taliban attack since the start of the insurgency nearly 15 years ago. Some 160 young soldiers--mostly recruits-- were massacred in a brazen assault on a base in the northern part of the country. That attack came after the United States dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat on what was reportedly a network of tunnels used by insurgents Shuja is an Afghan analyst and researcher who previously worked for Human Rights Watch. Now, he is affiliated with the American University of Afghanistan -- though he stresses that he is speaking in his personal capacity. He discusses the implications of this recent Taliban attack, what the US government could be doing differently in Afghanistan, and how and why the government of Afghanistan is struggling to meet some of the basic needs of its people. Ahmad also discusses the deteriorating security environment in Kabul and the effect that is having on daily life.
Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show!
Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include:
#1: International Relations Theory, explained.
#2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation
#3: A Brief History of NATO
#4: The Syrian Civil War, explained. (Well, sort of -- it's complicated!)
#5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea.
#6: The Sustainable Development Goals, explained (Coming soon!)
#7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!)
Laurie Adams is president of the NGO Women for Women International which works with women survivors of war. She has had a long career in the NGO sector and as an activist, including many years with Oxfam in various parts of Africa and the NGO ActionAidInternational.
Laurie also had a career as an activist initially inspired by the anti-apartheid movement and we have a really thoughtful conversation about both the role of activism in international affairs and also just how one becomes a professional activist.
Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show!
Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include:
#1: International Relations Theory, explained.
#2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation
#3: A Brief History of NATO
#4: The Syrian Civil War, explained. (Well, sort of -- it's complicated!)
#5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea.
#6: The Sustainable Development Goals, explained (Coming soon!)
#7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!)
Venezuela is at yet another crisis point. The government of Nicolas Maduro is facing steep opposition from the very people that swept Maduro's predecessor and mentor Hugo Chavez to power nearly 20 years ago. But after years of sharp economic decline it appears that the "revolution's" hold on power is a tenuous as ever. On the line to explain what is going on in Venezuela is Francisco Toro, editor of the news website Caracas Chronicles. He discusses how the situation reached this crisis point and why there is such high probability of violence. Francisco has been on the show before: last year he explained how Venezuela's economy so sharply and abruptly began a downward spiral. He discusses that again, but also in the context of a new protest movement. I caught up with Francisco one day before a massive protest was scheduled in Caracas. Things were definitely heating up.
Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show!
Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include:
#1: International Relations Theory, explained.
#2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation
#3: A Brief History of NATO
#4: The Syrian Civil War, explained. (Well, sort of -- it's complicated!)
#5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea.
#6: The Sustainable Development Goals, explained (Coming soon!)
#7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!)
Linda Thomas-Greenfield grew up the oldest of eight children in a small segregated town outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They were poor. Her father was not literate. Despite these circumstances, she became one of America's top diplomats, having just left her post a few weeks ago as the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
Amb Thomas-Greenfield speaks candidly about the kinds of racial animus she faced growing up and in college at Louisiana State University. She tells how she first became interested in Africa and how her career as an Africa specialist evolved, including a formative stint as a diplomat in the small country of the Gambia.
Stay for the discussion of the "Gumbo Diplomacy" she practiced as ambassador to Liberia when Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show!
Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include:
#1: International Relations Theory, explained.
#2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation
#3: A Brief History of NATO
#4: The Syrian Civil War, explained. (Well, sort of -- it's complicated!)
#5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea.
#6: The Sustainable Development Goals, explained (Coming soon!)
#7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!)
This is about two and a half hours for your listening pleasure. With more on the way. If there's a topic you want me to explore, please send me an email!
Micah Zenko has researched whether or not limited airstrikes -- like the kind Donald Trump ordered on Syria last week -- actually achieve their stated political and military objectives. His book Between Threats and War: US Discrete Military Operations in the Post Cold-War World examined some 36 airstrikes and finds that they very rarely do what they are intended to do. We discuss why that is--and what implications his findings have for further US involvement in Syria. We do a little name dropping in this episode, including Robert Pape who wrote a definitive book on airpower called Bombing to Win. Bob was my guest on Episode number 87 and I'd highly recommend that episode.Micah was last on the podcast about a year and a half ago to discuss his newest book, called "Red Team" which takes a look at the role of the devils advocate in international relations.
Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show!
Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include:
#1: International Relations Theory, explained.
#2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation
#3: A Brief History of NATO
#4: The Syrian Civil War, explained. (Well, sort of -- it's complicated!)
#5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea #6: The Sustainable Development Goals, explained (Coming soon!)
#7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!)
This is about two and a half hours for your listening pleasure. With more on the way. If there's a topic you want me to explore, please send me an email!
Xi Jinping is headed to Mar-a-Lago for his first big meeting with Donald Trump.
The US-China relationship is arguably the most consequential bi-lateral relationship in the world so naturally this trip is garnering a lot of attention. But what is actually on the agenda? And how might US-China relations shift in the coming years under President Trump? I put these questions and more to Susan Jakes who is the editor of ChinaFile and Senior Fellow at Asia Society's Center on US-China Relations.
She discusses why the optics of this meeting are so meaningful to both sides, how the domestic politics in China inform a trip like this, and why the irksome and threatening actions of North Korea may become an increasingly important aspect of US-China relations.
If you have twenty minutes and want to learn more about the key elements of the relationship between the US and china and how they may evolve, have a listen.
Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show!
Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include:
#1: International Relations Theory, explained.
#2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation
#3: A Brief History of NATO
#4: The Syrian Civil War, explained. (Well, sort of -- it's complicated!)
#5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea (Coming soon!)
#6: The Sustainable Development Goals, explained (Coming soon!)
#7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!)
This is about two and a half hours for your listening pleasure. With more on the way. If there's a topic you want me to explore, please send me an email!
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