Hopkins Podcast on Foreign Affairs

Today we explore Kim Yo Jung, Kim Jong Un's sister, and her official role in North Korea. She first made her international debut in 2018 and has continued to dominate North Korean politics alongside her brother, with many scholars considering her to be a potential successor to Kim Jong Un. We are joined today by … Continue reading The Sister: Kim Yo Jung

Today we explore Kim Yo Jung, Kim Jong Un's sister, and her official role in North Korea. She first made her international debut in 2018 and has continued to dominate North Korean politics alongside her brother, with many scholars considering her to be a potential successor to Kim Jong Un. We are joined today by … Continue reading The Sister: Kim Yo Jong

Realism has been the dominant theory of international relations since its conception, and within the realist school, the balance of power theory is a core tenet and posits that in order to survive as independent entities in an anarchic system, states are compelled to increase their power and balance against a potential hegemon. This theory … Continue reading Realism and Balance of Threat with Dr. Stephen Walt

The 2023 Guatemalan elections were closely watched this past summer, especially following the anti-democratic efforts that led to Bernardo Arévalo's Semilla party being suspended after unexpectedly emerging as one of the two victors of the first round of elections in late June. Arévalo eventually beat out former first lady Sandra Torres in the August 20 … Continue reading 2023 Guatemalan Elections: Democratic Spring or Winter

As some countries, including  India, China, the UAE, and Turkey, have started to move away from the U.S. Dollar as the standard for international trade, the government is faced with many questions regarding the importance of Dollar Dominance. In this episode, Saleha Mohsin, senior Washington correspondent for Bloomberg News, joins us to overview the historical … Continue reading U.S. Dollar Dominance

In this episode, we discuss Argentina's worsening economic crisis and ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Argentina is facing historic annual rates of inflation that have reached over 100% this past June. How did Argentina's situation become this dire? How is Economic Minister Sergio Massa, who is set to be the ruling Peronist … Continue reading Argentina’s IMF Crisis

The Wagner Group, a private military company, was fighting in Ukraine on behalf of the Russian government until late June, when the group's commander Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a mutiny and began marching toward Moscow. Before the Wagner Group reached the city, Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko negotiated a deal between Prigozhin and the Russian government. In … Continue reading The Wagner Group Mutiny

Israel, once touted as a thriving democracy in the Middle East, now finds itself in a very unstable political climate. After a 5th election in 4 years which restored the country's longest running prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israelis are in the streets again protesting against a controversial bill introduced in the Israeli parliament. The bill, … Continue reading Israel’s Judicial Branch Reform

Russia and India have enjoyed a long history of friendly and mutually beneficial relations. The rise of China, U.S.-China  tensions, the war in Ukraine, and the Russian-Chinese partnership, have had profound effects on Russian-Indian relations. Dr. Constantino Xavier,  fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress and a nonresident fellow at the India Project … Continue reading India’s Strategic Shift?

Of the thirteen countries that currently maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, seven of those are in Latin America. This episode explores how Honduras' recent diplomatic split with Taiwan in favor of China affects Taiwan’s diplomatic strategy in the region. To discuss Taiwan's relations with Latin America, joining us today is Margaret Myers, the director of … Continue reading Taiwan Loses Its Friends

Last year, North Korea conducted a record number of ballistic missile test and appears to soon conduct another nuclear test. These developments have aggravated South Korea's concern about U.S. extended deterrence commitments. Ankit Panda, Stanton Senior Fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins us today to discuss the … Continue reading Extended Deterrence

Recently, French president Emmanuel Macron used his emergency powers to pass a law that raises the retirement age, and the age at which French people can access their state funded pension. This recent – very unpopular – change alongside a whole host of other issues, has led to massive, and intense protests across France, a … Continue reading France Takes to the Streets

On Thursday, March 16, the Biden administration threatened that it would ban TikTok unless it was sold due to data security and content manipulation concerns regarding American users. While some applauded the potential move as safeguarding U.S. national security, others have questioned the legality and necessity of a ban. In this episode, Caitlyn Chin, technology … Continue reading TikTok Ban

Many countries have expressed concern over a number of subsidies passed by the Biden Administration mainly targeting green energy. In this episode we explore why some European countries view American subsidies as a provocation, why they are pursuing competing subsidies, and how this may affect the relationship between the United States and its European allies. … Continue reading A US-EU Trade War?

Climate change has rendered some parts of the world uninhabitable, prompting millions of people to be displaced. This is especially the case for already vulnerable populations in regions that bear most of the burden of rising temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions. The legal categorization of “climate migrants” or “climate refugees” is a hotly contested … Continue reading Climate Migrants

POFA is starting a new series called “Scoring and Thriving” where we talk about foreign policy internship opportunities in and around our nation's capital. In this episode, we are joined by Jeremy Gonzalez, who previously managed the internship program at the House Foreign Affairs Committee and was Chris’s former internship supervisor. We discuss the difference … Continue reading Hill-ternship: Scoring and Thriving

Despite having been projected to be the fastest growing economy in the world, Ghana has been fighting one of its worst economic crises and with women playing a large role in its informal economy, some experts argue that improving gender inequality can lead the way for economic and social recovery for the Sub-Saharan country. In … Continue reading Gender Gap in Ghana’s Economy

 The pope sends diplomats to 117 countries and hosts around 88 embassies in or near Vatican City.  In this episode, we explore how Vatican diplomacy works and why diplomacy matters to the Holy See, the entity with jurisdiction over the Catholic Church and Vatican City.  We also discuss the pope's unique role as a mediator … Continue reading Vatican Diplomacy

The death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, marked the end of her 70 year rule as Queen of the United Kingdom and Other Commonwealth realms. A figure of stability during an era of enormous change, the Queen reigned during the dissolution of the British empire and the advent of globalization. In this … Continue reading The Legacy of Queen Elizabeth II

On February 6, two approximately 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck southern Türkiye and Syria. At the time of recording, the death toll in both countries is over 35,000. In this episode, we focus on how the earthquake has affected Türkiye specifically, with a look at the country's disaster response, as well as how the event may … Continue reading Erdogan and the Earthquakes

​​An alleged Chinese spy balloon entered U.S. airspace on January 28 and flew over the continental United States until being shot down off of the South Carolina coast on February 4. Since then, the U.S. government has detected and shot down more high-altitude objects over Northern Alaska, Yukon, and Lake Huron. In this episode, Blake … Continue reading Chinese Spy Balloon

The Biden administration has defined China as the “pacing challenge” that poses the “most comprehensive and serious challenge to U.S. national security.” Sino-American tensions, in particular, have escalated due to disagreements over the future of Taiwan and the potential of Chinese invasion of the island. What should the United States be doing to prepare for … Continue reading Is Ukraine a Distraction?

In this episode, we discuss the likelihood of nuclear weapons use given Russia's military doctrine and the current state of the war, how Ukraine and its allies ought to respond to Putin's threats, and the potential risks of pushing for a diplomatic end to war too soon. Joining us on the podcast is Dr. Raphael … Continue reading Russia’s Nuclear Threat

In 2022 we recorded 62 fantastic episodes discussing topics from Ukraine, to cybersecurity, to U.S.-China relations. In this episode, we’ll be having a roundtable discussion on our most important foreign affairs moments of 2022. As a disclaimer, the format of the roundtable makes it difficult for POFA hosts to fully explain their opinions and respond … Continue reading POFA Roundtable: 2022 Year in Review

British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned October 20 after only six weeks in office after her policies caused an economic crisis. Rishi Sunak, who succeeded Truss in October, has been tasked with stabilizing the economy and the conservative party's standing. Nick Witney, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, joins us on … Continue reading In Liz We Couldn’t Truss

On December 7th, 2022, within 24 hours, Pedro Castillo was ousted from office and jailed after attempting to unconstitutionally dissolve Peru's Congress. His successor, Dina Boluarte, is Peru's fifth President in two years. Dr. Christopher Sabatini, senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, joins us today to discuss the future of democracy in Peru. … Continue reading Peru’s Democratic Crisis

 Social media platforms, including Twitter, have made increasing efforts to moderate content. Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a vocal public critic of Twitter's content moderation efforts. This complaint was a driving force behind his decision to acquire the social media company this year. Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter has … Continue reading Global Chaos of Elon Musk’s Twitter

On November 19th Malaysia held its parliamentary elections, resulting in a narrow victory for now-Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. In this episode, we discuss the issues most important in the election, the composition of the new governing coalition, and Anwar Ibrahim's plans for Malaysia. Joining me to share his expertise on this transfer of power is … Continue reading The 2022 Malaysian Elections

Two months ago, the prime minister of Haiti Ariel Henry requested the help of a foreign force to stabilize the country. In this episode, we discuss the crisis in Haiti and possible solutions. Can a foreign force help set Haiti back on its feet? Joining me to share his expertise on these issues is Diego … Continue reading Haiti in Crisis

Join us for a discussion on a new book, Beijing’s Global Media Offensive: China’s Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World, written by Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations. He joins us to discuss how China has strived to become a global media and information powerhouse and whether this quest has been … Continue reading Book Talk: Beijing’s Global Media Offensive

Thousands of people are joining protests across China focused on challenging the “zero-Covid” policy. The ongoing demonstrations display rare solidarity between class, region, and even ethnicity. Will Jiang Zemin's death further galvanize protesters? What are the exit options for the party state? Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, associate professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs … Continue reading Zero-Covid Protests in the Chinese Surveillance State

The Biden administration released its National Defense Strategy in late October that laid out how the Department of Defense will implement the President's National Security Strategy. The concept of “integrated deterrence” is at the core of the 2022 National Defense Strategy. What is integrated deterrence? Can it work to address increasingly complex security challenges faced … Continue reading Can Integrated Deterrence Work?

The death of a 22-year-old Iranian woman sparked widespread youth and women-led protests in Iran. In this episode, we will discuss how protests have evolved and how governments around the world have responded. Vali Nasr, Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS, joins us today to discuss the demonstrations in … Continue reading Young Iranians Go to the Streets

The 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party was held from October 16 to October 22, 2022. Xi Jinping officially secured his third term in office and cemented his power over the communist party state. Neil Thomas, senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, joins us today to discuss the party of General Secretary Xi. … Continue reading The Party of General Secretary Xi

Semiconductors, the “brain” of modern electronics, are essential to industrial, commercial, and military systems in an increasingly digitized global economy. Last month, the Biden administration announced sweeping new restrictions on semiconductor technology exports to China. Dr. James Lewis, Senior Vice President and Director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International … Continue reading Blocking Chips to China

President Biden announced the “U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa” on August 8, 2022. In this episode, we examine the goals of this strategy and how it differs from how previous administrations have approached U.S. relations with Africa. What tangible actions will ensure the success of the administration's strategy? What does the realization of this vision … Continue reading Biden’s Africa Strategy

South Korea is an emerging player in the global arms market at a time when the demand for military equipment is rising around the world. South Korean defense exports are expected to reach $10 billion in 2022, nearly tripling the figure from 2020. Will “k-defense” emerge as a major item in an already long list … Continue reading The Rise of the k-Defense Industry

In September of this year, Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled that the country's prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, can remain in office despite the end of his eight-year term. In this episode, we discuss Thailand's move toward authoritarianism, the role of the monarchy and other institutions in the country's political network, and the recent protest movements which … Continue reading Political Turmoil in Thailand

On October 2, Brazil held its general elections, leading to a run-off between candidates Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Jair Bolsonaro scheduled for October 30. Brian Winter, the editor-in-chief of the publication Americas Quarterly, joins me today to discuss the two candidates, their individual approaches to their campaign, and how the election results reflect … Continue reading Brazil’s Vote: 2022 Elections

In August, Kenya held elections to determine who'd succeed long-time president Uhuru Kenyatta. William Ruto ultimately entered office on September 13th, as the country's 5th president since its independence, amidst a national controversy over the election results. Saskia Brechenmacher joins me on the podcast to discuss the 2022 Kenyan general election, its implications for Kenya, … Continue reading 2022 Kenyan Elections

In this foreign policy toolbox episode, we discuss soft power, its modern use, and its relevance in contemporary politics and conflict. Joining us today is Professor Joseph Nye, who coined the term “soft power.” FP Toolbox: Soft Power Episode Credits: Editor: Lidie Ataoguz Hosts: Jina Lim, Julia An

In this episode, we examine the United States’ relationship with Taiwan, the future of its strategic ambiguity policy, and the increasingly aggressive Chinese posture toward Taiwan. Joining us on the podcast is Dr. Zack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Defending Taiwan Episode Credits: Editor: Leo Kamer Hosts: Julia An, Chris H. Park

Summer 2022 was one of the hottest summers on record, and intense heat waves have become a regular facet of the worsening global climate crisis. Alice Hill joins me on this episode to discuss a world overheating, its devastating impact on our health, infrastructure, and agriculture, and how we can best prepare for record-breaking temperatures. … Continue reading An Overheating World

The work of the government has transformed to accord with an increasingly digitized world. How has the change in technology transformed espionage?  On today's episode, we explore modern espionage, its evolution since the Cold War, and its role in current foreign relations. We consider the future of espionage and international security as technology continues to … Continue reading Modern Espionage

On August 12, 2022, novelist Salman Rushdie was almost fatally stabbed nearly thirty years after the Iranian Supreme leader issued a fatwa placing a several million dollar bounty on the novelist's life. This attack has shined a spotlight onto the state of free speech worldwide. How have states cracked down on free speech? And in … Continue reading The Future of Censorship and Free Speech

August 15 marks one year since the Taliban took over Kabul after the U.S. withdrawal. Afghanistan has since undergone dramatic changes. Outside monitors have raised human rights concerns, as the Taliban implemented changes to women's rights, education systems, and activism. We explore the current political structure and economic state of the country under the Taliban's … Continue reading Afghanistan: One Year Later

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the United States and its allies jumped to support Ukraine and cut off Russia from the international stage. The Russian invasion and subsequent military aid to Ukraine has placed one nuclear power in proxy war with another, a dangerous prospect. In today's episode, we discuss the state of NATO-Russia … Continue reading Preventing a U.S.-Russia War

Beginning in the late 20th century, American companies and companies from developed countries moved their manufacturing operations to developing countries, most notably China. On today's podcast, we discuss the abandonment of this offshoring policy in favor of a “friendshoring” policy, wherein companies have begun to move production operations out of China and into countries with … Continue reading Friendshoring and Economic Security

In this episode, we discuss the fall and legacy of Boris Johnson, as well as the key candidates in the current race to become prime minister. We discuss the central domestic and foreign policy issues of each candidate's campaign and explore how each candidate will affect the U.K.'s relationship with the E.U. and the U.S. … Continue reading U.K. Elections and the Fall of Boris Johnson

In today’s episode, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States Karin Olofsdotter discusses Sweden’s decision to apply for NATO membership and depart from its historical policy of nonalignment. Sweden’s NATO Accession Episode Credits: Editor: Lidie Ataoguz Hosts: Julia An, Nicole Rivas Music: Zee Yuen

In today's podcast, we discuss Italy's policies and development under Mario Draghi as well as just how and why the current government coalition imploded. We will then examine the possible motivations behind President Mattarella's decision to hold elections in just two months and what Italy's economy and foreign policy could look like under a potential … Continue reading Mario Draghi and the Future of Italy