UnderCurrents

The last episode of Reflections at 100, marking the centenary of International Affairs, looks at women's contributions to international thought, and how they have been erased from the discipline of International Relations. Isabel and Krisztina speak to Dr Katharina Rietzler about women's contributions to the journal and international relations, especially in the UK. Then, Krisztina speaks to Professor Barbara Savage about Black women's contributions to international relations in the US. To wrap up this episode, Leah de Haan sheds light on Chatham House's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiative and Jo Hills shares their thoughts about putting together the archive collections.    Reflections at 100 is a mini-series accompanying the journal's centenary Archive Collections. The collections bring together articles from our archive which speak to the past, present and future of current affairs issues. In each podcast episode, we speak to contributors from a specific collection and explore what the research tells us about policy-making today.  Explore the Archive Collection freely until the end of December 2022, including Katharina's introduction: 100 years of women in International Affairs. International Affairs was started at Chatham House in 1922 to communicate research to members who could not attend in person. Over the last 100 years it has transformed into a journal that publishes academically rigorous and policy relevant research. It is published for Chatham House by Oxford University Press. Read the latest issue here.  Credits:  Speakers: Barbara D. Savage, Katharina Rietzler, Leah de Haan and Jo Hills Hosts: Isabel Muttreja and Krisztina Csortea Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services  Recorded and produced by Chatham House.

This episode of Reflections at 100, marking the centenary of International Affairs, the journal of Chatham House, looks at how empire and decolonization have been discussed in the journal. Isabel and Krisztina speak to Meera Sabaratnam about how thinkers and policy-makers from the 1920s to 1970s understood both empire and then decolonization. Meera highlights four tensions present within the discussions, and how these may impact the international order today. Inderjeet Parmar delves deeper into the influence of Chatham House at the time and situates these discussions in the broader thinktank and global context. Reflections at 100 is a mini-series accompanying the journal's centenary Archive Collections. The collections bring together articles from our archive which speak to the past, present and future of current affairs issues. In each podcast episode we speak to editors and contributors to the collection and explore what the research tells us about policy-making today.  Explore the Archive Collection, free to access until mid-November 2022, including Meera's introduction: 100 years of empire and decolonization. International Affairs was started at Chatham House in 1922 to communicate research to members who could not attend in person. Over the last 100 years it has transformed into a journal that publishes academically rigorous and policy relevant research. It is published for Chatham House by Oxford University Press. Read the latest issue here.  Credits:  Speakers: Meera Sabaratnam and Inderjeet Parmar Hosts: Isabel Muttreja and Krisztina Csortea Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services  Recorded and produced by Chatham House.

What drives refugee movements and how should policies manage them? This episode of Reflections at 100, marking the centenary of International Affairs, the journal of Chatham House, looks at refugees and migration. Isabel speaks to Emily Venturi about the movement of refugees, the development of global humanitarian systems and the change in thinking on refugees over time. Then she interviews Ali Bilgic on how populism has impacted refugee policy in Britain, and women's experiences of the detention system. Reflections at 100 is a mini-series accompanying the journal's centenary Archive Collections. The collections bring together articles from our archive which speak to the past, present and future of current affairs issues. In each podcast episode we speak to contributors from the issue and explore what the research tells us about policy-making today.  International Affairs was started at Chatham House in 1922 to communicate research to members who could not attend in person. Over the last 100 years it has transformed into a journal that publishes academically rigorous and policy relevant research. It is published for Chatham House by Oxford University Press. Read the latest issue here.  Explore the Archive Collection freely until the end of August 2022, including Emily's introduction:  100 years of refugees and migration Read Ali Bilgic and Athina Gkouti's article: Who is entitled to feel in the age of populism? Women's resistance to migrant detention in Britain  Credits:  Speakers: Emily Venturi and Ali Bilgic Hosts: Isabel Muttreja Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services  Recorded and produced by Chatham House. 

In this final episode of our special series, we speak to Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko and Professor Georgiy Kassianov. How can Ukraine rebuild while coexisting with Russia? What is needed to rebuild a stronger country efficiently and effectively? Host: Ned Sedgwick Guests : Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko (Ukrainian diplomat currently serving as Ukraine's Ambassador to the UK), Professor Georgiy Kassianov (Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland) This episode was produced by David Dargahi of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

How have western financial institutions created loopholes for the Russian elite? Are sanctions truly enforceable on oligarchs with a strong foothold in cities like London? What is Putin's role in all of this? Host: Ned Sedgwick  Guests: Thomas Mayne (Chatham House Visiting Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme), Oliver Bullough (author of Butler to the World and Moneyland) This episode was produced by David Dargahi of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

In this episode we follow up on the food shortage crisis we looked at in the beginning weeks of the war on episode two. What long-term problems can we expect because of the disruption to agriculture in Ukraine? Is there any hope for a solution? Host: Ned Sedgwick  Guests :Marianne Schneider-Petsinger (Chatham House Senior Research Fellow, Global Economy and Finance Programme; Project Director, Global Trade Policy Forum), Laura Wellesley (Chatham House Senior Research Fellow, Environment and Society Programme) This episode was produced by David Dargahi of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

What can the UN do on the ground to help the people of Ukraine? Does the war bring the EU a greater sense of purpose or does it mask underlying issues? Host: Ned Sedgwick  Guests :Saviano Abreu (Head of Communications at The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Pepijn Bergsen (Research Fellow, Europe Progamme) This episode was produced by David Dargahi of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

Why are some peace talks more fruitful than others? Why do negotiations break down? What role can mediators play in sensitive discussions? To answer these questions, Mariana is joined by Isabel Bramsen, who discusses her recent article in the International Affairs journal. In it, Isabel draws on her research and first-hand experiences as a neutral observer during the Philippines peace talks in 2017. They explore key learnings for policymakers and diplomats, including the transformative role of in-person interactions. Then, Isabel assesses the prospect of peace talks in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Read the International Affairs article: Transformative diplomacy? Micro-sociological observations from the Philippine peace talks Credits: Speaker: Isabel Bramsen Host: Mariana Vieira Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House. 

What has the war revealed about both the Russian and Ukranian military capabilities? Was the Russian military surprisingly unprepared? What impact is the course of the war having on the global military industrial complex. Host: Ned Sedgwick  Guests :Andrew Dorman  (Chatham House Editor of International Affairs, Professor of International Security at Kings College), Bettina Renz (Professor at the School of Politics, University of Nottingham) This episode was produced by David Dargahi of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

How has the war impacted Ukranians' sense of identity? How has Ukrainian language, culture, and politics changed after fall of the Soviet Union. Are Putin's views on Ukrainian identity shared by others in Russia? Host: Ned Sedgwick  Guests: Orysia Lutsevych (Head and Research Fellow, Ukraine Forum, Russia and Eurasia Programme); Professor Georgiy Kassianov (Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland, author of “From 'the Ukraine' to Ukraine. In the search of the future, 1991-2021"). This episode was produced by David Dargahi of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

This episode of Reflections at 100, marking the centenary of International Affairs, the journal of Chatham House, looks at China's role in the world over the past century. Isabel Muttreja and Krisztina Csortea speak to Evelyn Goh, who provides a whistle-stop tour of Chinese history. They also discuss how China has been understood in the journal over time.  Then Krisztina interviews Rosemary Foot about the impact of history on current affairs in China, before Isabel gets Xiangfeng Yang's perspective on US–China relations from Donald Trump to current US president Joe Biden.  Reflections at 100 is a mini-series accompanying the journal's centenary Archive Collections. The collections bring together articles from our archive which speak to the past, present and future of current affairs issues. In each podcast episode we speak to contributors from the issue and explore what the research tells us about policy-making today.   International Affairs was started at Chatham House in 1922 to communicate research to members who could not attend in person. Over the last 100 years it has transformed into a journal that publishes academically rigorous and policy relevant research. It is published for Chatham House by Oxford University Press. Read the latest issue here.   Explore the Archive Collection freely until the end of June 2022, including Evelyn's introduction:   100 years of China in international politics  Read Rosemary Foot's article:  Remembering the past to secure the present: Versailles legacies in a resurgent China  Read Xiangfeng Yang's article:   The great Chinese surprise: the rupture with the United States is real and is happening  Credits:   Speakers: Evelyn Goh, Rosemary Foot, Xiangfeng Yang  Hosts: Isabel Muttreja, Krisztina Csortea   Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services   Recorded and produced by Chatham House

How has the relationship with the United States and Putin changed from president to president? When did the relationship sour and what, if anything, could have been done to send warning signals to Putin? Host: Ned Sedgwick  Guests: Dr Leslie Vinjamuri (Director, US and the Americas Programme Chatham House), Dr Charles Kupchan (Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University, former Senior Advisor to President Obama)  This episode was produced by David Dargahi of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

How have Brazil and Africa reacted to the war in Ukraine? With impending elections in Brazil, how is President Bolsonaro's relationship with Putin received by the public?  How will food insecurity affect African nations' response to the war? Host: Ned Sedgwick  Guests: Oliver Stuenkel (Associate Professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation), Samuel Ramani (University of Oxford & Assoc Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies) This episode was produced by David Dargahi and Anouk Millet of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

The war in Ukraine and global cost-of-living crisis are exerting pressure on economies across the world. With ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns and food supply chain issues on top of this, China is facing a particularly severe challenge.  In this episode Ben speaks with Dr Yu Jie (Asia-Pacific Programme, Chatham House) about the economic 'perfect storm' presenting such an obstacle to President Xi Jinping's 'common prosperity' agenda. They discuss the domestic Chinese debate over the future of its economy, the implications of Russia's invasion and the likely longevity of the government's new 'comprehensive thrift strategy'.  Read The World Today article: Beijing briefing: China puts prosperity on hold Credits: Speaker: Yu Jie Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House. 

How has India and Southeast Asia reacted to the war in Ukraine? Are they aligning with western sanctions or strengthening ties to Russia? What do they have to gain or lose in involving themselves in the war. Host: Ned Sedgwick  Guests: Dr. Shruti Kapila (University of Cambridge), Ben Bland (Chatham House Director, Asia-Pacific Programme), Hunter Marston (Associate 9dashline) This episode was produced by David Dargahi and Anouk Millet of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

What was NATO's original purpose and what is its role in the war in Ukraine? Will Finland and Sweden join NATO and what significance does this have? What is Russia's historical relationship with NATO and how did it sour? Host: Ned Sedgwick  Clips used: BBC News Guests: Jamie Shea (Former NATO official, Chatham House associate fellow), Dan Sabbagh (The Guardian's Defense and Security Editor), Renata Dwan (Chatham House Deputy Director) This episode was produced by David Dargahi and Anouk Millet of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

Six years after the EU-Turkey Joint Statement, domestic changes in Turkey and international developments such as the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan have ensured the border between Greece and Turkey remains a hotspot for migration flows. Today, Turkey is one of the world's biggest refugee-receiving countries and hosts four million refugees. In this episode, Ayşen Üstübici, assistant professor at Koç University in Istanbul, speaks to Mariana about EU-Turkey migration diplomacy and the Turkish role in international migration governance. Looking back, Ayşen outlines the implications of the 2016 statement and the evolving attitudes of Turkish cities towards migrants and asylum-seekers in the intervening years. Then Stefanos Levidis from Forensic Architecture explores the other side of the border with Danai, looking at the Greek case as the external border of the EU. Stefanos explains why the EU-Turkey border is important and how the natural environment can be weaponized to enforce border controls. Read Chatham House's expert comments on EU migration policies: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/03/ukraine-exposes-europes-double-standards-refugees https://www.chathamhouse.org/2020/10/what-externalization-and-why-it-threat-refugees Credits: Speakers: Ayşen Üstübici, Stefanos Levidis Hosts: Danai Avgeri, Mariana Vieira Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

How does Russia use disinformation and who are they targeting? How are social networks shaping the war in Ukraine? What can be done to stop the spread of disinformation? Host: Ned Sedgwick  Clips used: BBC News Guests: Emily Taylor, Keir Giles, Damian Collins MP This episode was produced by David Dargahi and Anouk Millet of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

Power for refugees is a new two-part podcast on the Undercurrents podcast feed. Over two episodes Ben explores an often-overlooked aspect of humanitarian assistance: access to energy. From Afghanistan to Ukraine to Sudan - the world is grappling with the consequences that emerge when people are forced to flee from their homes. One factor that does not usually make the headlines is that many people displaced by conflict or natural disasters lack access to the energy services that are necessary for forging dignified lives and livelihoods.  This second episode examines efforts to provide alternative fuel for cooking in displaced settings in Kenya, Niger and Rwanda, shedding light on what has worked and what has not. Approximately 81% of refugees rely on basic fuels like wood for cooking. This brings about major difficulties for refugees and the environment, such as illness-inducing fumes from burning wood, the threat of violence to the women and girls who travel often long distances to collect wood, and deforestation. Since 2015, Chatham House has been researching this issue and convening dialogues to spur action by humanitarians, energy companies and others. Our seminal Heat, Light and Power report provided the first ever comprehensive assessment of access to energy in refugee camps and urban areas with high numbers of refugees. This two-part podcast is part of the Renewable Energy for Refugees project. Led by Practical Action, the project provides access to affordable and sustainable sources of renewable energy, and improves the health, wellbeing and security of refugees and neighbouring communities. Credits: Speakers: Suzy Huber (Inyenyeri), Benoit Moreno (UNHCR Niger), Syrus Mutua (Sanivation) Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Power for refugees is a new two-part podcast on the Undercurrents podcast feed. Over two episodes Ben explores an often-overlooked aspect of humanitarian assistance: access to energy. From Afghanistan to Ukraine to Sudan - the world is grappling with the consequences that emerge when people are forced to flee from their homes. One factor that does not usually make the headlines is that many people displaced by conflict or natural disasters lack access to the energy services that are necessary for forging dignified lives and livelihoods.  Approximately 94% of refugees do not have access to electricity to heat or cool hospitals, schools and dwellings, or to light streets. This first part examines efforts to electrify refugee settlements in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda, shedding light on what has worked and what has not. Since 2015, Chatham House has been researching this issue and convening dialogues to spur action by humanitarians, energy companies and others. Our seminal Heat, Light and Power report provided the first ever comprehensive assessment of access to energy in refugee camps and urban areas with high numbers of refugees. This two-part podcast is part of the Renewable Energy for Refugees project. Led by Practical Action, the project provides access to affordable and sustainable sources of renewable energy, and improves the health, wellbeing and security of refugees and neighbouring communities. Credits: Speakers: Emmanuel Aziebor (Mercy Corps), Laura Clarke (Practical Action), Kevin Mwangi (GIZ) Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Examining China and its relationship to Russia and Ukraine. What is China's role in the war in Ukraine? What is the state of the relationship between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin? Should they serve as mediator or do they have an active interest in a particular outcome?   Host: Ned Sedgwick  Clips used: South China Morning Post Guests: Professor Rana Mitter, Dr. Yu Jie This episode was produced by David Dargahi of Earshot Strategies on behalf of Chatham House.

The Contentious politics since the ‘Arab Spring' project seeks to challenge the current prevalent narrative of a failed 2010/2011 series of revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa. The project does this by interrogating the events in the Arab region since 2010 in a critical light, and by introducing a more nuanced analytical lens to understanding the evolution of change in the region and its contentious politics. The project is supported by the Carnegie Corporation New York. In this four-part mini-series from the Undercurrents podcast, Dr Lina Khatib, the Director of the MENA Programme at Chatham House speaks to leading experts about the great upheaval which occurred in the Arab region during the ‘Arab Spring', the changes across Arab countries that have happened since and the outlook for the future. In the final episode, Lina and Libyan peace activist Zahra' Langhi discuss the struggle to rebuild Libya's institutions and the critical role played by women in this movement and the need for the international community to embrace a rights-based approach. Find out more: Contentious politics since the ‘Arab Spring' Credits: Speaker: Zahra' Langhi Host: Lina Khatib Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House.

The Contentious politics since the ‘Arab Spring' project seeks to challenge the current prevalent narrative of a failed 2010/2011 series of revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa. The project does this by interrogating the events in the Arab region since 2010 in a critical light, and by introducing a more nuanced analytical lens to understanding the evolution of change in the region and its contentious politics. The project is supported by the Carnegie Corporation New York. In this four-part mini-series from the Undercurrents podcast, Dr Lina Khatib, the Director of the MENA Programme at Chatham House speaks to leading experts about the great upheaval which occurred in the Arab region during the ‘Arab Spring', the changes across Arab countries that have happened since and the outlook for the future. In this third episode, Lina and Alaa Al Aswani explore contentious politics in the Middle East generally, and Egypt specifically, and the conditions which allowed for authoritarian political systems to emerge. Find out more: Contentious politics since the ‘Arab Spring' Credits: Speaker: Alaa Al Aswani Host: Lina Khatib Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House.

The Contentious politics since the ‘Arab Spring' project seeks to challenge the current prevalent narrative of a failed 2010/2011 series of revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa. The project does this by interrogating the events in the Arab region since 2010 in a critical light, and by introducing a more nuanced analytical lens to understanding the evolution of change in the region and its contentious politics. The project is supported by the Carnegie Corporation New York. In this four-part mini-series from the Undercurrents podcast, Dr Lina Khatib, the Director of the MENA Programme at Chatham House speaks to leading experts about the great upheaval which occurred in the Arab region during the ‘Arab Spring', the changes across Arab countries that have happened since and the outlook for the future. In the second episode, Lina and Laury Haytayan discuss changes in Lebanon's political system, and in particular the new political parties which are beginning to emerge to challenge the status quo. Find out more: Contentious politics since the ‘Arab Spring' Credits: Speaker: Laury Haytayan Host: Lina Khatib Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House.

The Contentious politics since the ‘Arab Spring' project seeks to challenge the current prevalent narrative of a failed 2010/2011 series of revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa. The project does this by interrogating the events in the Arab region since 2010 in a critical light, and by introducing a more nuanced analytical lens to understanding the evolution of change in the region and its contentious politics. The project is supported by the Carnegie Corporation New York. In this four-part mini-series from the Undercurrents podcast, Dr Lina Khatib, the Director of the MENA Programme at Chatham House speaks to leading experts about the great upheaval which occurred in the Arab region during the ‘Arab Spring', the changes across Arab countries that have happened since and the outlook for the future. In the first episode, Lina and James Zogby examine the political dynamics across the Arab world in the wake of the ‘Arab Spring' and the impact of US foreign policy on the transformations which happened in the region over the last decade. Find out more: Contentious politics since the ‘Arab Spring' Credits: Speaker: James Zogby Host: Lina Khatib Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House.

As the Philippines are set to elect a new president and vice president on May 9, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong' Marcos Jr and Sara Duterte appear to be heading for victory at the polls. To better understand how the son of a past dictator and the daughter of the current president are set to win the presidential ticket, Mariana speaks to Philip Bowring about the role of family dynasties in national politics. Drawing on insights from his new book, The Making of Modern Philippines: Pieces of a Jigsaw State, Philip assesses outgoing President Duterte's policies and some of the most pressing problems for the next president, from the economy, to governance and the national stance on China. Credits: Speaker: Philip Bowring Host: Mariana Vieira Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

How reliant is the EU on Russian oil? What would an all-out ban on Russian oil look like? Which countries would be most affected? Does this offer an opportunity for renewable energy? Clips used: Bloomberg News Host: Ned Sedgwick  Guests: Helene von Bismark, Neil Quilliam, Antony Froggatt Producer: Anouk Millet from Earshot Strategies

Russia has faced an unprecedented level of sanctions by the West covering the government itself, financial institutions, oligarchs associated with the Kremlin, and much more. But are these sanctions working? Can they really change anything on the ground in Ukraine? Clips used: - DW News - C-Span Credits: Host: Ned Sedgwick Guests: Creon Butler, Christine McDaniel, Bill Browder Producer: Anouk Millet from Earshot Strategies

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we have seen an exponential increase in food prices around the world. In this second episode of our mini-series War in Ukraine, we're trying to understand how and why a war in one part of the world risks causing famines in distant parts of the globe, and what can happen when people go hungry. Read Chatham House's latest research paper on the war's impact on food and energy supplies. Clips used in this episode: - DW News - Al Jazeera - France 24 Credits: Host: Ned Sedgwick Guests: Joe Glauber, Tim Benton, Mohamed Elkaramany Producer: Anouk Millet from Earshot Strategies

The war in Ukraine has caused the largest refugee crisis in Europe since WW2. In this first episode of our new War in Ukraine mini-series, we're looking at what Ukrainians face when crossing the border, whether enough is being done to protect them, and the impact on the real lives behind the numbers. Guest-host Ned Sedgwick speaks to Joung-Ah Ghedini-Williams (UNHCR), Emily Venturi (Chatham House) and Sonya Sceats (Freedom from Torture). Clips used in this episode: - NBC's Today programme - United Nations Credits: Host: Ned Sedgwick Guests: Joung-Ah Ghedini-Williams, Emily Venturi, Sonya Sceats Producer: Anouk Millet from Earshot Strategies

To mark the 100th anniversary of International Affairs, the journal of Chatham House, a new series of six archive collections will explore the past, present and future of current affairs issues. Each collection will be accompanied by an episode in this mini-series, where we explore what the research tells us about policy-making today.   This episode is all about war and conflict. Krisztina Csortea chats with the collection's editors and war experts Andrew Dorman and Tracey German. They reflect on who has been talking about war in the journal, how debates have changed over time and how academics follow fashions in research. Later, Isabel Muttreja speaks to T.V. Paul about India and Pakistan's nuclear policies and how the Ukraine conflict reminds us why this is such an important topic.  International Affairs was started at Chatham House in 1922 to communicate research to members who could not attend in person. Over the last 100 years it has transformed into a journal that publishes academically rigorous and policy relevant research. It is published for Chatham House by Oxford University Press. Read the latest issue here.   Explore the archive collection, including Andrew and Tracey's open access introduction:   100 years of war and conflict  Read T.V. Paul's article:   Nuclear doctrines and stable strategic relationships: the case of south Asia  Credits:   Speakers: Andrew Dorman, Tracey German and T.V. Paul  Hosts: Isabel Muttreja, Krisztina Csortea   Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services   Recorded and produced by Chatham House

A year on from the publication of the UK's Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, Chatham House Director Dr Robin Niblett shares his assessment of how Boris Johnson's government has implemented its vision of Global Britain.  Read the Chatham House research paper: Global Britain in a divided world: Testing the ambitions of the Integrated Review Credits: Speaker: Robin Niblett Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Protracted conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, Horn of Africa and parts of Asia, although usually arising from intra-state disputes, rarely remain contained within national borders. Through the XCEPT project, supported with UK Aid from the UK government, Chatham House explores the informal supply chains and economies that develop across borders during times of war.  In this episode, XCEPT Project Manager Leah de Haan speaks to Chatham House experts Tim Eaton, Lina Khatib and Renad Mansour about cross-border conflicts in North Africa and the Levant.  First, Lina and Renad explain how a regional approach to analysing war economies in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq can enable us to better understand the dynamics of the conflict. Then Tim reveals the connections between civil war in Libya and conflict zones elsewhere in north Africa.   Find out more: Cross-border conflict, evidence, policy and trends (XCEPT) Credits: Speakers: Tim Eaton, Lina Khatib, Renad Mansour Hosts: Leah de Haan, Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

What has been going on in UK foreign policy over the last century, and how have leading thinkers approached it? To mark the 100th anniversary of International Affairs, the journal of Chatham House, a new series of six archive collections will explore the past, present and future of current affairs issues. Each collection will be accompanied by an episode in this mini-series, where we consider what the research tells us about policy-making today.  In this episode we're talking about the first archive collection, on UK foreign policy. Krisztina Csortea, Managing Editor of the journal, and Isabel Muttreja, Marketing Manager speak to the collection's editor (and Undercurrents host) Ben Horton about the four themes that UK foreign policy-makers and analysts have been preoccupied with over the last century.  Then, Isabel speaks to The Rt. Honourable Lord William Wallace of Saltaire about how national identity continues to shape UK foreign policy-making, and how his 1990 article relates to Brexit and global Britain. Then Krisztina finds out about the UK's accountability for acts of torture during the War on Terror, with Ruth Blakeley, Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield.  International Affairs was started at Chatham House in 1922 to communicate research to members who could not attend in person. Over the last 100 years it has transformed into a journal that publishes academically rigorous and policy relevant research. It is published for Chatham House by Oxford University Press. Read the latest issue here.  Explore the archive collection, including Ben's open access introduction:  100 years of UK foreign policy  Read William Wallace's article:  Foreign policy and national identity in the United Kingdom   Read Ruth Blakeley's article:   Accountability, denial and the future-proofing of British torture  Credits:  Speakers: Ben Horton, William Wallace, Ruth Blakeley  Hosts: Isabel Muttreja, Krisztina Csortea  Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services  Recorded and produced by Chatham House. 

The idea of feminist foreign policy has entered the political mainstream in recent years, but does adoption by governments risk diluting the more radical dimensions of its agenda? To mark International Women's Day, Mariana is joined by Marissa Conway, co-founder of the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy, to discuss the trajectory of FFP.  Then Ben speaks with former UK Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher CMG, about his new book Ten Survival Skills for a World in Flux. As the world contends with numerous overlapping crises from climate change and COVID-19 to the war in Ukraine, the capacity of individuals and societies to deal with geopolitical turbulence has rarely been so critical. In this interview, Tom explains the skills needed to navigate the modern world, and how education systems must adapt to deliver the required change. Read The World Today article: Eve of a foreign policy revolution Watch the Chatham House #IWD2022 event: Feminist solutions to the climate crisis Find the book: Ten Survival Skills for a World in Flux Credits: Speakers: Marissa Conway, Tom Fletcher Hosts: Ben Horton, Mariana Vieira Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House.

As a site of enormous economic and military potential, space is the latest domain to be drawn into the strategic competition between Earth's great powers. In this episode, Ben is joined by Asia-Pacific Programme Senior Research Fellow Yu Jie, who explains the development of China's space policy, and why we should be worried about US-China relations in orbit.  Then Yusuf Hassan and Ani Martirossian interview Professor Lee Major, from Exeter University, about the state of social mobility in the UK. They discuss the politics of class in the 21st century and how to break down barriers to entry within elite institutions and education systems. Read The World Today article: Beijing briefing: Watch this space Credits: Speakers: Yu Jie, Lee Major Hosts: Yusuf Hassan, Ben Horton, Ani Martirossian Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House.

The murder of George Floyd in 2020 and subsequent global escalation of Black Lives Matter movements highlighted the racial inequalities that exist in the United States and beyond. In the United Kingdom and many other former colonial states these movements have come to reflect upon the ongoing legacies of empire in modern society. Today, colonial history has become a weapon in the culture wars, with some commentators arguing that it is time to 'move on' from feeling ashamed of our imperial past. Often, this focus on race is presented as a new development. However, a new special issue published by the Chatham House journal International Affairs (celebrating its centenary year in 2022) shows that race and imperialism have underpinned western social sciences since the birth of these disciplines in the early 20th century.   In this episode, Amrit is joined by Dr Jasmine Gani, Dr Jenna Marshall to discuss the key insights from the special issue. They explore how race and imperialism were written out of the study of International Relations for many decades, and what it would take to meaningfully decolonise political science in the future. Then Mariana speaks with Katrin Antweiler about her article in the special issue, which looks at the culture of Holocaust memorialization in South Africa.  Read the International Affairs special issue: Race and imperialism in IR: theory and practice Read the editorial: 100 years of International Affairs Credits: Speakers: Katrin Antweiler, Andrew Dorman, Jasmine Gani, Jenna Marshall Hosts: Mariana Vieira, Amrit Swali Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

This week, Undercurrents is joined by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to explore a new report on the humanitarian crises that require global attention in 2022. A record number of people across the world are in need of humanitarian assistance. 20 countries which are home to 10% of the global population account for 89% of global humanitarian need, driven by a wide range of factors including conflict, natural disasters, economic collapse and health crises. These situations are worsened by systemic failures at the state, diplomatic, legal and operational levels. The IRC's 2022 Emergency Watchlist assesses the severity of the crises in these countries, and provides recommendations for how international humanitarian actors can respond.   In this episode, Ben discusses the findings of the Emergency Watchlist with George Readings (lead author of the report), and hears about the specific struggles facing the citizens of Afghanistan from Vicki Aken (IRC's Country Director for Afghanistan). Read the IRC report: Emergency watchlist 2022: System failure Watch the Chatham House event: 10 conflicts to watch in 2022 Credits: Speakers: Vicki Aken, George Readings Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House.

On 6 January 2021, a large crowd supporting the defeated President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol. The violence which ensued resulted in the deaths of at least seven people, and caused shockwaves around the world. In this episode Ben is joined by Gabriella Cook-Francis, the Leland Foundation Association of Marshall Scholars Transatlantic Academy Fellow in the US & Americas Programme at Chatham House. They discuss the events surrounding 'January 6', the implications of the riot for notable elections this year and in 2024, and what progress the Biden Administration has made in shoring up the United States' democratic institutions.  Watch the Chatham House event recording: The state of American democracy Credits: Speaker: Gabriella Cook-Francis Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

The twin crises of COVID-19 and climate change have exposed weaknesses in the institutions and diplomatic relationships designed to support global governance. In a new series of articles for Chatham House, author and journalist John Kampfner has been exploring how competition between the United States and China has exacerbated these faultlines. In his final piece, John assesses the relative soft power of the two states, and argues that the era of rivalry has tarnished both the American and Chinese brands, with many countries around the world growing wary of choosing allegiances. In this episode, Ben and John discuss the US-China strategic rivalry with Francis Fukuyama, the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), and Hongying Wang, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo and Senior Research Fellow at CIGI.  Read the article: Big power rivalry: Who is winning the popularity wars? Credits: Speakers: Francis Fukuyama, John Kampfner, Hongying Wang Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House.

Piccadilly Circus is one of the best-known landmarks in London, but the site has undergone significant change in the past 100 years. How has this affected the lives and livelihoods of local people?  For this bonus episode of Undercurrents, the team explore the history of Piccadilly Circus with help from the Chatham House SNF CoLab. The CoLab is a project which aims to share our ideas in experimental, collaborative ways - and to learn how different audiences think we can design a better future. In 2020, the project launched Futurescape, an ambitious re-imagining of Piccadilly Circus in 100 year's time. Alongside the future-oriented research, CoLab partnered with the Museum of London's Listening to London project to explore Piccadilly Circus through the museum's Oral History collection. Through this project, the Museum is inviting teams of volunteer researchers to reinterpret the Museum's Oral History Collection – over 5,000 hours of recorded life-story interviews of Londoners. Listening to London is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, delivered by the Museums Association. In this episode you'll hear some fascinating clips from the Listening to London archive, introduced and discussed by some of the volunteers working on the Museum of London project. They include the experiences of Italian and Albanian immigrants, the changing face of business in the area, and how it became a site of struggle for the LGBTQ+ community. Thanks to Lorraine Ebdo-Price, Kristyna Racova and Keith Turpin for their contributions.  Find out more: Futurescape - Piccadilly Circus Listening to London Credits: Speakers: Lorraine Ebdo-Price, Kristyna Racova, Keith Turpin Host: Mariana Vieira Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House in partnership with the Museum of London

As the new omicron variant spreads across the globe, and vaccine distribution continues to reveal inequities between the global North and South, Mariana catches up with Rob Yates (Director of the Global Health Programme at Chatham House) to find out where things stand going into 2022.  Then, Ben is joined by Leonard Schuette (a PhD candidate from the University of Maastricht), whose recent article in International Affairs highlights the role played by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in managing the challenge posed to the organisation by the presidency of Donald Trump. They discuss the history of US grievances with NATO, what the Trump episode reveals about the influence of the Secretary General, and the prospects for the organisation's engagement with the Biden administration. Read The World Today article: Covid's solidarity failure Read the International Affairs article:  Why NATO survived Trump: the neglected role of Secretary-General Stoltenberg Credits: Speakers: Leonard Schuette, Rob Yates Hosts: Ben Horton, Mariana Vieira Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Transatlantic Tech Talks is a three part mini-series on the Undercurrents podcast feed, produced with the support of Microsoft, which explores the state of international cooperation on digital governance between Europe, the UK and USA. As technological innovation accelerates, and new digital tools and business models arise, governments are working to develop a framework of regulations to safeguard the rights and interests of their citizens. Not all stakeholders agree, however, on the best way to achieve this. While some advocate a ‘digital cooperation' approach based on transparency and data-sharing, others are more concerned with maintaining ‘digital sovereignty'. In this final episode, Ben is joined by three experts to discuss the prospects for transatlantic cooperation in the digital trade sector. His guests include Susan Aaronson (Director of the Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub at George Washington University), Euan MacMillan (Head of the Digital Trade Negotiations for the UK government's Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) and Marianne Schneider-Petsinger (Senior Research Fellow, US & Americas Programme at Chatham House). They discuss how international negotiations on digital trade have progressed, the pressure points that need to be resolved (including data flows and consumer privacy) and where the European Union, UK and USA can work together.  Credits: Speakers: Susan Aaronson, Euan MacMillan, Marianne Schneider-Petsinger Hosts: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Music: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Transatlantic Tech Talks is a three part mini-series on the Undercurrents podcast feed, produced with the support of Microsoft, which explores the state of international cooperation on digital governance between the United States, the UK and Europe. As technological innovation accelerates, and new digital tools and business models arise, governments are working to develop a framework of regulations to safeguard the rights and interests of their citizens. Not all stakeholders agree, however, on the best way to achieve this. While some advocate a ‘digital cooperation' approach based on transparency and data-sharing, others are more concerned with maintaining ‘digital sovereignty'. In this second episode, we explore the issue of digital technical standards, the rules and parameters which govern the development of technologies and ensure interoperability between countries and businesses. Isabella Wilkinson speaks to Emily Taylor (CEO of Oxford Information Labs), Bilel Jamoussi (Chief of the Study Groups Department at the ITU) and Richard Wingfield (Head of Legal at GPD), who explain why digital technical standards are so vital to the digital economy, and why they are inreasingly coming under threat.  Credits: Speakers: Bilel Jamoussi, Emily Taylor, Richard Wingfield Hosts: Ben Horton, Isabella Wilkinson Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Music: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Transatlantic Tech Talks is a three part mini-series on the Undercurrents podcast feed, produced with the support of Microsoft, which explores the state of international cooperation on digital governance between the United States, the UK and Europe. As technological innovation accelerates, and new digital tools and business models arise, governments are working to develop a framework of regulations to safeguard the rights and interests of their citizens. Not all stakeholders agree, however, on the best way to achieve this. While some advocate a ‘digital cooperation' approach based on transparency and data-sharing, others are more concerned with maintaining ‘digital sovereignty'. In the first episode of this series, Ben is joined by Casper Klynge (Vice-President for European Government Affairs, Microsoft), Harriet Moynihan (Acting Director, International Law Programme, Chatham House) and Marianne Schneider-Petsinger (Senior Research Fellow, US & Americas Programme, Chatham House) who set out the broad context for these debates. They assess where the major government, private sector and civil society actors stand on the question of digital governance, and how they are approaching the international negotiations. Credits: Speakers: Casper Klynge, Harriet Moynihan, Marianne Schneider-Petsinger Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services  Music: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Since its publication in 1944, many Americans have described Gunnar Myrdal's An American Dilemma as a defining text on US race relations. Funded by the Carnegie Corporation, Myrdal's research explored the socio-economic conditions experienced by much of the black population in the United States, and proposed policies which would encourage assimilation of those communities into white America. But why did Carnegie commission such work? Maribel Morey, founding Executive Director of the Miami Institute for the Social Sciences, explores the origins of An American Dilemma in her new book, White Philanthropy: Carnegie Corporation's An American Dilemma and the Making of a White World Order. Through extensive archive research she reveals the racial politics underpinning Myrdal's work, and the concern of those involved for maintaining white domination of the United States.  In this episode, Ben speaks to Maribel about her findings, in conversation with Inderjeet Parmar, Professor of Internaitonal Politics at City, University of London.  Find the book: White Philanthropy: Carnegie Corporation's An American Dilemma and the Making of a White World Order - https://uncpress.org/book/9781469664743/white-philanthropy/ Credits: Speakers: Maribel Morey, Inderjeet Parmar Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

As the dust settles from COP26, the 2021 UN climate summit, Ben is joined by Anna Aberg to discuss the key outcomes and insights from the conference. They consider the progress made on mitigation, adaptation, climate finance and the so-called 'Paris rulebook', and look ahead to what the agenda could look like in a year's time at COP27.  Then Mariana interviews journalist and author James Griffiths about his investigations into the politics of minority language survival. As globalisation continues languages are disappearing faster than ever, leaving our planet's linguistic diversity leaping towards extinction. In Speak Not: Empire, Identity and the Politics of Language, Griffiths explores how communities across the world are fighting to preserve their linguistic heritage.  Read the Chatham House Expert Comment: COP26 verdict is governments urgently need to do more Find the book:  Speak Not: Empire, Identity and the Politics of Language Credits: Speakers: Anna Aberg, James Griffiths Hosts: Ben Horton, Mariana Vieira Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

In this episode of Smart Peace, we explore the recent history of peacebuilding in Myanmar through the experience of the Smart Peace project.  Smart Peace is a global initiative led by Conciliation Resources, which combines the varied expertise of different consortium partners to address the challenges of building peace – focusing on the Central African Republic, Nigeria and Myanmar. In this final episode of a three-part series, Ben speaks to Adam Burke from the Asia Foundation about the political and historical context to the ongoing conflicts in Myanmar, and finds out about attempts to develop local mediation and peacebuilding processes throughout the country.  Find out more about Smart Peace: https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-departments/international-security-programme/smart-peace Credits: Speaker: Adam Burke Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Smart Peace is a new podcast mini-series on the Undercurrents podcast feed. Over three episodes Ben Horton explores new approaches to peacebuilding and conflict resolution with experts from the Smart Peace project.  Smart Peace is a global initiative led by Conciliation Resources, which combines the varied expertise of different consortium partners to address the challenges of building peace – focusing on the Central African Republic, Nigeria and Myanmar. This second episode focuses on conflict in northern Nigeria. Ben is joined by Vincent Foucher from International Crisis Group, Professor Abubakar Monguno from the University of Maiduguri and Saadgi Rajani from Conciliation Resources to discuss the security context in Borno state, the emergence of Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups, the impact on civilians and efforts to support the reintegration of fighters into local communities. Find out more about Smart Peace: https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-departments/international-security-programme/smart-peace Credits: Speaker: Vincent Foucher, Abubakar Monguno, Saadgi Rajani Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Smart Peace is a new podcast mini-series on the Undercurrents podcast feed. Over three episodes Ben explores new approaches to peacebuilding and conflict resolution with experts from the Smart Peace project.  Smart Peace is a global initiative led by Conciliation Resources, which combines the varied expertise of different consortium partners to address the challenges of building peace – focusing on the Central African Republic, Nigeria and Myanmar. This first episode focuses on conflict in Central African Republic. Ben is joined by Lisa Heinzel and Nyeko Caesar Poblicks from Conciliation Resources to discuss the latest political developments in the country, the drivers of unrest and efforts to build inclusive, locally-led peace processes.  Find out more about Smart Peace: https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-departments/international-security-programme/smart-peace Credits: Speaker: Lisa Heinzel, Nyeko Caesar Poblicks Host: Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House

For the last two weeks the latest UNFCCC climate summit has taken place in Glasgow, UK. Policymakers from all over the world have gathered at COP26 to attempt to agree on increasingly ambitious plans to tackle the climate crisis.  In this episode, Ben shares some interviews from the fringes of COP26. Simon Mundy, Moral Money Editor at the Financial Times, shares his reflections on what business want from the COP process. He also explains some of the key lessons from his new book, The Race for Tomorrow, which tells the stories of people on the front lines of the climate crisis, showing how the struggle to respond is already reshaping the modern world.  Then Ben is joined by Bela Watler, a youth climate activist and conservationist from the Cayman Islands who is representing the Protect Our Future network at COP26. Protect Our Future is an environmental campaign working to raise awareness of how climate change is affecting habitats in the Cayman Islands.  Finally, Ben heard from Chloe Campbell from the 2050 Climate Group, a Scottish youth network campaigning for climate justice and a faster transition to a net zero world.  Here more analysis from COP26 in our sister podcast, The Climate Briefing: https://climatebriefing.libsyn.com/ Find Simon Mundy's book, The Race for Tomorrow: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/race-for-tomorrow-survival-innovation-and-profit-on-the-front-lines-of-the-climate-crisis-simon-mundy  Credits: Speakers: Chloe Campbell, Simon Mundy, Bela Watler Host: Ben Horton Editor: James Reed Sound Services Recorded and produced by Chatham House