Independent Thinking

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times to discuss the elections and geopolitical flashpoints in 2024. Joining them in the studio are Leslie Vinjamuri, Ben Bland and Armida van Rij. Don't miss our expertise: The Director’s Annual Lecture 2024 Collapsing foreign direct investment might not be all bad for China’s economy The hidden scale of laboratory accidents: The need for transparency and engagement COP28: What was achieved, and what needs to happen now Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty.

At the Doha Conference, Bronwen Maddox speaks with Dr Majed Al Ansari, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr Al Ansari shares the Qatari perspective on the war between Hamas and Israel and the role the country has played as a key interlocutor. Don't miss our expertise: What does Turkey’s policy on the Gaza war mean for the region? Why the time is now for a Palestinian national unity government The UK’s Safety of Rwanda Bill is a reminder that democracies are not immune from attacks on the rule of law Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty.

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by writer and academic Nishtha Gautam to discuss what India's state elections mean ahead of the 2024 general election. Joining them in the studio are Professor Louise Tillin  from Kings College London and Senior Research Fellow Chietigj Bajpaee from our Asia-Pacific programme. Don't miss our expertise: Reducing nuclear weapons risk Maduro hoped to mobilize Venezuelans around an old grievance in Guyana. He seems to have failed Why the time is now for a Palestinian national unity government Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty.

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Ana Yang, Bernice Lee and Ruth Townend from our Environment and Society Centre to discuss the COP28 summit in the United Arab Emirates. Don't miss our expertise: What is COP28 and why is it important? What COP28 needs to address to avoid climate disaster The emerging global crisis of land use Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty.

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Professor Kerry Brown and journalist Latika Bourke to discuss China's economic slowdown, amid signs of a more assertive foreign policy in Asia. Joining them is economist David Lubin, an Associate Fellow with our Global Economy and Finance program. Don't miss our expertise: China's new scientists Is China building a military base in Cambodia? China–US talks offer optimism at bleak time for arms control Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty.

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by journalist Jon Sopel, the host of the News Agents podcast, to discuss the 2024 US presidential election. Joining them are Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Director of our US and Americas programme and Laura Rozen, a journalist formerly with Politico and Foreign Policy magazine. Don't miss our expertise: US foreign policy in a critical year ahead Biden–Xi meeting: A must-win in high stakes diplomacy The Supreme Court’s decision requires fresh thinking – not emergency legislation Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty.

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Shashank Joshi, the Defence Editor at The Economist, to discuss Iran's role in the Hamas-Israel War. Joining them are our experts, Dr Sanam Vakil, Director of our Middle East and North Africa programme and Dr Renad Mansour, a Senior Research Fellow with the MENA programme. Don't miss our expertise: The war in Gaza is aligning Russia against Israel Netanyahu’s premiership will not outlast the war with Hamas Iraq shows a political settlement without accountability cannot deliver peace Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty.

Lucy Fisher, FT's Whitehall Editor, and experts Olivia O’Sullivan and Alex Krasodomski discuss the potential impacts of AI, the competition between UK and US, the difficulties of regulating AI technology, and the contrasting approaches to AI regulation in the UK and US.

Roxanne Escobales speaks with experts from our US and Americas programme, Dr Christopher Sabatini and Vanessa Rubio-Márquez, about Argentina's on-going election. Joining them from Buenos Aires are journalist Natalia Gherardi who is covering Argentina's election up-close. Don't miss our expertise: If Milei meets Massa in a second round, all bets are off for Argentina’s election Latin America’s anti-femicide crusades need help Mexico: The election race to succeed AMLO has started Presented by Roxanne Escobales. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty.

Bronwen Maddox speaks with New York Times journalist Steven Erlanger about President Biden's trip to Israel and the prospects of an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza. Joining them are Sam Rose from UNRWA and   Dr Elham Fakhro from our Middle East and North Africa programme. Don't miss our expertise: President Biden’s Middle East visit reveals the challenges for US diplomacy Israel has the capacity to significantly damage Hamas with a ground offensive  MENA countries should lead the way de-escalating the Israel–Hamas war Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty.