

Independent Thinking
Chatham House
Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox hosts conversations with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts to provide insight into the latest international political issues.
Independent Thinking gives listeners the opportunity to engage with the high level conversations hosted by Chatham House.
Independent Thinking gives listeners the opportunity to engage with the high level conversations hosted by Chatham House.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 27, 2024 • 34min
Can Germany lead in a divided Europe?
 Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Mujtaba Rahman, the Managing Director Europe of the Eurasia Group and Georgina Wright, a Senior Fellow with Institut Montaigne. Joining them all is journalist  John Kampfner, the former head of Chatham House's UK in the World Programme. Read our latest:  Is Moldova a new battleground in Russia's war?  Has David Cameron's return revitalised UK policy in the Middle East?  Britain must rearm to strengthen NATO and meet threats beyond Russia and terrorism Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review and subscribe. 

Mar 21, 2024 • 39min
Senegal, Nigeria and the Sahel: can democracy deliver in West Africa?
 Bronwen Maddox is joined from Dakar, Senegal by Gilles Yabi, the founder and CEO of WATHI, the West Africa Citizen Think Tank and Idayat Hassan, a Senior Associate with CSIS. Joining them in the Chatham House studio is Paul Melly, a Consulting Fellow with our Africa Programme. Read our latest:  Democracy in West Africa: Why Senegal's election crisis matters  Sudan's forgotten war: A new diplomatic push is needed  The UK should help coordinate support for Ukraine by backing EU defence initiatives Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review and subscribe. 

Mar 13, 2024 • 31min
China's National People's Congress: the view from Japan
 Bronwen Maddox is in Japan this week, and is joined from Taipei by journalist Bethany Allen to discuss China's National People's Congress and the political calculations of Beijing's neighbours. Joining them are Robert Ward from The International Institute for Strategic Studies and Dr Yu Jie – a Senior Fellow with our Asia-Pacific programme. Read our latest:  Why Egypt's improved economic outlook is mostly down to luck, not skill  This time Haiti really is on the brink. The US and UN must act to restore order  The EU's new AI Act could have global impact Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review and subscribe. 

Mar 8, 2024 • 33min
Has Donald Trump changed US foreign policy forever?
 Guest host  Leslie Vinjamuri is joined on the podcast this week by  Ben Smith, the Editor-in-Chief of Semafor News and Professor  Jennifer M Lind – an Associate Fellow with our US and Americas programme. Read our latest:  How foreign policy might impact the outcome of the US election  This time Haiti really is on the brink. The US and UN must act to restore order  How geopolitical competition in the Black Sea is redefining regional order Presented by Leslie Vinjamuri. Produced by John Pollock. Follow Chatham House on Bluesky 🦋  Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review and subscribe. 

Feb 29, 2024 • 35min
Iran's elections: What's at stake for the Middle East?
  Bronwen Maddox is joined on the podcast this week by Gregg Carlstrom, the Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Siavash Ardalan from BBC Persia and Dr Sanam Vakil – the Director of our Middle East and North Africa programme. Read our latest:  The Gaza war is testing Hezbollah's strategic capability  Sweden brings benefits for NATO but accession delay raises difficult questions  Watch the keynote address by Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Follow Chatham House on Bluesky 🦋  Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review and subscribe. 

Feb 23, 2024 • 34min
Is Alexei Navalny's death a watershed moment for Russia?
  Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Bill Browder – who for years has worked as a human rights and anti-corruption campaigner against the Putin regime. Alongside him is Nikolai Petrov, a Consulting Fellow with our Russia and Eurasia programme and Yulia Mineeva, an Academy Fellow with Chatham House, who was previously Head of News for Novaya Gazeta, the main independent newspaper in Russia. Read our latest:  Alexei Navalny's most powerful legacy is urging Russians to imagine their country without Putin  China's 'renminbi trap': The economy needs a weaker currency, but Beijing is unable to act  Ukraine means enlargement is again the EU's priority – but not for the reasons it claims Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Follow Chatham House on Bluesky 🦋  Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review and subscribe. 

Feb 16, 2024 • 28min
What does Prabowo Subianto's election mean for Indonesia?
 Discussing the recent Indonesian elections, the podcast explores Prabowo Subianto's potential presidency, democratic advancements, and geopolitical significance. It analyzes political alliances, ethical concerns, and Prabowo's transformation, raising questions about Indonesia's foreign policy stance under new leadership. 

Feb 8, 2024 • 27min
Can the UN's first cybercrime treaty protect us?
 Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Ciaran Martin, the former Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre; Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo, Vice Chair of the African Union's Cyber Security Experts Group; Amy Hogan-Burney, General Manager of Cyber Security Policy at Microsoft and  Joyce Hakmeh, the Deputy Director of our International Security Programme. Read our latest:  Yes, China pressured Iran on Red Sea attacks – but only to protect its own ships  A long war works against Ukraine – and the West's own security  Pakistan must ensure free and fair elections to avert a meltdown Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Alex Moyler. Follow Chatham House on Bluesky 🦋  Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review and subscribe. 

Feb 2, 2024 • 27min
Is Pakistan's democracy on the brink?
 Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by  Madiha Afzal, an author and Research Fellow at Brookings in Washington DC. Joining them are Dr Farzana Shaikh, an Associate Fellow with our Asia-Pacific Programme and Dr Chietigj Bajpaee, our Senior Research Fellow for South Asia. Read our latest:  Pakistan must ensure free and fair elections to avert a meltdown  February/March issue of The World Today  Russia's withdrawal from its border agreement with Finland is an expansion of its hybrid warfare on the EU  The world is already in Trump-induced chaos. Prepare for things to get worse Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Alex Moyler. Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review and subscribe. 

Jan 25, 2024 • 25min
Why is Orbán blocking EU aid for Ukraine?
 Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by journalist  Olga Tokariuk, an Academy Fellow in our Ukraine Forum, and Natalie Sabanadze, a Senior Research Fellow in our Russia and Eurasia Programme to discuss Viktor Orbán and Ukraine. Don't miss our expertise:  The Director's Annual Lecture 2024  Orban's Ukraine gamble is a blow to the EU's geopolitical ambitions  Are we heading for World War Three – and is Britain's military ready? Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty. 


