Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

Three months into Russia’s war on Ukraine, social, economic, and political leaders from across the globe retreated to Davos in the Swiss alps to discuss how to set about creating a brighter future for the world. Recording from the heart of the World Economic Forum, Mark Leonard is joined this week by Yara Bayoumy, world and national security editor at the New York Times opinion section, to dissect the impulses that weaved in and out of this weekend’s discussions. What were this forum’s biggest themes? Which discussions on the Ukraine crisis were the most convincing? And what balance was there between the West and the rest?This podcast was recorded on 26 May 2022Bookshelf:- "Our Country Friends" by Gary ShteyngartPicture (c) World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s war on Ukraine has led to an unprecedented display of European unity. But the European Union now faces a daunting combination of migration, food, military, and energy crises. Assembling an all-star cast at ECFR’s annual staff retreat in Malaga, host Mark Leonard is joined by senior policy fellows Marie Dumoulin, director of the Wider Europe programme, Piotr Buras, head of the Warsaw office, and Arturo Varvelli, head of the Rome office, to discuss Europe’s solidarity on the war in Ukraine. How sustainable is European unity? What scenarios of solidarity or division can be expected in the next few months? And what factors matter most to different EU member states? This podcast was recorded on 19 May 2022 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is facing criticism for not meeting the expectations he created with his Zeitenwende speech. But how fair is this criticism? Mark Leonard ponders this question and others with some of his German colleagues: ECFR senior policy fellows Janka Oertel and Jana Puglierin, and policy fellow and head of ECFR’s Task Force for Strengthening Europe against Economic Coercion, Jonathan Hackenbroich. How is Germany actually doing in turning round its security and defence policies? And what kind of change is afoot in Germany’s most beloved field, economic policy? This podcast was recorded on 11 May 2022.Further reading:- How Germany can sustain its policy revolution by Rafael Loss, Angela Mehrer: https://buff.ly/3hE5PBv- Zeitenwende: Germany as a pioneer in foreign and security policy? https://buff.ly/3sAo7K7- The birth of a geopolitical Germany by Jonathan Hackenbroich, Mark Leonard: https://buff.ly/3soxQmJBookshelf:- BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs with Fiona hill - China’s Ukraine Conundrum. Why the war necessitates a balancing act by Yan Xuetong in Foreign Affairs- SupChina podcast: Chinese international relations scholar Dingding Chen on Beijing’s position in the Russo-Ukrainian War- The deluge: The Great War, America and the remaking of the global order, 1916-1931 by Adam Tooze- Ist der Tod kein Meister aus Deutschland mehr? by Andreas Wirsching in Die Zeit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world is currently focused on one strongman: Putin. Yet strongmen are threatening democracies across the globe. Mark Leonard is joined this week by chief foreign policy commentator at the Financial Times, Gideon Rachman, to dissect the latter's recently published book “The Age of the Strongman”. They discuss such questions as what defines a strongman, and what varieties of this curious species exist? Are there any strongwomen? And when did the age of strongmen really begin?This podcast was recorded on 28 April 2022.Further reading:The Age of the Strongman by Gideon RachmanThe rise and risks of “The Age of the Strongman” “The Age of The Strongman by Gideon Rachman review – a rogues gallery of autocrats” by Simon TisdallBookshelfStrongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-GhiatAmerica Second by Isaac Stone Fish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Russia undermines democracies and reduces Ukrainian territory to a mere power play, European ideology is flourishing more than ever before. In this week’s episode, Mark Leonard hosts Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and current President of the Jacque Delors Institute, to discuss his solution to the EU’s problems: a European Confederation. Nations such as Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova want the security of EU membership, but how likely are they to be accepted into the union? How could a European Confederation aid greater cross-European integration? And is it a realistic alternative to the EU?This podcast was recorded on 28 April 2022.Further reading:- “A European Confederation: a common political platform for peace” by Enrico Letta- “The EU moves together on the total embargo on Moscow, says Enrico Letta” by the Observatorial- “Letta for a federal Europe” by Roberto CastaldiBookshelf:- The Man Inside: A European Journey Through Two Crises by Marco Buti Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Russia shifts the focus of its military offensive to southern and eastern Ukraine, Finland and Sweden are moving closer to NATO membership. In this week’s episode, Mark Leonard speaks to Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden and current ECFR co-chair, and Alexander Stubb, former prime minister of Finland and current ECFR council member. Beyond both countries’ expressions of intent, where do they stand on NATO membership? What can Sweden and Finland offer NATO? And are they worried about the Kremlin’s threats to attack their countries? This podcast was recorded on 21 April 2022. Further reading: - Between Russia, Sweden, and NATO: Finland’s defence of “sovereignty equality” by Hanna Ojanen - How the Russia-Ukraine crisis could change Sweden’s security policy by Mats Engström - “Whoever shows weakness, will be attacked” by Francesco Collini Bookshelf:- The Unknown Soldier by Väinö Linna - Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe by Judith Herrin - The New Age of Empire by Kehinde Andrews Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen will face off against each other in the second round of the French presidential election on April 24. We have a good idea of what a second Macron presidency would look like, but Marine Le Pen is another story all together. How would her presidency affect Europe and the world? Jeremy Shapiro – seizing the reins of the podcast this week from a complaisant Mark Leonard – will explore this question with Agneska Bloch, a senior research assistant at a DC-based think tank, where she works on European affairs.This podcast was recorded on 14 April 2022.Further reading:All ECFR analysis on the French election: https://ecfr.eu/topic/france-2022/ Bookshelf:- East West Street by Philippe Sands - My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has turned European defence and security policy upside down. The German Zeitenwende, the Versailles Summit in March, and the recently published Strategic Compass for Security and Defence are all testament to this rediscovered priority on European leaders’ agenda. Jana Puglierin takes over the podcast to talk with ECFR senior policy fellows Nick Witney – who served as the first chief executive of the European Defence Agency – and Gustav Gressel about the state of European defence and its future. Will it be different this time? What are the biggest challenges in building greater European sovereignty in defence? And how will this effort be funded? This podcast was recorded on 5 April 2022. Further reading: - The EU’s Strategic Compass: Brand new, already obsolete by Nick Witney https://buff.ly/3wZEKkW- Out of the dark: Reinventing European defence cooperation by Gustav Gressel & Nick Witney https://buff.ly/3qidU3v Bookshelf: - East West Street by Philippe Sands - Rochan Consulting - Top 10 books about tumultuous times Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Leonard is joined by the head of ECFR's Middle East and North Africa programme Julien Barnes-Dacey, ECFR visiting fellow Cinzia Bianco, professor of political science at the University of Tehran Nasser Hadian, and founder and chair of the Gulf Research Center Abdulaziz Sager to analyse current developments in Gulf energy security and the Iran nuclear deal. On location at the Doha Forum 2022, they discuss questions like: following Western energy sanctions on Russia, why is there a reluctance in the Gulf states and the West to cooperate on energy supplies? Is the resurrection of the Iran nuclear deal tangible? And what role do sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and regional security threats such as conflict in Yemen play in such decisions?This podcast was recorded on 27 March 2022.Further reading on ecfr.eu:•Europe’s Russian energy dilemma by Cinzia Bianco, Jonathan Hackenbroich, Filip Medunic, & Pawel Zerka•Order of engagement: Assad’s visit to Abu Dhabi by Julien Barney-Dacey & Cinzia Bianco•Agreement and uncertainty: The Iran nuclear deal in a new global order by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj•Balance of power: Gulf states, Russia, and European energy security by Cinzia BiancoBookshelf:•“Midday event: trace of blood” film by Mohammad Hossein Mahdavian •“Establish geographic inclusivity in the Security Council” by Abdulaziz Sager•“The thick of it” TV series•“A certain idea of France” by Julian Jackson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Leonard is joined by Andrew Wilson, senior policy fellow at ECFR and Ukraine expert, and Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher and editor of the blog Ukraine World, to dissect Russia's war against Ukraine from a Ukrainian intellectual perspective. What concepts define Ukrainian history and identity, and how is this important in understanding Ukraine’s response to the Russian invasion? What role does Westsplaining play for Ukraine in the current context? And what do Russia’s zoopolitics mean for Ukrainian futures?This podcast was recorded on 22 March 2022.Further reading:• All ECFR Ukraine analysis: https://ecfr.eu/topic/russia-ukraine-crisis/• Ukraine world https://ukraineworld.org/Bookshelf:• “The last empire” by Serhii Plokhy • "Explaining Ukraine" podcast: https://buff.ly/3uwd9W2 • Ukraine in Histories and Stories, essays by Ukrainian intellectuals: https://buff.ly/3DbTEGa If you want to support Ukraine World, you can become a patron and donate via patreon.com/ukraineworld! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.