Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

Host Mark Leonard has an intimate discussion with our heads of office from Sofia and Warsaw, Vessela Tcherneva and Piotr Buras about their experiences, hopes and dreams during the transition times of the 1990s. How did their life and future change the minute the Berlin Wall fell? What are this generation’s thoughts 30 years later and predications for Europe in the coming 30 years? This podcast was recorded on 21 November 2019.Bookshelf:- The light that failed by Ivan Krastev- Bulgaria under Communism by Ivaylo Znepolski et al. - Reflections on a ravaged century by Robert Conquest- Die Welt braucht den Westen by Thomas Kleine-BrockhoffPicture (c)Gavin Stewart/Flickr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second in our series on the events of 1989 and how they will shape our world for decades to come, host Mark Leonard is joined by Fyodor Lukyanov. Lukyanov is Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs, Chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, and Research Director of the Valdai International Discussion Club. In this podcast, recorded in Dubai, the two discuss America's and Russia's differing views on the Cold War and its end. The trauma of 1989, but also the euphoria it generated in Europe, and Putin's development as a political actor, are set into context. This context allows for a multifaceted understanding of the events of 1989.It also allows the arc of Russian foreign policy to be traced to today, and in doing so provides a useful accompaniment to the Eurocentric 1989 celebrations.This podcast was recorded on 4 November 2019Bookshelf:Mikhail S. Gorbachev "Perestroika: New Thinking for Our Country and the World" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, live from Brussels, Ellie Geranmayeh is standing in for our host Mark Leonard to discuss Iran’s further withdrawal from the 2015 Nuclear Agreement. After the Iran Strategy Meeting meeting, she met with Hossein Mousavian (Princeton University), Ilan Goldenberg (Center for a New American Security) and Nasser Hadian (University of Teheran) to analyse the responses coming from the US and European governments, in particular from France. By marking the 40th anniversary of the Iran Hostage Crisis, they look back on how this has shaped the Iran-US relations in the past 4 years. Moreover, after one year, how has the re-imposition of the US sanction impacted Iran domestically? This podcast was recorded on 6 November 2019.Bookshelf:- "The United States Overthrew Iran’s Last Democratic Leader" by Roham Alvandi & Mark J. Gasiorowski - "U.S. Maximum Pressure Meets Iranian Maximum Pressure" by International Crisis Group- HBO Series “Our boys”Picture (c)Tasnim News Agency Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first in our mini-series on the events of 1989, host Mark Leonard is joined by very special guest Timothy Garton Ash, historian and Professor of European Studies at Oxford University. This series considers how 1989 and it's events will shape our world in the future. Was 1989 the greatest year in European history? How much of what is going on was a blip? Are we witnessing the decline of liberalism today? Ash provides insights into the course of our political history, but cautions on prescribing a course to our future. The neglect of solidarity, identity and community as part of the development of the European Union project has led to a hollowing out of European identity. Global challenges and populism put the future of the liberal democratic world into question, unless answers are found.This podcast was recorded on 31 October 2019.Bookshelf:The Light that Failed: A Reckoning, by Ivan Krastev and Stephen HolmesThe Power of the Powerless, by Václav Havel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s killing impact ISIS as a terror organisation and the situation in Syria? Host Mark Leonard is joined by Anthony Dworkin and Asli Aydıntaşbaş to analyse the current events and political implications for Syria’s neighbouring countries, the US and the EU. As the European Union has failed to come up with a coherent policy on how to handle their citizens who travelled to join ISIS, they argue it would still be best, to bring them home and to try them there. But how could the EU member states go ahead with the process?Further read: "Beyond good and evil: Why Europe should bring ISIS foreign fighters home" by Anthony Dworkin - https://t.co/06xbm6A2Th The podcast was recorded on 30 October 2019.Bookshelf:- "Sweet Caress" by William Boyd- "They will have to die now" by James Verini- "The Topeka School" by Ben Lerner- "Human Compatible" by Stuart Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

North Macedonia and Albania wanted to start negotiations with the EU after having been candidate countries since 2005 and 2014. But the enlargement plans seemed to have stalled especially after opposition from France. Host Mark Leonard is joined by Susi Dennison, José Ignacio Torreblanca and Vessela Tcherneva to get to the bottom of things and the divisions particularly between France and Germany on this issue.Bookshelf:- "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" by Shoshana Zuboff- "Spring" by Ali Smith - "The light that failed" by Ivan Krastev & Stephen Holmes - "State of the Union" Miniseries on BBC TwoThe podcast as recorded on 17 October 2019.Picture (c) JLogan|Wikipedia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turkey's offensive into northeastern Syria is moving at an unprecedented pace with grave consequences. Europe's utter irrelevance in the face of US withdrawal from the Turkish/Syrian border has been thrown in to stark light, particularly as it fails to take responsibility for European Isis members in the region. Europes weakness on migration and the refugee crisis as a whole has also been highlighted. What can and should Europe do at this crisis point? As events unfold, Asli Aydıntaşbaş, senior policy fellow with the Wider Europe programme joins host Mark Leonard from Turkey. Mark is also joined by head of ECFR's MENA programme, Julien Barnes-Dacey. Jeremy Shapiro, our research director, provides insight into Trump and Erdoğan's relationship breakdown and what US foreign policy under Trump may continue to look like.Bookshelf:"The Fall of the Ottomans: The Great War in the Middle East, 1914-1920" By Eugene Rogan"The Noise of Time" by Julien Barnes"Chimera" by Alexandros YannisThis podcast was recorded on the 10th of October Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s podcast, Mark Leonard, Gustav Gressel and Kadri Liik analyse Macron’s plans and ideas for recreating the European security order, an initiative which he launched with a speech at the Ambassador’s conference this year. Moreover, according to French officials, France will instead of starting with a top-down plan, try to build European security from the bottom-up and see if there is a desire in Moscow to make progress on specific issues, one brick at a time. They have laid out a roadmap with five different areas: Disarmament, security dialogue, crisis management, values, and common projects.Further read: “Emmanuel Macron’s very big idea on Russia” by Gustav Gressel, Kadri Liik, Jeremy Shapiro & Tara VarmaThe podcast was recorded on 30 September 2019.Bookshelf- “We Need to Talk About Putin. Why the West gets him wrong, and how to get him right” by Mark Galeotti - “Psychopolitics. Neoliberalism and New Technologies of Power” by Byung-Chul Han Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Leonard welcomes a very special guest, David McAllister MEP to the podcast, talking about the process of doing all the hearings for the European Commission over the next weeks. Additionally, David McAllister gives his view on Europe on the world stage and his vision of European foreign policy.The podcast was recorded on 25 September 2019.Bookshelf:"Aufstehen, Kilt richten, weiterkämpfen" by John McGurkLivestream to the hearings:https://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/schedule Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The multilateral system faces three related crises of power, relevance, and legitimacy. This fraying consensus threatens the EU, which is committed to multilateralism. But the situation also represents an opportunity for European influence! Mark Leonard discusses Europe's stake on multilateralism with the ECFR experts Richard Gowan and Anthony Dworkin.Bookshelf:"The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir" by Samantha Power"The Final Act: The Helsinki Accords and the Transformation of the Cold War" by Michael Cotey Morgan"Three crises and an opportunity: Europe’s stake in multilateralism" by Richard Gowan & Anthony DworkinThe podcast was recorded on 19 September 2019. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.