Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

It has been a momentous few weeks in German and French politics. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) won its first state election – and achieved the German far-right’s best result since the second world war – in Thuringia with 33% of the vote; in Saxony, it came a close second to the Christian Democratic Union. In France, after weeks of uncertainty caused by a divided National Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier as the country’s prime minister.This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin, senior policy fellow and head of the ECFR Paris office, and Jana Puglierin, senior policy fellow and head of the ECFR Berlin office. Together, they discuss the current state of German and French politics, and the implications for the European Union and European politics overall. What do these election results mean for Germany, and the EU? How long will the ‘firewall’ against the AfD hold? And does France finally have a government again?  This episode was recorded on 9 September 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia is influential in international organisations: a permanent member of the UN Security Council, it also participates in geoeconomic groups such as the G20, and BRICS+. Regionally, Russia leads the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. But relations with Western organisations such as NATO and the EU are strained, and the G8 suspended Russia as a member following its invasion of Ukraine. This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Sasha Gabuev, an expert on China and Russia, and director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, and Mikhail Komin, ECFR visiting fellow, and expert on authoritarian regimes, and Russian elites and bureaucracy. They discuss Russia’s motives for joining these organisations, and the impact on the West. Which international institutions is Russia most excited about? Does its membership present a threat to the West? And how can these multinational unions benefit Moscow? This episode was recorded on 7 August 2024.This podcast is part of Re:Order and was produced with support from Stiftung Mercator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the run-up to America’s presidential election, ECFR’s US programme has launched a new podcast, “Swamp Chronicles”. The mini-series delves into the crucial discussions and deeper issues shaping the election, and moves beyond the usual campaign headlines to explores its potential impact on US foreign policy – and on Europe. Swamp Chronicles is hosted by Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Jeremy Shapiro, ECFR’s director of research and head of the US programme.In this week’s episode, Aslı Aydıntaşbaş and Jeremy Shapiro are joined by Robert Kagan, Stephen & Barbara Friedman Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, to examine the underlying forces shaping Donald Trump’s Republican Party ahead of the 2024 election. They discuss the historical origins of his ‘MAGA’ movement, the implications of a potential Trump victory for American and global democracy, and whether Trumpism can endure beyond Trump himself.Subscribe and stay tuned: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/66d0759bf16c66f62d06e0a3Music was recorded and produced by Kingston Lindner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lynn Kuok, the Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asian Studies, dives into the dynamic geopolitical landscape of Southeast Asia. She discusses how ASEAN influences regional identity amidst China's rising power and the U.S.-China rivalry. Lynn highlights shifting alliances, particularly recent polling reflecting support for these powers across countries like the Philippines and Laos. The conversation also covers the pragmatic responses of Southeast Asian nations to global events like the Ukraine invasion, showcasing their unique balance of realism and values.

In American foreign policy debates, prioritisers argue that the US should focus on deterring Chinese expansion, consequently shifting its resources away from Europe and towards the Indo-Pacific. But questions are also emerging about the US presence in the Middle East, as well as the country’s commitment to NATO – which the looming election has thrown into uncertainty.This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Alex Velez-Green, former national security adviser to Republican senator Josh Hawley, and senior adviser at the Heritage Foundation, to discuss the prioritiser perspective. Is the American unipolar moment over? Can the US offer support to both Ukraine and Taiwan, simultaneously? And what should be the priorities for America’s grand strategy in foreign policy?  This podcast is part of Re:Order and was produced with support from Stiftung Mercator. This episode was recorded on 29 July 2024.  Bookshelf The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge Colby  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent years, China has overtaken the United States as the largest trading partner of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Not only has Beijing played a bigger role in the region’s economic order, it is also taking the lead in creating new institutions in Asia. China is known for BRICS or its eponymous Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. But more recently, free trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement are bolstering China’s challenge to existing institutional order. In this episode of the Re:Order summer series, Mark Leonard welcomes bestselling author and S.T. Lee chair in US-Asia relations at the Harvard Kennedy School Rana Mitter to discuss China’s positioning vis-à-vis the West. How does China engage with ASEAN? How are economic flows and institutions shaping the fast-changing region? Are their institutions shadow organisations of the West or trying to challenge the West?This episode was recorded on 26 June 2024. This podcast is part of Re:Order and was produced with support from Stiftung Mercator.  Bookshelf China steps out: Beijing’s Major Power Engagement with the Developing World, by Johsua Eisemann  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The prisoner exchange between the West and Russia last week was the largest swap since the end of the cold war. At Turkey’s Ankara airport, Russia and Belarus released 16 detainees, while the United States, Poland, Germany, Slovenia, and Norway released 8.In this week’s Europe in 30 Minutes special episode, deputy director of ECFR Vessela Tcherneva welcomes welcomes distinguished policy fellow Camille Grand, who leads ECFR's defence intitative, senior policy fellow Gustav Gressel, who focuses on Russia, eastern Europe, and defence policy, and senior policy fellow Kadri Liik, an expert on Russian domestic and foreign policy. Who are the winners and losers of this historic prisoner swap? What kinds of messages does this send domestically in the US, Russia, and Germany? And why did this take place in Turkey?This episode was recorded on 5 August 2024.BookshelfThe Brothers Lionheart, by Astrid LindgrenPerestroika, by Mikhail GorbachevThe Idea of China, by Alicja Bachulska, Mark Leonard, and Janka Oertel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matias Spektor, a bestselling author and professor specializing in Brazilian foreign policy, dives deep into Brazil's role in the new global order. He discusses Brazil's moral stance amid shifting global power dynamics and critiques Western hypocrisy regarding democratic values. Spektor also highlights Brazil's unique approach to the Ukraine conflict, advocating for negotiations over military interventions. Additionally, he sheds light on Brazil's strategic engagement with Europe and recommends insightful reads that capture the complexities of contemporary Brazilian society.

Following two years of research, ECFR has released its new book, “The Idea of China: Chinese Thinkers on Power, Progress, and People”. Whether demography, AI, feminism, or green transition philosophies, “The Idea of China” seeks to enhance Western understanding of the current discourses and debates within China. After all, a Chinese perspective on these global issues could become one of the country’s leading exports.In the latest episode of the World in 30 Minutes, Mark Leonard welcomes his fellow authors – policy fellow Alicja Bachulska, and ECFR Asia programme director and senior policy fellow, Janka Oertel – to discuss the book’s themes: power, progress, and people. How is the global order shifting vis-à-vis China and US competition? In what ways are Chinese thinkers writing and defining progress, and how does this differ from Western conceptions of progress? And what do these thinkers have to say on the demographic future of China?In:Sight China is supported by Stiftung Mercator and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Ireland.This episode was recorded on 22 July 2024. BookshelfThe Idea of China, by Alicja Bachulska, Mark Leonard, and Janka Oertel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast, Mark Leonard discusses India's role in the global order with Pramit Pal Chaudhuri. They explore India's participation in international institutions like BRICS and the SCO, its rivalry with China, Modi's foreign policy shift, and its digital infrastructure initiatives. The conversation provides insights into India's strategic positioning and values in shaping global dynamics.