The Fletcher Forum Podcast

Alex is joined by Maria Selde, Colin Steele, and Pulkit Aggrwal, three of the five members of the 2017/2018 Forum Executive Board who founded the Podcast, for an informal conversation recollecting on the start of the podcast, the state of Fletcher during Donald Trump's first election, and perhaps a bit of encouragement in challenging times. The third episode in our Forum 50 Series.

Fletcher historians rejioice! We're joined this episode by Lee E. Dirks Professor Emeritus of Diplomatic History, Alan Henrikson. Professor Henrikson was named (he would say volun-told) the first faculty advisor to the Fletcher Forum, and he remains on our Board of Advisors today in 2025. Professor Henrikson joins us to revive some of the long-untold history of the Forum, as well as to discuss his 1981 piece on Space Politics which was published in the Forum. Between 1981 and 2025, many Fletcher students have entered the aerospace industry, and the interests of private businesses and governments in the industry surrounding space has expanded dramatically. We discuss these changes, what inspired Professor Henrikson to write on the potential politics of outer space as a tenured professor of Diplomatic History.

In this episode of the Fletcher Forum Podcast, host KP sits down with Professor Nigel Purvis - veteran climate diplomat and CEO of Climate Advisers, to explore the future of global climate action. From the early days of the Kyoto Protocol to the road ahead for COP-30 in Brazil, Professor Purvis shares insights on the shifting role of the U.S., the rise of non-state actors, and lessons from decades of negotiation. Whether you're a student, policymaker, or climate advocate, this conversation offers both a candid reflection on the past and a hopeful look toward what comes next in climate governance.

In this episode of The Fletcher Forum Podcast, we dive into the key takeaways from COP-16 in Cali, Colombia with biodiversity governance expert Professor Charles C. Chester. From the groundbreaking Cali Fund to the challenges of aligning global biodiversity strategies, we explore the biggest hits and misses of the conference. We break down the most pressing issues in biodiversity financing, indigenous rights, climate action and discuss the evolving role of the U.S. in international environmental policy ahead of the COP-30 in Brazil.

Following up on our episode last week, we're in conversation with Dr. Bridget Conley, the Research Director at the World Peace Foundation. Dr. Conley currently works on analyzing the impacts of mass incarceration in the US and has also recently released a podcast series titled Disrupting Peace, an investigation of how peace begins and ends which highlights her and others' body of work analyzing what peacebuilding actually looks like. Link to Disrupting Peace: https://open.spotify.com/show/2OVCiz6iZyMywzEzqz2xpK?si=e9793ffcf47e4aa4

Loing before the big power conflicts of the 2020s, many international relations theorists were focused on how to use international law as a framework for intervention to protect human rights and human dignity. From these thinkers emerged R2P, the Responsibility to Protect, which became a broad idea that was used to justify humanitarian interventions that theoretically and practically violated the sovereignty of internationally recognized states. Dr. Sidita Kushi, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Bridgewater State, joins us today to discuss some of the flaws built into the historical applications of R2P. This is also the topic of her forthcoming book: From Kosovo to Darfur: The Regional Biases within Humanitarian Military Interventionism. Dr. Kushi explains how she created and leveraged groundbreaking data which systematizes histories of humanitarian interventions following the Cold War. Pre-order From Kosovo to Darfur!: https://www.amazon.com/Kosovo-Darfur-Regional-Humanitarian-Interventionism/dp/0472077449?ref_=ast_author_dp Her First Book (Dying By the Sword): https://www.amazon.com/Dying-Sword-Militarization-Foreign-Policy/dp/0197581439

In our latest podcast, the Fletcher Forum dives into the multifaceted world of DeepSeek the AI firm challenging Open AI. We're joined by Pf. Thomas Cao, an Assistant Professor of Technology Policy at Fletcher, to discuss its implications not just for technology, but also for geopolitics, privacy, and the ethical challenges surrounding AI. Join us as we unpack how this innovative technology is reshaping the US tech landscape and what it means for the future of data security and global relations. With expert insights and thought-provoking discussions, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of tech and society.

Chinese studies are a mainstay in all realms of international relations, especially in the United States. Today's guest, Dr. Daniel Green, offers his thoughts of how future US administrations could approach China as a strategic competitor in AI, security, and great power politics. He surveys these thoughts, and his contributions to a new book: Confronting China: U.S. Defense Policy in an Era of Great Power Competition. Dr. Daniel Green is a national security and foreign affairs expert who has served for 20 years inkey positions that shape U.S. defense and foreign policy, including as a Commander in the U.S.Navy Reserves, a Political Advisor with the U.S. Department of State, and Deputy AssistantSecretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development. He is also an accomplished author, withfive books and numerous publications on defense, security, and counterinsurgency topics. Hisscholarly work includes more than 60 award-winning papers and articles in various military andpolicy journals. He holds a Ph.D. and MPhil in Political Science from George Washington Universityand a Masters in International Affairs from Florida State University. Link to Confronting China: https://www.amazon.com/Confronting-China-Competition-Security-International/dp/1440879664

In this episode, Natasha Zarine, co-founder of EcoSattva and a TEDx Boston speaker at MIT this year, shares how her groundbreaking work brought the Kham River back to life in India. Explore her innovative approach to blue-green infrastructure, community-driven solutions, and building climate resilience. Tune in for an extraordinary story of transformation, determination, and impact.

Annie Levy and Rebecca Kelly are two of the Co-Chairs for Fletcher's 2024 Conference on Gender in International Affairs. CGIA 2024 exists to create a collaborative environment in which international systems, norms, and power structures can be challenged and reimagined through a gender and intersectional lens. CGIA recognizes that intersectional solutions that amplify a diverse range of voices are needed to effectively address global challenges in uncertain times. It's Fletcher's longest running student-led conference and it's on its 10th anniversary! The Conference will be held in person and via zoom on November 21 & 22, register below! Conference Registration: https://sites.tufts.edu/genderconference/register-2/