Podcasts · Science · Society & Culture

The IR thinker

Martin Zubko

132 episodes

The IR thinker is an independent, non-partisan and non-aligned podcast exploring international relations through conversations with leading scholars and practitioners. It offers diverse perspectives without endorsing any political party, government or ideology. Founded and hosted by IR scholar and lecturer Martin Zubko as a pro bono initiative in 2023, it has surpassed 100 episodes and is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

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Episodes page 1 of 3

  1. Azerbaijan's Energy Geopolitics — John M. Roberts

    · 1 h 09 min · S4 E25

    In this episode, John Roberts examines Azerbaijan’s evolving role in regional energy security, from its traditional position as an oil and gas exporter to emerging opportunities in electricity and renewable energy.…

  2. Uncertainty, Intentions and Great Power Conflict — Sebastian Rosato

    · 58 min · S4 E24

    How certain can great powers ever be about the intentions of their rivals, and what happens when that uncertainty becomes a permanent feature of international politics? In this episode, Professor Sebastian Rosato joins…

  3. Who Controls Africa’s Food? Rethinking Food Security, Trade & Agriculture — David Luke

    · 37 min · S4 E23

    Why is Africa still importing so much of the food it consumes? What is holding back trade in food and agricultural products between African countries? In this interview, we speak with Professor David Luke, editor of…

  4. The Future of Global Governance: BRICS, AI, Middle Powers & World Order — Miles Kahler

    · 1 h 09 min · S4 E22

    In this episode, Professor Miles Kahler discusses the future of global governance in an era of intensifying geopolitical rivalry, shifting power balances, and growing challenges to the post-1945 international order.…

  5. Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional: Brazilian IR Journal — Haroldo Ramanzini Júnior

    · 47 min · S4 E21

    Published by the Brazilian Institute of International Relations since 1958, the Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional (Brazilian Journal of International Politics, also known as RBPI) has spent nearly seven…

  6. America's Role in Post-Soviet Russia: The Untold Story — Daniel Satinsky

    · 1 h 21 min · S4 E20

    In 1989, an American cultural institute helped arrange Boris Yeltsin's first trip to the United States — and a single visit to a supermarket may have changed the course of Soviet history. Thus, what is the untold story…

  7. Racism Without the Word — Somdeep Sen

    · 1 h 01 min · S4 E19

    After 9/11, the word "terrorism" replaced older colonial vocabularies — but the racial logic underneath stayed intact. Dr Somdeep Sen of Roskilde University joins The IR thinker to show how concepts such as…

  8. When AI Fights, the War Never Ends — Myriam Dunn Cavelty

    · 1 h 03 min · S4 E18

    Artificial intelligence is redrawing the boundaries of cybersecurity — accelerating attacks, complicating attribution, and compressing the time humans have to make decisions that matter. In this episode, Myriam Dunn…

  9. African Affairs Journal: History, Trends, and the Peer Review Process — Jonathan Fisher

    · 45 min · S4 E17

    Today, it is a real pleasure to speak with Professor Jonathan Fisher, co-editor of African Affairs — one of the leading journals in the field of African Studies. African Affairs is a peer-reviewed academic journal…

  10. Publishing in Regional & Federal Studies Journal — Davide Vampa & Mariely Lopez-Santana

    · 1 h 08 min · S4 E16

    Today, it is a real pleasure to speak with the editorial team of Regional & Federal Studies, one of the leading journals in the field of territorial politics, regionalism, and federalism. The journal was established…

  11. Poland's New Strategic Culture and Geopolitical Ambitions — Piotr Pietrzak

    · 1 h 07 min · S4 E15

    As American power recedes and European unity fractures, Poland finds itself at the centre of one of the most consequential geopolitical transformations of our time. Dr Piotr Pietrzak joins us to trace Poland's journey…

  12. Africa's Agency in Global Climate Governance — Carl Death

    · 1 h 12 min · S4 E14

    This episode explores African agency in global climate governance, moving beyond narratives that portray African states solely as vulnerable recipients of climate policy. Drawing on debates in International Relations,…

  13. Publishing in Contemporary Security Policy — Myriam Dunn Cavelty & Nicole Jenne

    · 1 h 06 min · S4 E13

    Today, it is a real pleasure to speak with the editorial team of Contemporary Security Policy, one of the most influential journals in the field of international security studies. Previously, known as Arms Control…

  14. Publishing in Problems of Post-Communism: An Editor's Perspective — Dmitry Gorenburg

    · 1 h 04 min · S4 E12

    Problems of Post-Communism is a long-standing peer-reviewed academic journal that examines political, economic, security, and international developments in post-communist societies. First established in 1952 under the…

  15. Inside Myanmar’s Fragile Geopolitical Position — Wai Yan Phyo Naing

    · 1 h 05 min · S4 E11

    Myanmar occupies a unique position in contemporary international affairs, where the legacies of post-independence neutralism, decades of military rule, and a fractured post-coup order converge to produce one of the…

  16. Foucault, Stalin and the Politics of Life and Death: What Is Biopolitics? — Sergei Prozorov

    · 1 h 08 min · S4 E10

    In this episode, I speak with Professor Sergei Prozorov about biopolitics, one of the most provocative frameworks in contemporary political theory, and how it reshapes our understanding of power, life, and death across…

  17. How Russia Projects Soft Power Across Three Continents — Vladimir Liparteliani

    · 1 h 01 min · S4 E9

    How does a country under heavy sanctions continue to win influence across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia? In this episode, Vladimir Liparteliani unpacks the full machinery of Russian soft power — from RT and Sputnik…

  18. South Africa's Nuclear Energy and the HTMR-100 Reactor — Kelvin Kemm

    · 1 h 09 min · S4 E8

    South Africa has been involved in nuclear development for more than 75 years. In 1948, the Atomic Energy Act established the Atomic Energy Board (AEB) — only two years after the United States created its own Atomic…

  19. How to Publish in Top IR Journals: Insights from a BJPIR Editor — Jack Holland

    · 43 min · S4 E7

    Today, we are hosting an episode that provides an opportunity to present a research journal together with its editor. The aim is not only to introduce the journal, but also to offer a critical assessment of suitable…

  20. China and Russia: Four Centuries of Conflict and Concord — Philip Snow

    · 50 min · S4 E6

    This episode features a conversation with the historian Philip Snow on the evolution of relations between Russia and China. Drawing on archival research, the discussion traces the relationship from the early border…

  21. From Unipolarity to Multipolarity: The Changing World Order — Mark N. Katz

    · 58 min · S4 E5

    This interview with Professor Mark N. Katz explores one of the central debates in contemporary international relations: the transition from unipolarity to a more complex multipolar world. Drawing on historical cases…

  22. Catalonia's Quest for Self-Government Explained — Marc Sanjaume-Calvet

    · 51 min · S4 E4

    In this interview, political scientist Marc Sanjaume‑Calvet examines the constitutional status of Catalonia, the distribution of powers within the Spanish state, and the evolving debates surrounding Catalan autonomy…

  23. The New Constructivism in International Relations — David McCourt

    · 1 h 10 min · S4 E3

    In this episode, Professor McCourt unpacks the foundations of New Constructivism: where it came from, what it demands of researchers, and where it's heading. From the theory/method distinction to the practice and…

  24. New Zealand's Geopolitics and Strategic Identity — Reuben Steff

    · 1 h 06 min · S4 E2

    In this episode, together with Dr Reuben Steff, we explore how New Zealand’s geographic isolation, colonial legacies, and small-state status have shaped a distinctive strategic culture; one that combines alliance…

  25. Decolonising Norms in International Relations — Charlotte Epstein

    · 53 min · S4 E1

    In this episode, Professor Charlotte Epstein reflects on how postcolonial perspectives reshape the study of norms in international relations, challenging conventional accounts of diffusion, compliance, and legitimacy.…

  26. A New Realism for a World in Crisis — Marc Saxer

    · 41 min · S3 E31

    In this episode, we sit down with political analyst Marc Saxer to explore his theory of Transformative Realism and why he believes we’re living through a profound systemic crisis. From the erosion of international…

  27. The History and Making of Indian Diplomacy — Vineet Thakur

    · 1 h 01 min · S3 E30

    In this episode, Vineet Thakur unpacks the historical and intellectual foundations of Indian diplomacy. We discuss classical strategic traditions, civilisational and colonial legacies, caste and elite networks in…

  28. Bulgaria's Energy Security Explained — Martin Vladimirov

    · 45 min · S3 E29

    In this episode, Martin Vladimirov unpacks Bulgaria’s evolving energy landscape in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine. We discuss shifts in the country’s energy mix, offshore wind prospects in the Black Sea, the…

  29. What EU Citizenship Really Means — Dimitry Kochenov

    · 1 h 12 min · S3 E28

    This episode of The IR thinker features a wide-ranging conversation with Professor Dimitry Kochenov on what it really means to “belong” in a world where citizenship is conditional, unequal, and sometimes absent…

  30. How Nuclear Weapons Shape Today's World — Stephen Herzog

    · 1 h 12 min · S3 E27

    This episode of The IR thinker offers a clear and structured tour of contemporary nuclear strategy with Dr Stephen Herzog, moving from the basic categories of nuclear weapons to the political struggles surrounding…

  31. Inside China's Institutional DNA — Chenggang Xu

    · 1 h 05 min · S3 E26

    This episode of The IR thinker features Professor Chenggang Xu on the conceptual and empirical foundations of his book Institutional Genes: Origins of China’s Institutions and Totalitarianism. The conversation unpacks…

  32. African IR Theory: Does It Exist? — Madalitso Zililo Phiri

    · 1 h 00 min · S3 E25

    This episode of The IR thinker features an incisive conversation with Dr Madalitso Zililo Phiri on what it means to think International Relations from Africa rather than merely about Africa. We interrogate whether an…

  33. Germany's Natural Gas Security After Russia — Andreas Schroeder

    · 45 min · S3 E24

    This special 100th episode of IR thinker revisits Germany’s gas security with Andreas Schroeder, the very first expert to appear on the channel in January 2023. We trace how Germany has reshaped its gas architecture…

  34. How Mongolia Navigates Energy Dependence — Telmen Altanshagai

    · 57 min · S3 E23

    This episode of The IR thinker explores Mongolia’s evolving energy landscape with policy analyst Telmen Altanshagai, focusing on how a landlocked state navigates dependence, diversification and development. The…

  35. Australia's Security Strategy Examined — Peter Layton

    · 1 h 14 min · S3 E22

    This episode of The IR thinker offers a sharp, policy-focused tour of how Australia is recalibrating its security posture in an era of intensifying regional competition, with strategist and defence analyst Dr Peter…

  36. Georgia's Energy Geopolitics Explained — Murman Margvelashvili

    · 1 h 07 min · S3 E21

    This episode of The IR thinker traces Georgia’s journey from Soviet-era infrastructure to today’s contested energy landscape with Professor Murman Margvelashvili. The conversation examines how Georgia’s energy mix has…

  37. Ireland's Evolving National Security Strategy — Kenneth McDonagh

    · 1 h 05 min · S3 E20

    This episode of The IR thinker explores Ireland’s historic shift from a long-standing tradition of military neutrality towards a more structured national security strategy, with Dr Kenneth McDonagh. We discuss why a…

  38. Georgia's Road to the EU — David Bujiashvili

    · 58 min · S3 E19

    This episode of The IR thinker asks what Georgia’s EU integration really means for democracy, regional security and great power competition, in conversation with David Bujiashvili. The discussion traces the historical…

  39. Brexit, EU Power and the Question of Hegemony — Patrick Holden

    · 1 h 00 min · S3 E18

    This episode of The IR thinker explores how the European Union exercised power throughout the Brexit process, in conversation with Dr Patrick Holden. Working from a neo-Gramscian perspective, the discussion examines…

  40. Radicalisation in the West: Causes and Patterns — Tahir Abbas

    · 1 h 00 min · S3 E17

    This episode of The IR thinker examines how radicalisation is evolving across Western democracies, in conversation with Professor Tahir Abbas. Moving from the storming of the US Capitol and far-right online…

  41. China's Engagement with Africa Unpacked — Emmanuel Matambo

    · 58 min · S3 E16

    This episode of The IR thinker looks beyond the clichés about “debt-trap diplomacy” to examine how Africa–China relations actually function in practice, in conversation with Dr Emmanuel Matambo. The discussion…

  42. Global Maritime Security Explained — Timothy Edmunds

    · 1 h 12 min · S3 E15

    This episode of The IR thinker explores the changing landscape of maritime piracy and security with Professor Tim Edmunds, tracing how piracy has evolved from traditional coastal raiding to more organised, networked…

  43. Universities as EU Diplomatic Actors — Marina Cino Pagliarello

    · 1 h 07 min · S3 E14

    This episode of The IR thinker examines how universities and academics operate as informal diplomatic actors in the European Union’s foreign policy, in conversation with Dr Marina Cino Pagliarello. The discussion…

  44. The Japan-Philippines Partnership: Why It Matters — Satoru Nagao

    · 55 min · S3 E13

    This episode of The IR thinker explores the deepening strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines with Dr Satoru Nagao, tracing the evolution from post-war reparations to a mature security and economic…

  45. Trump's Foreign Policy Decoded — Hussein Banai

    · 2 h 11 min · S3 E12

    This episode of The IR thinker offers an in-depth tour of American foreign policy under Donald Trump’s second term with Associate Professor Hussein Banai, tracing the shift from disruption to a more confident,…

  46. Why Some Regions Achieve Lasting Peace — Arie M. Kacowicz

    · 1 h 02 min · S3 E11

    This episode of The IR thinker asks why some regions become durable zones of peace while others remain mired in recurrent conflict, in conversation with Professor Arie M. Kacowicz. Drawing on his work on the Zone of…

  47. Rebuilding Syria: Economy, Power and Geopolitics — Joseph Daher

    · 1 h 03 min · S3 E10

    This episode of The IR thinker looks ahead to the political and economic future of Syria in a post-Assad scenario, in conversation with Dr Joseph Daher. The discussion explores whether a new order would genuinely break…

  48. What Good Governance Means for Africa — Gilbert A. Ang'ana

    · 1 h 04 min · S3 E9

    This episode of The IR thinker explores the evolving landscape of governance in Africa with Dr Gilbert A. Ang’ana, focusing on how institutional weaknesses, intra-governmental collaboration and decentralisation shape…

  49. Kazakhstan's Nuclear Power Debate — Eldaniz Gusseinov

    · 1 h 01 min · S3 E8

    This episode of The IR thinker asks whether nuclear power is set to become a cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s energy strategy, in conversation with political analyst Eldaniz Gusseinov. The discussion examines the country’s…

  50. Russia in Africa: What It Really Brings — Steven Gruzd

    · 1 h 02 min · S3 E7

    Critical Update: In Memory of Steven Gruzd Steven Gruzd was abducted and murdered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in what authorities described as an 'express kidnapping'. He disappeared on 27 March 2026 and was found…

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