Hopkins Podcast On Foreign Affairs

The Biden administration has defined China as the “pacing challenge” that poses the “most comprehensive and serious challenge to U.S. national security.” Sino-American tensions, in particular, have escalated due to disagreements over the future of Taiwan and the potential of Chinese invasion of the island. What should the United States be doing to prepare for … Continue reading Is Ukraine a Distraction?

In this episode, we discuss the likelihood of nuclear weapons use given Russia’s military doctrine and the current state of the war, how Ukraine and its allies ought to respond to Putin’s threats, and the potential risks of pushing for a diplomatic end to war too soon. Joining us on the podcast is Dr. Raphael … Continue reading Russia’s Nuclear Threat

In 2022 we recorded 62 fantastic episodes discussing topics from Ukraine, to cybersecurity, to U.S.-China relations. In this episode, we’ll be having a roundtable discussion on our most important foreign affairs moments of 2022. As a disclaimer, the format of the roundtable makes it difficult for POFA hosts to fully explain their opinions and respond … Continue reading POFA Roundtable: 2022 Year in Review

British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned October 20 after only six weeks in office after her policies caused an economic crisis. Rishi Sunak, who succeeded Truss in October, has been tasked with stabilizing the economy and the conservative party’s standing. Nick Witney, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, joins us on … Continue reading In Liz We Couldn’t Truss

On December 7th, 2022, within 24 hours, Pedro Castillo was ousted from office and jailed after attempting to unconstitutionally dissolve Peru’s Congress. His successor, Dina Boluarte, is Peru’s fifth President in two years. Dr. Christopher Sabatini, senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, joins us today to discuss the future of democracy in Peru. … Continue reading Peru’s Democratic Crisis

 Social media platforms, including Twitter, have made increasing efforts to moderate content. Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a vocal public critic of Twitter’s content moderation efforts. This complaint was a driving force behind his decision to acquire the social media company this year. Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter has … Continue reading Global Chaos of Elon Musk’s Twitter

On November 19th Malaysia held its parliamentary elections, resulting in a narrow victory for now-Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. In this episode, we discuss the issues most important in the election, the composition of the new governing coalition, and Anwar Ibrahim’s plans for Malaysia. Joining me to share his expertise on this transfer of power is … Continue reading The 2022 Malaysian Elections

Two months ago, the prime minister of Haiti Ariel Henry requested the help of a foreign force to stabilize the country. In this episode, we discuss the crisis in Haiti and possible solutions. Can a foreign force help set Haiti back on its feet? Joining me to share his expertise on these issues is Diego … Continue reading Haiti in Crisis

Join us for a discussion on a new book, Beijing’s Global Media Offensive: China’s Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World, written by Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations. He joins us to discuss how China has strived to become a global media and information powerhouse and whether this quest has been … Continue reading Book Talk: Beijing’s Global Media Offensive

Thousands of people are joining protests across China focused on challenging the “zero-Covid” policy. The ongoing demonstrations display rare solidarity between class, region, and even ethnicity. Will Jiang Zemin’s death further galvanize protesters? What are the exit options for the party state? Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, associate professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs … Continue reading Zero-Covid Protests in the Chinese Surveillance State

The Biden administration released its National Defense Strategy in late October that laid out how the Department of Defense will implement the President’s National Security Strategy. The concept of “integrated deterrence” is at the core of the 2022 National Defense Strategy. What is integrated deterrence? Can it work to address increasingly complex security challenges faced … Continue reading Can Integrated Deterrence Work?

The death of a 22-year-old Iranian woman sparked widespread youth and women-led protests in Iran. In this episode, we will discuss how protests have evolved and how governments around the world have responded. Vali Nasr, Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS, joins us today to discuss the demonstrations in … Continue reading Young Iranians Go to the Streets

The 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party was held from October 16 to October 22, 2022. Xi Jinping officially secured his third term in office and cemented his power over the communist party state. Neil Thomas, senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, joins us today to discuss the party of General Secretary Xi. … Continue reading The Party of General Secretary Xi

Semiconductors, the “brain” of modern electronics, are essential to industrial, commercial, and military systems in an increasingly digitized global economy. Last month, the Biden administration announced sweeping new restrictions on semiconductor technology exports to China. Dr. James Lewis, Senior Vice President and Director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International … Continue reading Blocking Chips to China

President Biden announced the “U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa” on August 8, 2022. In this episode, we examine the goals of this strategy and how it differs from how previous administrations have approached U.S. relations with Africa. What tangible actions will ensure the success of the administration’s strategy? What does the realization of this vision … Continue reading Biden’s Africa Strategy

South Korea is an emerging player in the global arms market at a time when the demand for military equipment is rising around the world. South Korean defense exports are expected to reach $10 billion in 2022, nearly tripling the figure from 2020. Will “k-defense” emerge as a major item in an already long list … Continue reading The Rise of the k-Defense Industry

In September of this year, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled that the country’s prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, can remain in office despite the end of his eight-year term. In this episode, we discuss Thailand’s move toward authoritarianism, the role of the monarchy and other institutions in the country’s political network, and the recent protest movements which … Continue reading Political Turmoil in Thailand

On October 2, Brazil held its general elections, leading to a run-off between candidates Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Jair Bolsonaro scheduled for October 30. Brian Winter, the editor-in-chief of the publication Americas Quarterly, joins me today to discuss the two candidates, their individual approaches to their campaign, and how the election results reflect … Continue reading Brazil’s Vote: 2022 Elections

In August, Kenya held elections to determine who’d succeed long-time president Uhuru Kenyatta. William Ruto ultimately entered office on September 13th, as the country’s 5th president since its independence, amidst a national controversy over the election results. Saskia Brechenmacher joins me on the podcast to discuss the 2022 Kenyan general election, its implications for Kenya, … Continue reading 2022 Kenyan Elections

In this foreign policy toolbox episode, we discuss soft power, its modern use, and its relevance in contemporary politics and conflict. Joining us today is Professor Joseph Nye, who coined the term “soft power.” FP Toolbox: Soft Power Episode Credits: Editor: Lidie Ataoguz Hosts: Jina Lim, Julia An