NewsPoliticsHistoryGovernment

On Geopolitics

Centre for Geopolitics

On Geopolitics enters a new chapter with the introduction of two new hosts: Professors William Hurst and John Nilsson-Wright. John hosts “Currents”, engaging guests from diverse sectors including government, academia, media, science, and business, to explore topical global issues and events. Meanwhile Bill hosts “Explorations”, which will present a series of in-depth discussions and analyses of big ideas and enduring themes - the first of these being on “War".
Our original hosts, Suzanne Raine and Professor Ali Ansari make periodic guest reappearances in the future, maintaining what has been the mission of the podcast, to inform our understanding and analysis of contemporary geopolitical issues with lessons and perspectives from history.

Play

Open in

20 episodes
Avg 39 min
English

Episodes 20

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

S3 · E6
July 1 · 39 min
Ambitious Allies: How Japan and the Republic of Korea are responding to the challenge of Donald Trump
John Nilsson-Wright talks with Noah Sneider, the Economist’s bureau chief in Japan, on the ways in which the United States' two key Asian allies are adapting to an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment, both in confronting hostile foreign powers and a United States that appears aggressively transactional and increasingly unreliable as a dependable ally. They discuss foreign policy, domestic politics, and the personal leadership strengths and weaknesses of the country’s two leaders, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and President Lee Jae Myung, as they grapple with the challenge of implementing far-reaching policy changes while keeping their domestic publics on side.
S2 · E15
June 22 · 26 min
On Geopolitics, Explorations on War – Episode 15
In this concluding episode of the On Geopolitics Explorations: War series, Professor William Hurst returns to the question that he began with: what is war? He pulls this thread through a review of the many themes and ideas explored with his guests throughout the series.
S2 · E14
June 8 · 36 min
Explorations on War - Episode 14, With Ayşe Zarakol
Professor William Hurst is joined by Ayşe Zarakol, Professor of International Relations at the University of Cambridge. They discuss how empire models and concepts of international orders have shifted over time. They also consider how history and historical grievances can be mobilised politically, as forces that lead a state towards war or predispose a state not to go to war.
S2 · E5
May 29 · 40 min
Currents - Conflict & Neuroscience: How The Brain Shapes War And How War Shapes The Brain, with Dr Nick Wright
Professor John Nilsson-Wright talks to Dr Nick Wright, a neuroscientist and adviser to the Pentagon Joint Staff who researches the brain, technology and security at University College London, Georgetown University, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the National Defence University in Washington, DC. They consider how fear, perception, misperception, and memory are tied to different physiological elements of the brain, and how they influence our predisposition to engage in conflict. While we may be conditioned to engage in conflict, we also have the capacity, unlike other species, to reflect on our own internal mental processes — a capacity that offers an optimistic basis for minimising the risk of conflict in the future.
S2 · E13
May 25 · 40 min
Explorations - War, Episode 13, with Tang Shiping
Professor William Hurst is joined by Tang Shiping, Distinguished Professor of International Relations at Fudan University. They discuss the origins of war and the reasons why states fight. They also consider how war has become a defining force in shaping international order, and examine the social evolution of the rules that surround order.
S2 · E12
May 11 · 41 min
Explorations on War - Episode 12, with Ron Hassner
Professor William Hurst is joined by Ron Hassner, the Chancellor's Professor of Political Science and Helen Diller Family Chair in Israel Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. They discuss the importance of understanding the religious terrain of a country when going to war with it, and the necessity of states engaging religious leaders, and those with religious expertise, when making decisions around war.
S2 · E13
May 11 · 47 min
Currents - Episode 4: British foreign policy in a disorderly World, with Sir Robin Niblett
Professor John Nilsson-Wright talks with Sir Robin Niblett, former Director of the leading British think-tank Chatham House, about the key foreign policy challenges and opportunities facing the Labour Government of Sir Keir Starmer. They discuss the legacy of previous Conservative governments’ foreign policies, key bilateral relationships with the United States, China, and Britain’s European and Indo-Pacific partners, and the perennial challenge of balancing strategic priorities against the economic constraints associated with slow growth and rising national debt. At a pivotal time in domestic politics, following Labour’s poor performance in Britain’s recent local elections, they also consider the Prime Minister’s political future and the prospects for British foreign policy of a change in the Labour leadership or a future transition to a new UK government.
S2 · E11
April 27 · 40 min
Explorations on War - Episode 11, with Rohan Mukherjee
Professor William Hurst is joined by Dr Rohan Mukherjee, Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Deputy Director of LSE IDEAS. They consider how some states may act aggressively to prove their great power status and to seek recognition from other states. They also discuss states’ need of symbolic equality, particularly those that experience a potential gap between their capabilities and the degree of respect they receive.
S2 · E10
March 23 · 40 min
Explorations on War - Episode 10, with Peter Trubowitz
Professor William Hurst is joined by Peter Trubowtiz, Professor of International Relations and Director of the Phelan US Centre at the London School of Economics. They discuss liberal versus realist approaches to war. They look at how political economy and security considerations interact, and consider how domestic politics have profound impacts upon how states behave internationally.
S2 · E9
March 9 · 41 min
Explorations on War - Episode 9, with Caroline Baxter
Professor William Hurst is joined by Caroline Baxter, Director of the Converging Risks Lab at the Council on Strategic Risks and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education and Training within the United States Office of the Secretary of Defense. They discuss the necessity of focusing on critical vulnerabilities –such as those resulting from climate change, AI, or quantum technologies– as wars continue to be fought through non-traditional means.
S2 · E8
February 23 · 42 min
Explorations on War - Episode 8, with Prof Ian Hurd
Professor William Hurst is joined by Ian Hurd, Professor of Political Science and President of the Faculty Senate at Northwestern University. They discuss how norms, laws and expectations can prevent and impact wars. They analyse how waging wars became less legally permissible in the 20th century, and how the use of new technologies developed in the 21st century have greyed legal constructs around war.
S2 · E7
February 9 · 41 min
Explorations on War - Episode 7, with Dr Lauren Sukin
Professor William Hurst is joined by Dr Lauren Sukin, the John G. Winant Associate Professor in US Foreign Policy in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. They discuss the prevention of war through deterrence and institutional arrangements, or security architectures, which increasingly face difficulties as global conflicts become more complex.
S2 · E6
January 26 · 44 min
Explorations on War - Episode 6, with Prof Jack Snyder
Professor William Hurst is joined by Jack Snyder, the Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Relations at Columbia University, to discuss confrontational diplomacy and its unintended consequences, particularly throughout the world wars. They also discuss how the offensive approach of authoritarian states leads them to struggle in the balance of power game compared to democracies.
S2 · E5
Nov 24, 2025 · 38 min
Explorations on War - Episode 5, with Dr Victoria Vdovychenko
Professor William Hurst is joined by Dr Victoria Vdovychenko, Joint Programme Leader at the Centre's Future of Ukraine Programme, to discuss how, whilst fighting for its sovereignty amidst Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine navigates democratic responsiveness to its citizens, innovation to improve its war-fighting technologies, and its international alliances.
S2 · E4
Nov 10, 2025 · 35 min
Explorations on War - Episode 4, with Lt Gen Doug Chalmers
Former British Army officer Lieutenant General Doug Chalmers — who served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy & Operations) from 2018 to 2021, and is the current Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge — joins Professor William Hurst to discuss the importance of having local and regional political understandings whilst carrying out military campaigns. They also explore how actors in war should understand their own positionalities, and reflect on how their own biases and relationships impact their knowledge and judgements.
S1 · E3
Oct 27, 2025 · 40 min
Explorations on War - Episode 3, with Lt Gen Doug Chalmers
Professor William Hurst and Lieutenant General Doug Chalmers, former British Army officer who served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy & Operations) from 2018 to 2021, and current Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge explore different concepts of war and how different types of actors initiate and prosecute conflict.
#2
Oct 13, 2025 · 42 min
Explorations on War - Episode 2, with Prof John Mearsheimer
Joined by John Mearsheimer, R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, we explore the strategic dynamics of security competition between states and how they seek to mitigate the distinct threat that war poses to their survival.
S2 · E3
Oct 3, 2025 · 42 min
Currents - President Lee Jae-myung and South Korean Foreign Policy in a time of uncertainty
John Nilsson-Wright talks to Professor Chungin Moon of Yonsei University about the foreign policy of South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung, and how Seoul is handling its ties with both Tokyo and Washington. The discussion explores tensions between South Korea and the US over tariffs, growing uncertainty regarding the US commitment to the security of the Korean peninsula, how best to manage relations with North Korea, and the increasingly cooperative partnership with Japan in the midst of a new leadership election for the presidency of Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). This podcast is part of a larger Centre for Geopolitics project, Alliances in Alignment, supported by the Korea Foundation, examining the future of trilateral cooperation between the US, South Korea and Japan.
S3 · E1
Sep 29, 2025 · 19 min
Explorations on War - Episode 1, with Prof William Hurst
Our first Explorations series takes a deeper dive into the subject of war. In this introductory episode, we begin by tracing the history of war as a concept, from ancient poetry, tragedy, and philosophy through to contemporary international relations theories. In doing so, we set the stage for some of the arguments and ideas that will be explored in greater depth across episodes to come.
S2 · E2
Aug 1, 2025 · 43 min
Currents - Trump and the Fourth Estate
John Nilsson-Wright talks to Steve Herman — until recently Voice of America’s Chief National Correspondent — about the Trump administration’s relationship with private and public media organisations in the United States. They consider the threats to democratic freedoms in the US, the role of public broadcasting domestically and as part of US foreign policy during the Cold War as well as today, and also the question of what individual citizens can do to protect their civil liberties at a critical juncture in American history.

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes