Best Institute for the Study of Diplomacy Podcasts (2025)

1
NIAS Podcast from the University of Tartu Asia Centre Kashmir Crisis: The India-Pakistan Blame Game? 42:09

Play Pause

23h ago42:09

42:09

This podcast episode, hosted by Kikee Doma Bhutia from the University of Tartu, features Nitasha Kaul, Professor of Politics, International Relations, and Critical Interdisciplinary Studies and Director of Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), University of Westminster, London, UK. The episode focuses on the Kashmir conflict between India and Pa…

1
The Pope's Spies: Yvonnick Denoël on the Vatican's Clandestine Operations 37:33

4d ago37:33

37:33

Kelly talks with Yvonnick Denoël about his new book, Vatican Spies: From the Second World War to Pope Francis, exploring the Vatican's little-known intelligence operations. Yvonnick is a French historian, publisher and intelligence specialist who has written on the CIA, Mossad, and espionage in the twentieth century. His new book uncovers a little-…

1
Tim Bouverie and the Diplomacy of World War II | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution 42:31

5d ago42:31

42:31

British historian Tim Bouverie discusses the knotty diplomatic dilemmas faced by Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin.By Hoover Institution

1
Will Popular Elections Undermine Mexico's Court System? Plus updates on South Korea, Poland, and the Sahel 48:36

11d ago48:36

48:36

Interview with David Mora on Mexico's Judicial Elections: 27:20 This week, Kelly and Tristen unpack key elections in Poland and South Korea, and examine the growing reach of an Al-Qaeda affiliate in West Africa. Kelly then sits down with David Mora to explore Mexico’s recent judicial elections and their implications for Mexican democracy and U.S.-M…

1
Amitav Acharya: Why The International Order Will Survive Western Decline 49:29

17d ago49:29

49:29

Kelly talks with Amitav Acharya about his new book The Once and Future World Order and the deep roots of global civilization beyond the West. They explore why the recent decline of American dominance doesn’t mean collapse, but a chance to build a more just, inclusive global system. Amitav Acharya is the UNESCO Chair in Transnational Challenges and …

1
NIAS Podcast from the University of Tartu Asia Centre China's Psychological Power 38:29

19d ago38:29

38:29

This podcast episode is hosted by Toomas Hanso International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS) who is talking to Urmas Hõbepappel. Urmas is an analyst at the University of Tartu Asia Centre and a researcher at the ICDS. His academic work deals with political psychology, collective identity, and history narratives in China, but this episode foc…

1
“Well, He Got Beheaded”: Caroline, Countess of Derby, on her Husband’s Family’s Illustrious History | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution 57:12

21d ago57:12

57:12

Caroline Stanley, Countess of Derby, is an English aristocrat, art historian, and philanthropist. Affectionately known as “Cazzy,” she is married to Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby, and serves as the chatelaine of Knowsley Hall, the ancestral seat of the Stanley family in Merseyside. In this conversation, which also delves into topics ranging fr…

1
Mona Yacoubian on Trump's Middle East Visit 40:11

25d ago40:11

40:11

Interview with Mona Yacoubian on Trump's Middle East Visit: 25:55 This week, Kelly and Tristen discuss President Trump’s meeting with the President of South Africa, give an update on the war in Ukraine, and unpack the UK’s new trade agreement with the European Union. Kelly then talks with Mona Yacoubian for a breakdown on Trump's recent trip to the…

1
Moisés Naím on Authoritarianism 25:28

1M ago25:28

25:28

Next up this Summer, Kelly talks with bestselling author Moisés Naím about the rise of authoritarianism around the world. Moisés Naím is an internationally syndicated columnist and best-selling author of several books, including most recently "The Revenge of Power: How Autocrats Are Reinventing Politics for the 21st Century," published in 2023. In …

1
Lines of Control: India’s Foreign Policy and China 38:11

1M ago38:11

38:11

This podcast episode, hosted by Kikee Doma Bhutia from the University of Tartu, features journalist and analyst Aadil Brar discussing India's foreign policy amidst rising global tensions. The conversation focuses on India’s balancing act between the US, China, and its own strategic autonomy in a contested Indo-Pacific region. Key topics include Ind…

1
Statecraft In An Age Of Strongmen | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution 1:06:04

1M ago1:06:04

1:06:04

In this unique return visit to Secrets of Statecraft, New York Times columnist Bret Stephens discusses why defending Ukraine is in America’s interest, and reflects on the perils of Western flirtation with authoritarian figures. Recorded on May 16, 2025.By Hoover Institution

1
Sameer Lalwani on India-Pakistan tensions 37:28

1M ago37:28

37:28

Interview with Sameer Lalwani on India-Pakistan: 21:30 This week, Kelly and Tristen digest the recent elections in Australia and President Putin's WWII victory day parade, and remember the life and legacy of legendary IR scholar Joseph Nye. Kelly then talks with to Sameer Lalwani for an update on recent tensions between India and Pakistan. Sameer L…

1
Patricia Owens: A History of International Thought without Men 39:18

1M ago39:18

39:18

In the first episode of our summer series, Kelly talks with Oxford University Professor Patricia Owens about her new book "Erased: A History of International Thought Without Men." Kelly and Patricia discuss how women and minority voices were erased from the early cannon of interntional relations, what that means for the practice of IR, and how the …

1
Remus Ștefureac on Romania’s Election Rerun 41:23

2M ago41:23

41:23

Interview with Remus Ștefureac on the upcoming Romanian election - 20:05 Read more about Tristen Naylor, Kelly's new co-host, on our website: https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/tristen-naylor/ Kelly and Tristen delve into Pope Francis's legacy, analyze the results of the Canadian election, and examine how India is navigating trade tensions between …

1
The empathy fix: Why poverty persists and how to change it 46:57

2M ago46:57

46:57

A poverty line of $6.85 a day, as used by the World Bank, indicates a substantial level of deprivation, impacting the lives of billions globally. Indeed, nearly half of the World’s population falls into this category. So, if poverty is something we all want to see less of, why does it prove so difficult to tackle and can empathy help fix it? In thi…

1
Daniel Samet on the Realpolitik Behind US-Israeli Relations | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution 51:53

2M ago51:53

51:53

A new book, U.S. Defense Policy toward Israel: A Cold War History, takes on the revisionists over what happened in the Cold War. Recorded on April 16, 205.By Hoover Institution

1
Political Mythmaking in Nepal 31:27

2M ago31:27

31:27

How and why do local political processes in rural Nepal become an arena for political mythmaking? And, how do political myths obscure their own historical construction, thereby making hierarchical power structures appear inevitable? In this episode we discuss these questions with Ankita Shrestha whose ethnographic explorations into these issues for…

1
Mélanie Gouby on the Conflict in the DRC 34:52

2M ago34:52

34:52

Interview with Mélanie Gouby on conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - 19:40 Read more about Tristen Naylor, Kelly's new co-host, on our website: https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/tristen-naylor/ Kelly and Tristen break down the Trump administration’s new tariffs, the revival of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, and Ecuador’s recent presidentia…

1
Studying Myanmar in Times of Crises 26:11

2M ago26:11

26:11

How do we to study Myanmar when access to the country is so difficulty? In this episode, Kristina Kironska and Monika Verma from the Myanmar Studies Center at Palacký University Olomouc in the Czech Republic share their insights. Kristina Kironska is a socially engaged interdisciplinary academic with experience in election observation, research, an…

1
Jeremi Suri on History & the Policymaker 30:32

2M ago30:32

30:32

For our sixth episode of "History and our Current World," Jeremi Suri joins Kelly to discuss how policymakers can effectively use historical analogies without falling into the trap of oversimplification. They discuss how examining multiple historical cases rather than relying on a single analogy like Munich or Vietnam can result in better policy ou…

1
Queering the Asian Diaspora 35:30

3M ago35:30

35:30

Have you ever heard of the Chinese gay god, the Rabbit god? How did queer Chinese artists use this icon in reclaiming their own stories, while resisting and persisting through Covid-19? And, how can art be a space for fighting back against national hegemony? In this episode, Hongwei Bao discusses these questions with Kukasina Kubaha. Hongwei Bao is…

1
Alper Coşkun on Türkiye’s Crisis of Democracy 36:12

3M ago36:12

36:12

Interview with Alper Coşkun on Türkiye's political crisis - 21:10 This week is our third episode with Kelly's new co-host, Tristen Naylor, a non-resident fellow at ISD. Read more about Tristen on our website: https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/tristen-naylor/ Kelly and Tristen give updates on renewed fighting in Gaza and how domestic Israeli politi…

1
Motorcycles and Meritocracies with Governor Mitch Daniels | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution 47:02

3M ago47:02

47:02

Mitch Daniels is the former Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan, the former Governor of Indiana, and the former President of Purdue University. He discusses his life, his influences, and his passion for hogs (of the Harley-Davidson variety). Recorded on March 21, 2025.…

1
Humanitarian diplomacy in a world gone mad 30:18

3M ago30:18

30:18

Humanitarian diplomacy is a broad landscape and possibly one with internal contradictions. For example, traditionally humanitarian agencies have sought to distance themselves from mediation and human rights activism. The concept of humanitarian diplomacy requires at least an end to these silos. But how is the distance to be managed? In this special…

1
Daniel Immerwahr on America's Hidden Empire 32:53

3M ago32:53

32:53

For our fifth episode of "History and our Current World," Daniel Immerwahr joins Kelly to uncover how U.S. foreign policy has been shaped by a hidden history of territorial expansion. They dive into the myths surrounding the U.S. "logo map" and overlooked overseas territories, and discuss how a selective understanding of this history impacts our fo…

1
General Lord Dannatt on the Korean War | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution 47:51

3M ago47:51

47:51

The former head of the British Army, Richard Dannatt, discusses an important war that is often forgotten. Recorded on February 6, 2025.By Hoover Institution

1
India in the Global Attention Economy 24:47

3M ago24:47

24:47

What is the global attention economy, and how does this perspective help us make sense of the relationship between India and the Global North? In this episode, we discuss these issues, focusing particularly on the current and oftentimes critical coverage of Indian politics and democracy in the western media. Our guest is Harish Pedaprolu from the U…

1
Canada, Ukraine, and South Sudan, plus Nick Thompson on Undersea Cable Attacks 42:30

3M ago42:30

42:30

Interview with Nick Thompson on Undersea Cables - 22:20 This week is our second episode with Kelly's new co-host, Tristen Naylor, a non-resident fellow at ISD. Read more about Tristen on our website: https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/tristen-naylor/ Kelly and Tristen analyze the recent conflict in South Sudan and Canadian politics, as well as the …

1
Jason Steinhauer on How Historians Must Adapt to Social Media 36:00

3M ago36:00

36:00

For our fourth episode of "History and our Current World," Kelly welcomes author Jason Steinhauer to explore how social media has impacted historical narratives. They dive into the idea of "e-History" and how social media has made it harder for professional historians to cut through the noise in an age where misinformation is constantly competing f…

1
Social Death by Debt: China's Lending Boom Reshapes Lives 15:39

4M ago15:39

15:39

China's household debt has exploded from 11% of GDP in 2006 to over 62% today—a profound transformation in a traditionally savings-focused society. How is this reshaping social relationships and daily life? In this episode, Dr. Jiaqi Guo from the University of Turku reveals findings from her corpus analysis of China's largest debt support forum. He…

1
Syria, Germany, the G20, and Edward Fishman on Ukraine 1:10:05

4M ago1:10:05

1:10:05

Interview with Edward Fishman on Ukarine & Russia - 40:50 This week, Kelly introduces our new co-host, Tristen Naylor, a non-resident fellow at ISD. Read more about Tristen on our website: https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/tristen-naylor/ Kelly and Tristen analyze recent developments in German and Syrian politics and the recent G20 summit in South…

1
Strategies for building solidarities for gender justice 44:05

4M ago44:05

44:05

Significant progress on gender equality has been made in past decades, but in recent years gender and sexual rights have become increasingly under threat from a global wave of backlash. In this special podcast to celebrate International Women’s Day, IDS Fellow Deepta Chopra is in conversation with gender experts Myriam Sfeir, Director of the Arab I…

1
Katie Stallard on Mythmaking & History in Russia, China, and North Korea 46:41

4M ago46:41

46:41

For our third episode of "History and our Current World," Kelly welcomes journalist Katie Stallard to explore how historical mythmaking shapes foreign policy. We examine how Russia, China & North Korea have manipulated national narratives to legitimize their global ambitions and create powerful collective identities. Katie is a senior editor for Ch…

1
Nordic Style on Chinese Social Media: Misinformation, Consumerism, and Digital Discourse 19:17

4M ago19:17

19:17

How does social media shape perceptions of global cultural trends? On Chinese platforms like WeChat, the concept of Nordic Style (北欧风) has been widely adopted—but often in an oversimplified and commercialized form. In this episode of the Nordic Asia Podcast, Dr. Heidi Hui Shi discusses her research on digital misinformation and the portrayal of Nor…

1
Omar Mahmood on Somaliland's Political Future 31:30

4M ago31:30

31:30

Interview with Omar Mahmood on Somaliland - 16:40 This week, Kelly sits down with International Crisis Group Senior Analyst Omar Mahmood for an in-depth look at Somaliland's history and quest for international recognition. Before that, he and Freddie discuss Trump's USAID cuts, political turmoil in the Philippines, and Ecuador's presidential electi…

1
Margaret Macmillan: Why Does History Matter? 41:18

4M ago41:18

41:18

For our first full episode of Season 8, Kelly is joined by Margaret MacMillan to discuss the importance of history in shaping the behavior of individuals, politicians, and entire societies. Margaret MacMillan is an emeritus professor of History at the University of Toronto and an emeritus professor of International History at Oxford University. She…

1
Finlandization to ‘Finland Boom‘ in Japan: Finland’s Public Diplomacy in Japan 23:24

5M ago23:24

23:24

Finland, a minor player on the international arena and burdened with the tag of ‘Finlandization’ during much of the post-WWII period, has won surprisingly positive visibility and a strong nation brand in the far-off Japan in the 2000’s. How has such a transformation of a small state’s reputation been possible? In this episode, Dr. Laura Ipatti, Pos…

1
Liana Fix on Germany’s Political Crisis 30:17

5M ago30:17

30:17

Interview with Liana Fix on Germany - 16:00 NOTE: This episode was recorded before the ceasefire in the DRC began to break down. This week, Kelly sits down with Council on Foreign Relations fellow Liana Fix for an update on Germany's political crisis just weeks ahead of the federal elections. Before that, Kelly and Freddie break down the release of…

1
Jon Meacham on What Makes a Great President | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution 1:05:06

5M ago1:05:06

1:05:06

America’s foremost presidential historian examines the motivations and careers of Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and George H. W. Bush. Recorded on January 24, 2025.By Hoover Institution

1
Season 8 Preview: History and our Current World 4:29

5M ago4:29

4:29

This week, Kelly teases the upcoming season of Diplomatic Immunity, titled "History and our Current World." The new series explores how history shapes foreign affairs—from the lessons of the Treaty of Versailles to the myths fueling conflicts in Ukraine and the South China Sea. Don’t miss our next episode on February 13th, when Kelly interviews ren…

1
Evidence for hope: The emerging sustainability revolution 47:34

5M ago47:34

47:34

Understanding and advancing how evidence can be used to inform decisions to improve people’s lives is a crucial priority for IDS. This is especially important for evidence-led solutions that need to balance between social, economic, and environmental domains to achieve sustainability. In this podcast James Georgalakis, Director of Evidence and Impa…

1
India’s Land Mafia: A Discussion with Chiara Arnavas 22:38

5M ago22:38

22:38

Who and what are India’s land mafia? How do they operate, and why have they become so crucial to India’s land market? In this episode, we are joined by Chiara Arnavas for a discussion on the emergence over the past decades of a dynamic Indian land mafia that is centrally involved in moving land around, freeing it up for new uses, and passing it ont…

1
Mona Yacoubian on Syria: HTS's Rise and Reconstruction Ahead 23:09

5M ago23:09

23:09

Interview with Mona Yacoubian on Syria — 10:57 This week, Kelly interviews Mona Yacoubian from the U.S. Institute of Peace to provide insights into Syria's future, focusing on the rise of HTS, reconstruction challenges, and the role of international actors. Before that, Kelly and Freddie cover the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire a…

1
Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the Threat to the West | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution 50:53

5M ago50:53

50:53

The bravest of all the free speech campaigners, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, speaks out eloquently on tribalism, Islam, immigration, Trump, her conversion to Christianity, and what it’s like being married to a quite well-known historian.By Hoover Institution

1
Richard Fontaine: The Russo-Chinese Alliance & U.S. Foreign Policy 31:38

5M ago31:38

31:38

To kick off 2025, Kelly talks with Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for New American Security, about his new report with the Council on Foreign Relations: No Limits? The China-Russia Relationship and U.S. Foreign Policy. Richard is the chief executive officer of the Center for a New American Security. Prior to CNAS, Richard was a foreign policy …

1
Willingness for climate action in South Korea and Finland: A cross-cultural comparison 42:28

5M ago42:28

42:28

Climate change is among the most significant challenges facing modern society, and it impacts everyone across the world. How do people in different socio-cultural contexts perceive the climate crisis, and how willing are they to engage in climate-related action? In this episode, we will compare perceptions about climate change and willingness for c…

Institute For The Study Of Diplomacy Podcasts