Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox hosts conversations with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts to provide insight into the latest international political issues.Independent Thinking gives listeners the opportunity to engage with the high level conversations hosted by Chatham House.
How can France survive its budget crisis?
France is facing political turmoil. The survival of Michel Barnier’s new government rests on whether he can pass a controversial budget intended to rescue the country from its huge fiscal deficit. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Sophie Pedder, the Paris Bureau Chief of The Economist, Shahin Vallée, a former advisor to Emmanuel Macron and Armida van Rij, the head of our Europe programme. Read our latest: Four scenarios for the end of the war in Ukraine Moldova and Georgia face crucial elections – and diverging paths How Beijing is closing surveillance gaps in the South China Sea Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Read the latest issue of The World Today Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.
10/18/2024 • 36 minutes, 36 seconds
Do sanctions work?
Sanctions regimes are intended to be preferable to military force as a tool of foreign policy, but do they work to change behaviour or end up hurting ordinary people? With Bronwen Maddox is Daniel W Drezner, Professor of International Politics at Tufts University, Allie Renison, Associate Director at SEC Newgate, and Chris Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America with our US and Americas Programme. Read our latest: How not to sanction | International Affairs journal Why the US–India relationship needs a healthy dose of realism What the US election means for trade policy Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Read the latest issue of The World Today Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.
10/11/2024 • 30 minutes, 38 seconds
Can there be peace for Israelis and Palestinians after 7 October?
On the first anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, we discuss the possible pathways for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Daniel Levy, the president of the US/Middle East Project. With them are Sanam Vakil, director of our Middle East and North Africa programme (MENAP) and Amjad Iraqi, a MENAP associate fellow. Read our latest: Israel needs a strategy for its place in the region that is not just attacks on current threats Israel’s wars have sustained the destructive leadership which brought it to this crisis Palestinians must be given the space to reorganize their political agency Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Read the latest issue of The World Today Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.
10/6/2024 • 34 minutes, 32 seconds
Why is Israel striking Hezbollah now?
With the Israeli military launching sustained attacks across Lebanon against Hezbollah, we explore why Israel has decided to ramp up strikes on Hezbollah now, even as the war in Gaza rages on and tensions continue to rise in the West Bank. Bronwen Maddox is joined by The Economist’s Middle East correspondent, Gregg Carlstrom. With them are Lina Khatib and Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellows with our Middle East and North Africa Programme. Read our latest: Could Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah open the way to a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities? Illicit gold is exacerbating Ethiopia’s conflicts The three key priorities new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte must get right Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Read the latest issue of The World Today Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.
9/27/2024 • 36 minutes, 15 seconds
Missile diplomacy: What is a winning strategy in Ukraine?
As Ukraine waits to hear if it can use Western missiles to strike deep into Russia, we explore the current state of the Kursk offensive and the front lines in Donbas, and ask what if any strategy might change the course of the war into 2025. Guest host James Nixey is joined by the FT’s Christopher Miller and military analyst Michael Kofman. With them is Olga Tokariuk, the OSUN academy fellow with our Ukraine Forum. Read our latest: Attacks on Hezbollah pagers will not improve Israel’s situation on its border with Lebanon The war in Sudan is intensifying. Coordinated pressure is needed to prevent the country’s fragmentation Austerity measures are on trial in Sri Lanka’s first election since its economic collapse Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Read the latest issue of The World Today Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.
9/20/2024 • 36 minutes, 52 seconds
Trump vs Harris: Did the debate change the race?
Tuesday’s debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump brought fierce exchanges over immigration, abortion and foreign policy, and showed that America's global role matters in this election. Bronwen Maddox is joined by David Weigel from Semafor and Clare Malone from the New Yorker to discuss what we learned and what to watch in the rest of the race. With them is Heather Hurlburt, associate fellow of our US and Americas programme. Read our latest: The Harris–Trump debate showed US foreign policy matters in this election The US election will take place in a polluted information space US dollar dominance is both a cause and a consequence of US power Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Read the latest issue of The World Today📕 Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe. Audio clip credit: ABC News Presidential Debate: Race for the White House
9/13/2024 • 42 minutes, 33 seconds
Are autocracies at war with democracy?
To kick off the third series of the podcast, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anne Applebaum joins Bronwen Maddox to discuss the network of autocracies that now challenge liberal democracies and the world order they once relied on. They explore how China, Russia, Iran and others cooperate, their attacks on liberal democracies – and what the rest of the world can do about it. Read our latest: Event | Why do autocrats survive? Are Ukraine’s F-16s another case of too little, too late? More and more cases on war and genocide are being litigated at the ICJ Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.