CSIS Podcasts

In this episode we are joined by Vilas Dhar, President and Trustee of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a 21st century $1.5 billion philanthropy advancing AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. We discuss his background (1:26), the foundation and its approach to AI philanthropy (4:11), building public sector capacity in AI (13:00), the definition of AI governance (20:07), ongoing multilateral governance efforts (23:01), how liberal and authoritarian norms affect AI (28:35), and what the future of AI might look like (30:30).

How can Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) be better utilized to accomplish U.S. strategic objectives? Recently, the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative released their latest brief: Countering China and Russia: The Hidden Advantages of Women, Peace, and Security. To discuss the findings of the report, Dr. Kathleen McInnis was joined by Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, Director, RAND Women, Peace, and Security Initiative, and Monica S. Herrera, Acting Director for International Humanitarian Policy and Senior Gender Advisor, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, U.S. Department of Defense.

This week Mike hosts Jude for a final goodbye episode to get Jude's synopsis of the China watching fields ability to understand China, what they have rightly predicted, what has been missed, Beijing's politics, and many other topics discussed in previous episodes.

In this episode of Pekingology which aired on Dec. 10, 2020, Jude Blanchette talks to Jörg Wuttke, the president of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, to discuss the expanding power and influence of state-owned enterprises in China's economy.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Mohammad Ali Shabani, editor of Amwaj.media, a London-based news site focusing on Iran, Iraq, and the Arabian Peninsula countries. Together, they discuss Iran’s regional strategy and the choices Iran has after a year of rising regional tensions. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Martin Pimentel and Will Todman to discuss what the new U.S. administration will mean for Iran, its conflict with Israel, and its relations with the United States.  Transcript, "Mohammad Ali Shabani: Iran After October 7," CSIS, November 12, 2024.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we give our first reactions to the reelection of Donald Trump and speculate about what trade and economic policy will look like in the next administration.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Juliana Rubio on her report with Andrea Casique, The Burgeoning Regional Appeal of Mano Dura Crime-Fighting Strategies.

In this episode, Mariana speaks with Alan Stoga, Chairman of the Tallberg Foundation and Host of the New Thinking for a New World podcast, about the importance of the U.S. elections, the state of U.S. politics and about the difference in trade, migration and economic policies of the two candidates. They also discuss the impact of the different policies could have in Mexico and the space Mexico’s new President, Claudia Sheinbaum, will have to navigate under each of the two candidates.

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Mr. Jon Czin joins us to discuss domestic dynamics and leadership decisionmaking within the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC). Mr. Czin discusses what is currently missing in the conversation within the United States on Chinese politics and the fact that many analysts failed to predict the scope and concentration of power that President Xi Jinping would be able to garner. He describes his humanistic approach to studying decisionmaking by Chinese leadership, attempting to look at issues through the eyes of Xi Jinping and the context within China in which Xi makes these decisions. Mr. Czin discusses his impression of Xi Jinping and both how and why he is vastly different from his predecessors, using Xi’s unique past as a primary reason for his style of leadership. He speaks to Xi’s focus on domestic and party issues, such as widespread corruption, and discusses what he sees as the limited connection that exists currently between China’s internal dynamics and its foreign policy. Mr. Czin shares his assessment that China has arrived as a defining force in the geopolitical environment and in 10 to 20 years China will continue to have the capacity and the will to be a formidable rival to the United States. Finally, he discusses what he sees as China’s view of the United State’s internal dynamics and the upcoming presidential election. Mr. Jonathan A. Czin is the Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies at Brookings Institution and a fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center. He is a former member of the Senior Analytic Service at CIA, where he was one of the intelligence community’s top China experts. Jon led the intelligence community’s analysis of Chinese politics and policymaking, playing a central role in assessing and briefing senior policymakers on President Xi Jinping, his rise to power, and decisionmaking on an array of key issues and crises. From 2021 till 2023, he was director for China at the National Security Council, where he advised on, staffed, and coordinated White House and inter-agency diplomacy with the People’s Republic of China, including all of President Biden’s interactions with President Xi, and played a leading role in addressing a wide range of global China issues. He also served as advisor for Asia-Pacific security affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and overseas at a CIA field station in Southeast Asia. He holds a master’s in international relations from Yale University, graduated magna cum laude from Haverford College, and studied at Oxford University. He is proficient in Mandarin Chinese.

Greg and Elina are joined by Andreyka Natalegawa and Lauren Mai to discuss the Southeast Asia Program’s newest report on climate transitions throughout ASEAN. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest, from the iCon pyramid scheme in Malaysia to Lee family turmoil in Singapore.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Michael J. Green on his report with Derek Mitchell, Democracy, Human Rights, and American Grand Strategy: Toward a Bipartisan Consensus.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Scott Busby on his brief, “Whither the United States on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights?”

After last week’s ASEAN Summit in Laos, Greg and Elina are joined by Susannah Patton to discuss the key takeaways. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest, from former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s return to politics to how Southeast Asian nations are trying to evacuate their citizens as the Middle East conflict escalates.

In this episode, Mariana speaks with Carlos Peyrelongue, head of Mexico Equity Research for Bank of America, about the state of the country that President Claudia Sheinbaum has inherited from her predecessor, about the parting gift he left—a judicial reform that weakens certainty and the rule of law, and about how the markets will read certain markers to determine whether or not she will rule based on data or ideology. They also discuss the measures she will need to take in order to create the necessary conditions to attract investments to grow, to fund the country’s infrastructure needs, as well as the government’s growing spending commitments. And, about the most likely scenarios for U.S.-Mexico relations in light of the upcoming USMCA renegotiation.

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Taylor Fravel, Dr. George Gilboy, and Dr. Eric Heginbotham join us to discuss their recent article assessing China's defense budget. They challenge widely cited figures that estimate China's defense spending at $700 billion and provide an apples-to-apples analysis based on purchasing power parity. They assess China's defense spending is around $470 billion, about one-third of the U.S. defense budget, and detail what categories they included and excluded. The conversation explores the analytical shortcomings of current estimates, emphasizing the need for appropriate exchange rates and like-for-like item comparisons between China's and the U.S.'s defense budgets. They also discuss China's military priorities and modernization efforts and key factors that may determine the future trajectory of Chinese defense spending.    Dr. M. Taylor Fravel is the Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science and director of the Security Studies Program at MIT, specializing in international security with a focus on China and East Asia. He is the author of Strong Borders, Secure Nation and Active Defense: China's Military Strategy Since 1949, with numerous publications in leading journals like International Security and Foreign Affairs. A Rhodes Scholar and Andrew Carnegie Fellow, he holds degrees from Middlebury, Stanford, LSE, and Oxford. Fravel also serves on the board of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and leads the Maritime Awareness Project.   Dr. George J. Gilboy is a senior fellow at the Center for International Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). George concurrently heads Woodside Energy’s Tokyo office. From 2013 to 2018, George was chief economist and vice president of business environment in Perth, leading Woodside’s corporate forecasting team. George lived and worked in China from 1994 to 2013 in roles with Woodside, Shell, Cambridge Energy Research, and Tsinghua University. George holds a BA from Boston College and a PhD in political economy from MIT.   Dr. Eric Heginbotham is a principal research scientist at MIT’s Center for International Studies and a specialist in Asian security issues. Before joining MIT, he was a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, where he led research projects on China, Japan, and regional security issues and regularly briefed senior military, intelligence, and political leaders. Prior to that he was a senior fellow of Asian Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. After graduating from Swarthmore College, Heginbotham earned his PhD in political science from MIT. He is fluent in Chinese and Japanese and was a captain in the US Army Reserve.

Ahead of Prabowo Subianto’s inauguration, Greg and Elina unpack the latest updates from Indonesia with Ben Bland. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest: from Singapore’s former Transport Minister S. Iswaran’s corruption case to Cambodia pulling out of the CLV-DTA project.

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor joins us to discuss the evolving relationship between Russia and China. Dr. Kendall-Taylor discusses the broader geopolitical factors driving Russia’s desire to strengthen ties with China. She analyzes Russia’s increasing dependence on China in the context of its war in Ukraine, and recent reports that China may be providing lethal aid to Russia. Dr. Kendall-Taylor also explores the dynamics between Putin and Xi, highlighting how their close relationship shapes the strategic coordination between the two countries. Finally, Dr. Kendall-Taylor addresses potential challenges for Europe and the United States in responding to this growing alignment. Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor is a senior fellow and director of the Transatlantic Security Program at CNAS, specializing in national security issues, particularly regarding Russia, authoritarianism, and the transatlantic alliance. She previously served as deputy national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council (NIC) in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). She also served as a senior analyst at the CIA, focusing on Russia, autocratic regimes, and democratic decline. Outside CNAS, she is a distinguished practitioner in grand strategy at Yale’s Jackson School, and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Her work has appeared in numerous prominent journals including Journal of Peace Research, Democratization, Journal of Democracy, Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, The Washington Quarterly, and Foreign Policy. She holds a BA from Princeton and a PhD from UCLA. Kendall-Taylor was also a Fulbright scholar in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we talk about the BRICS Summit and efforts to move away from dollar dominance, the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers' Meeting, and a new study from the Peterson Institute's Robert Lawrence that assesses recent U.S. efforts to re-shore manufacturing jobs.

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by Muyang Chen, Assistant Professor of International Development at Peking University’s School of International Studies. They discuss her new book The Latecomer's Rise: Policy Banks and the Globalization of China's Development Finance (Cornell University Press, 2024).   Enroll in the Flashpoints and Future of the U.S.-China Relationship course at cs.is/uschinacourse.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Amjad Iraqi, a senior editor at +972 Magazine and an associate fellow with Chatham House. He is also affiliated with Al-Shabaka, an online Palestinian policy network. Together, they discuss how Palestinian citizens of Israel have been experiencing the Gaza war, and the future of Palestinian communities in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss how virtual communities influence national political movements. Transcript, "Amjad Iraqi: The Future of Palestinians in Israel," CSIS, October 29, 2024.

This week Mike and Jude are joined by Aaron Connelly, Asia diplomatic editor and senior Asia correspondent at The Economist, where he writes about geopolitics and security across Asia. They discuss his recent Adelphi Series book New Answers to Old Questions: Myanmar Before and After the 2021 Coup D’État.

This week, the Trade Guys recorded their show live at the National Small Business Exporter Summit hosted by NASBITE International. They talk U.S. elections and the services economy, then field questions from the audience.

Last week, Israeli forces killed Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and one of the main architects of the October 7th attack. Less than a month earlier, Israel assassinated Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah for the last three decades. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about how recent events have impacted Israel’s trajectory.    Jon Alterman, "What Does Yahya Sinwar’s Death Mean?" CSIS, October 17, 2024.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we preview the upcoming 2026 renewal of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), dig into the Nobel-winning work on the importance of societal institutions for a country’s prosperity, and discuss the return of pandas from China to the National Zoo.

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by Mark Leonard, co-founder and director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. He is also the Henry A Kissinger chair in foreign policy and international relations at the US Library of Congress, Washington DC. They discuss his recently co-authored book The Idea of China: Chinese Thinkers on Power, Progress, and People. (European Council on Foreign Relations, 2024)

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Lina Khatib, an associate fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, which she led for seven years and where they first met. Together, they discuss the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, its regional impacts, and the emerging vacuum in Lebanese politics. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert to discuss the challenges of creating a comprehensive U.S. strategy in the Middle East and the ways Great Power competition affects the region’s conflicts.  Transcript, "Lina Khatib: War Spreads to Lebanon," CSIS, October 15, 2024.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we look at two recent pieces of note. Check out "Making Tariffs Great Again: Does President Trump Have Legal Authority to Implement New Tariffs on U.S. Trading Partners and China?" by Warren Maruyama, Lyric Galvin, and William A. Reinsch, as well as "Did supply chains deliver pandemic-era inflation?" by Phil Levy.

One year after the tragedy of October 7th, Israel has launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon to counter Hezbollah. Although it remains unclear how far Israel intends to send troops into Lebanon, Israel has issued a new evacuation order that reaches farther north than previous orders. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the invasion and the likelihood of escalation. Jon Alterman, "Seizing Middle East Opportunities," CSIS, September 30, 2024.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we unpack the ramifications of the port strike currently impacting the East Coast and Gulf. Next, we look at U.S.-India collaboration on critical minerals and semiconductors, as well as the recently delayed EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by Minxin Pei, Tom and Margot Pritzker '72 Professor of Government and George R. Roberts Fellow at Claremont McKenna College. He is also editor of the China Leadership Monitor. They discuss his recent book The Sentinel State: Surveillance and the Survival of Dictatorship in China. (Harvard University Press, 2024)

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Peter Schwartzstein, an environmental journalist who reports on water, food security, and the conflict-climate nexus in around 30 countries, mainly in the Middle East and Africa. Together, they discuss Mr. Schwartzstein's new book, The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence, as well as the outlook for climate adaptation in the Middle East, and the ways in which environmental initiatives can build peace in the region. Then, Leah Hickert continues the conversation with Will Todman and Natasha Hall to discuss how international donors and local civil society groups help Middle Eastern governments adapt to climate change.  Transcript, "Peter Schwartzstein: Climate Violence in the Middle East," CSIS, October 1, 2024.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we dive into the economic records and agendas of the two major presidential candidates. We also cover the Commerce Department's proposed ban on the import and sale of connected vehicle technologies from China and Russia.

On September 23rd, Israeli airstrikes killed more than 180 Lebanese in the country’s deadliest day of conflict since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. This is one of the most recent developments in the ongoing escalation between Israel and Hezbollah. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about why this escalation is occurring and possible off-ramps for the violence. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program. Jon Alterman, "Israel-Hezbollah Escalation," CSIS, September 24, 2024.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we are lucky to be joined by Scott Kennedy, the Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS. Discussion topics include the origins of China's economic downturn, Taiwanese investment in China, and what the future may hold for the world's second-largest economy and its trade relationships.

Mariana and Andrew are joined by Billy Blaustein, the co-founder and COO of Vammo, a Brazilian electric mobility company. The trio discusses Billy’s journey from consulting to entrepreneurship, his experience launching a business in Brazil, and his mission to electrify the vehicles of Latin America.

Andrew and Mariana sit down with Jacqueline Novogratz, founder and CEO of Acumen, a pioneering nonprofit venture capital fund. Jacqueline shares her journey from Wall Street to working in Africa’s most underserved communities, offering insights on how entrepreneurship, combined with the power of markets and philanthropy, can drive meaningful and lasting change in the fight against poverty.

International diplomatic and economic pressure on Maduro will be decisive in determining whether his ongoing attempts to steal the results of Venezuela's July 28 election will prevail, or if there is potential for change ahead of the official inauguration in January 2025. While the United States has condemned the results in Venezuela, regional heavyweights like Brazil have taken a different approach, refusing to officially recognize Maduro as the victor, but simultaneously avoiding harsh criticism of the regime’s actions. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Thiago de Aragão, a senior associate with CSIS and CEO of Arko Advice, a political risk analysis firm based in Brazil. Together, they discuss the international community's response to developments in Venezuela, with a specific focus on Brazil's approach. They also unpack the international implications of Maduro's electoral fraud for the Western Hemisphere as a whole, and Venezuela's efforts to join the BRICS grouping.

Dr. Kathleen McInnis sat down with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for a conversation on her new memoir, where she reflects on her time in Congress. Additionally, the pair discusses the current and future U.S. landscape, including what the U.S. should be doing to counter China’s aggressive authoritarian expansionism and more.

Mvemba is joined by Kemi Okenyondo, the Founder/Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria, to discuss accountability for Nigeria's military and police and security issues in the country.

An off-chance encounter as an intern transformed Funmi’s life several years later when someone she networked with early in her career thought of her down the line and offered her a job. Funmi Oludaiye, Managing Director (Global Head of Engineering) at Goldman Sachs, discusses how she advanced her career in STEM through hard work, mentorship, and relationship building.

Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments — created Ariel Alternatives, the first private equity subsidiary of the 40-year-old investment firm, alongside its current CEO Les Brun. On this Smart Women, Smart Power episode, Mellody joins Dr. Kathleen McInnis for a discussion on how she strives to close the racial wealth gap and create a better public understanding of financial literacy.   This episode is made possible through general support to Smart Women, Smart Power.

This week Mike and Jude are joined by Rick Waters, managing director of Eurasia Group's China practice. Rick previously served as the US State Department's top China policy official, overseeing the creation of the Office of China Coordination, informally known as the China House, and concurrently serving as deputy assistant secretary of state for China and Taiwan.

In this episode, Mariana and Andrew are joined by the "mother" of cognitive experience design, Joanna Pena-Bickley. Joanna is a design engineer who created one of the first video streaming players, invented AI-powered Alexa devices for Amazon, and recently founded her own company, Vibes.AI. The group discusses Joanna's journey to becoming a pioneer in generative AI, her outlook for the future of artificial intelligence, and her advice for aspiring Latina entrepreneurs.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Eliot A. Cohen and Phillips O’Brien on their report, The Russia-Ukraine War: A Study in Analytic Failure.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Ilaria Mazzocco and Rubi Bledsoe on their brief with Ryan C. Berg, “Driving Change: How EVs Are Reshaping China’s Economic Relationship with Latin America.”

In recent years, feminist foreign policy has emerged as a transformative approach to international relations, focusing on the promotion of gender equality, human rights, and inclusive governance on the global stage. One of the key drivers of feminist foreign policy is its ability to reshape the way states interact with one another. Unlike traditional policies that often prioritize military strength or economic power, feminist foreign policy places emphasis on cooperation, dialogue, and addressing the root causes of conflict—such as inequality and exclusion.  In this episode, Juliana Rubio sits down with Ambassador Arlene B. Tickner, Colombia's Ambassador At-Large for Gender Issues and Feminist Global Policy. Together, they discuss the origins and implementation of Colombia's feminist foreign policy agenda. They also analyze how Colombia's approach to human security represents an important counter-narrative to mano dura hardline security policies in the region.

Greg unpacks the latest updates from Myanmar with Jack Myint and Andreyka Natalegawa. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest from the region: from the Kanlaon volcano in the Philippines to mpox cases throughout Southeast Asia.

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by Kharis Templeman, Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution and the manager of the Project on Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Region. He is also a Lecturer at the Center for East Asian Studies at Stanford University. They discuss Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te administration, and the strategy Beijing may adopt to govern its relations with the Taipei.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, a columnist for The National, and a regular contributor to The Atlantic. Together, they discuss popular mobilization across the Middle East since October 7th and what it indicates about regional politics. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss why some regimes chose to co-opt rather than suppress protest movements, and the ways in which the Arab world’s protests over Gaza differ from those in the past. Transcript, "Hussein Ibish: Popular Mobilization Since October 7," CSIS, September 17, 2024.

This week Mike and Jude are joined by David Capie, Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies and Professor of International Relations at the Victoria University of Wellington. They discuss New Zealand’s transitioning approach to its regional relationships.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we discuss the Commerce Department's recent export controls on quantum computing and other advanced technologies, a new report on European economic competitiveness from Mario Draghi, and reporting that the Biden Administration plans to block Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel.  Want to learn more about the intricacies of Washington? Sign up for Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People, a CSIS executive education course featuring Trade Guy Scott Miller.

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Michael Davidson joins us to discuss China’s energy security. Dr. Davidson gives an overview of China’s energy landscape and compares it to that of other countries, such as the United States. He explains how China’s energy priorities have evolved throughout the last decade, especially in response to factors such as climate change and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Dr. Davidson emphasizes the effects that the 2021 and 2022 power shortages in China had on senior Chinese leadership and the resulting elevation in importance of energy security, specifically in the power sector. Additionally, Dr. Davidson discusses China’s challenge in balancing energy security with its goals of reducing emissions and the resulting expanded definition of what energy security encompasses. Finally, Dr. Davidson speaks to how China’s evolving energy security affects its foreign policy and the potential risks for the U.S. and other countries in collaborating with China on clean energy.   Dr. Michael Davidson is an assistant professor at the School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department of the Jacobs School of Engineering. Michael Davidson’s research focuses on the engineering implications and institutional conflicts inherent in deploying renewable energy at scale. He is particularly interested in China’s energy system, which he has studied for over 15 years. Dr. Davidson was previously the U.S.-China Climate Policy Coordinator for the environmental nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). He was a Public Intellectuals Program Fellow at the National Committee of U.S.-China Relations, is a current fellow with the Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations, and a former Fulbright Scholar. Prior to joining UC San Diego, Davidson was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center’s Environment and Natural Resources Program. He received his Ph.D. in engineering systems and a masters in Technology and Policy from MIT.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Joseph Majkut on his white paper with Jane Nakano, "Strategic Equilibrium: The United States’ Manufacturing Resurgence and the Role of Natural Gas in a Carbon-Competitive World."

Last week, the Israeli military recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in Gaza. According to Israeli authorities, more than 60 living hostages, and the bodies of approximately 35 others taken captive during the Hamas-led attack on October 7th, are still in Gaza. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program and executive director of the CSIS Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention, about the tactics and implications of the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Scott Kennedy on his report with Andrea Leonard Palazzi, Diversifying, Not Decoupling: Taiwanese Industry Responds to Geostrategic Risks.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we look at how diverse countries from around the world are managing their respective trade relationships with China. Topics include the recent Canadian tariffs on Chinese EVs, the EU's trade connections with China, and why de-risking in India may not mean a clean break from China.  Want to learn more about the intricacies of Washington? Sign up for Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People, a CSIS executive education course featuring Trade Guy Scott Miller.

In this episode of Building the Future, Romina Bandura is joined by Chris Burns, Chief Digital Development Officer for USAID and the Director of the Technology Division, to discuss USAID’s work on digital development and dive deeper into USAID’s 10-year Digital Strategy for 2024-2034.

Bound together by geography, commerce, and cultural ties, the Caribbean region is often referred to as the United States “third border.” For this reason, the security challenges that impact the Caribbean should also be front-of-mind for the United States, especially as Caribbean countries face rising levels of violence and instability, fueled by the drug trade. Growing criminal violence, endemic corruption, and the growth of illicit industries present not just a public safety challenge, they increasingly threaten the very sovereignty and stability of Caribbean governments. In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, Senior Associate with the CSIS Americas Program. Together, they discuss his book Challenged Sovereignty: The Impact of Drugs, Crime, Terrorism, and Cyber Threats in the Caribbean. They discuss longstanding security issues facing Caribbean countries from drug and arms trafficking, as well as emergent challenges like cybercrime and terrorism.

Dr. Jerome Adams authored his 2023 memoire, Crisis and Chaos: Lessons from the Front Lines of the War Against COVID-19. In it, he reflects on his upbringing in southern Maryland and the acute “hurting” among many citizens, rural and poor, dissatisfied with the status quo. Profoundly impactful to his tenure as Indiana State Health Commissioner was managing the opioid, Hepatitis C, and HIV outbreaks in Scott County, IN. As U.S. Surgeon General, he carried forward his enduring commitment to the overdose reversal drug, naloxone. During Covid, politics and toxic partisanship severely hampered the US response. “We keep playing whack-a-mole.” Upgraded communications were urgently needed. The attacks from within the Trump White House upon Dr. Fauci were paralleled by attacks on public health officials at state and local levels. Give a listen to learn more.

Greg and Elina unpack the latest political developments in Thailand with Pongkwan “PK” Sawasdipakdi. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest: from Alice Guo’s arrest to Pope Francis’ region-wide visit.

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by David Hoffman, Senior Advisor with the China Center for Economics & Business at The Conference Board The Conference Board, and non-resident Senior Associate with the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS. They discuss China’s economy, political economy, and evolving business environment.

Since its inception in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) brings together an annual cohort of established African youth leaders for an immersive six-week leadership program at U.S. colleges and universities. The fellowship culminates in a summit where participants network and engage in high-level workshops.  MWF is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative, designed to empower and connect the continent’s mst promising leaders. The Mandela Washington Fellows bring their leadership, expertise, and passion to this highly selective fellowship with interests ranging from environmentalism to gender equity to sustainable development and the creative arts.   In this episode of Into Africa, Mvemba is joined by three distinguished MWF alumni who share their experiences and insights from the fellowship, as well as their professional journeys. Sarah Funmilayo Kuponiyi, founder and CEO of Alora Reusable Pads in Nigeria, advocates for menstrual hygiene and gender empowerment. Tefetso Nicolus Kele, a lawyer from Lesotho, focuses on sustainable finance, international trade, and investment law. Pape Mamadou Camara, a communications specialist from Senegal, is passionate about the arts and the transformative power of hip hop as well as fighting desertification in Africa through the “Green Wall”.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Isabelle Werenfels, a senior fellow in the Middle East and Africa Division of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. Together, they discuss how North African states are asserting their newly found leverage over European states, and how European states are changing the ways they approach North Africa. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Will Todman and Leah Hickert to discuss how strategic competition is evolving in North Africa and what it means for Western interests in the region. Transcript, "Isabelle Werenfels: North Africa's Relationship with Europe," CSIS, September 3, 2024.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Max Bergmann on his report with Cy McGeady, Otto Svendsen, Mathias Zacarias, and Ignacio Urbasos, Power Plays: Europe’s Response to the Energy Crisis.

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Elizabeth Wishnick joins us to discuss recent Sino-Russian activities and what they mean for the overall China-Russia relationship. Dr. Wishnick analyzes the May 2024 Xi-Putin meeting in Beijing, noting that the joint statement the two countries released had significant areas of continuity and some areas of change compared to 2023. She then analyzes the meeting between the two leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and the nearly half a dozen military exercises the two countries engaged in in July and August 2024. Dr. Wishnick emphasizes that the recent surge of China-Russia military exercises are meant to signal China-Russia political and strategic coordination, with some scheduled in advance as part of their normal annual exercise plans and others scheduled in response to U.S. activities. Finally, Dr. Wishnick shares her predictions for developments within Sino-Russian relations in the coming months.  Dr. Elizabeth Wishnick is a Senior Research Scientist in the China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division at CNA. She was a Professor of Political Science at Montclair State University from 2005-2024 and the Coordinator of MSU’s Asian Studies Undergraduate Minor from 2010-2019. Since 2002, she has been a research scholar at Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute. She previously taught undergraduate and graduate courses in international relations, Chinese politics, and Chinese foreign policy at Barnard College, Columbia College, and SIPA. Dr. Wishnick has dual regional expertise on China and Russia and is an expert on Chinese foreign policy, Sino-Russian relations, Northeast Asian and Central Asian security, and Arctic geopolitics.  She received a PhD in Political Science from Columbia University, an MA in Russian and East European Studies from Yale University, and a BA from Barnard College. She speaks Mandarin, Russian, and French.

Egyptians traditionally celebrate Sham Enessim, the country’s pharaonic spring holiday, by eating faseekh, a fermented mullet. But in the weeks prior to this year’s holiday, which fell on May 6, the price of seafood shot up 180 percent. In Port Said, where seafood is generally an affordable staple protein, the price hikes hit especially hard. Salmah Elmasry, "A Fishy Business in Port Said," CSIS, July 30, 2024.

In this episode hosts Jim Lewis and Chris Painter talk to Estonia's former ambassador at large for cyber diplomacy Heli Tirmaa-Klaar. They discuss the IT coalition’s work on the ‘future of warfare’ in Ukraine, NATO and EU collaboration, and the state of the UN’s work on cyber.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we examine recent polls released by the Cato Institute and Pew Research that examined how Americans think about trade. Note that the appendix referenced near the end of the episode is from a 2022 survey by Gallup.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Kari A. Bingen on her report with Makena Young, From Earth to Uchū: The Evolution of Japan’s Space Security Policy and a Blueprint for Strengthening the U.S.-Japan Space Security Partnership.

China’s economic strategy has evolved significantly over the past decade. Where once the PRC served as “the world’s factory,” today Chinese companies are increasingly looking to internationalize their operations. Latin America has been emblematic of these changes, in particular Chinese investment flows into regional electric vehicle manufacturing have raised eyebrows among economic security analysts. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Christine Murray, Mexico and Central America correspondent for the Financial Times. Together they assess current trends in China-Mexico economic relations and how these might evolve under the new administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum. They also examine key countries in Central America like Panama and Guatemala, which will play a critical role in China's economic future in the region.

Greg is joined by Chris Johnstone and Andreyka Natalegawa to discuss the implications of Sec. Austin and Sec. Blinken’s recent trips throughout East and Southeast Asia. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest: from the Marcos-Duterte family feud to a series of corruption cases around the region.

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by Courtney Fung, Associate Professor in the Department of Security Studies & Criminology at Macquarie University. She is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the Asia Society Australia and at the Lowy Institute. They discuss her article “Peace by piece: China’s policy leadership on peacekeeping fatalities” (Contemporary Security Policy, July 2022), China’s role in the United Nations, and its involvement with international peacekeeping efforts.

Engaging with the dynamic and rapidly evolving development landscape in Africa presents a complex challenge. Historically, global powers have treated Africa as a tool for extraction and a pawn in geopolitical struggles, from colonialism to the Cold War. However, with the growth of Africa and the world shifting into a multipolar era, the U.S. finds its policies and engagement with Africa unfit for purpose, having lost touch with the realities and interests on the ground. Often referred to as the "continent of the future" due to its vast resources and rapidly growing population, a critical question the U.S. is asking is: how can the U.S. engage effectively in Africa? Former CSIS Africa Program director and Into Africa’s creator, Judd Devermont, rejoins the podcast to share his insights into the U.S.’s approach to Africa and the role of America in a multipolar world. Drawing on his experience as Special Assistant to President Biden and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council, Judd offers a deep and informed perspective on these critical issues.

After 25 years working for the CIA, the Honorable Sue Gordon has served the United States across administrations. She joins Dr. Kathleen McInnis and Lauren Bedula, the Managing Director at Beacon Global Strategies, for a conversation on how she balanced it all as a mother of two—plus, she’ll get into her time in the CIA during the 2012 Benghazi attacks – where the realization came that secrets just aren’t what they used to be.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Michelle Nunn, the president and CEO of CARE. Michelle leads more than 8,000 people working around the world in crisis response, health and education access, gender equality, and climate change. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of Gaza's humanitarian crisis by contextualizing it among other global crises. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss how global attention on Gaza has affected the conflict and the humanitarian response, and whether sustained humanitarian engagement will translate into the “day after.” Transcript, "Michelle Nunn: The Challenges of Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis," CSIS, August 20, 2024.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we check in on the EU’s electric vehicle tariffs after a Chinese WTO challenge, opine on whether congressional action on trade should be expected before the new administration, and explore a recent study on U.S. diversification away from China by the Rhodium Group.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Masao Dahlgren on his brief, “Defense Priorities in the Open-Source AI Debate: A Preliminary Assessment.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci sat down with J. Stephen Morrison, CSIS, on August 13, for a conversation on his remarkable 54 year career of service as a doctor and scientist. Listen to hear about his early upbringing in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; his Jesuit training; his expansive leadership at NIH on HIV/AIDS in the darkest days; the creation of a position of influence in science and public health unprecedented in American history, tied to the trust and confidence of six presidents; and, of course, his confrontation with President Trump during Covid and Trump’s campaign to discredit and damage him.

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, we are joined by Dr. I-Chung Lai and Professor Jacques deLisle to unpack China’s 2005 Anti-Secession Law and its important implications for cross-Strait relations—the topic of an international conference co-hosted by CSIS and Prospect Foundation in early August 2024. Dr. Lai dissects the legislation’s nine articles, particularly Article 8’s conditions in which China can employ ‘non-peaceful means’ toward Taiwan. Professor deLisle speaks to the implications of the recent “22 Opinions” that China released to strengthen the Anti-Secession Law. The 22 Opinions criminalizes support for Taiwan independence and could be used even against foreign individuals who are not from China or Taiwan. However, Professor deLisle suggests that international recognition and enforcement of these laws would raise human rights concerns. Finally, Dr. Lai and Professor deLisle offer their recommendations on how the United States, Taiwan, and the international community can effectively respond to China’s actions.  Dr. I-Chung Lai is the president of Prospect Foundation, a Taiwan-based think tank. Prior to joining the Prospect Foundation, he held several prominent positions within the Democratic Progressive Party, serving as executive director of the DPP Mission to the United States and as the director general of the Department of International Affairs. He has also worked as a special assistant with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Tokyo.  Professor Jacques deLisle is a Stephen A. Cozen professor of law and professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania. His research and teaching focus on contemporary Chinese law and politics, including legal reform and its relationship to economic reform and political change in China, the international status of Taiwan and cross-Strait relations, China’s engagement with the international order, legal and political issues in Hong Kong under Chinese rule, and U.S.-China relations. DeLisle is the director of the Center for the Study of Contemporary China, co-director of the Center for Asian Law, and director of the Asia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

A short, spoken-word summary from CSIS’s Andreyka Natalegawa and Gregory B. Poling on their white paper, “U.S. and Chinese Soft Power and Influence in Southeast Asia.”

On July 31, Ismail Haniyeh, a senior leader of Hamas, was killed in Tehran. Just a day earlier, an Israeli airstrike killed a Hezbollah commander in the suburbs of Beirut. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about how these events may continue to escalate, and their potential impact on the Israel-Hamas war. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program. Jon Alterman, "Do Leaders Want Gaza Negotiations to Succeed?" CSIS, August 9, 2024.

In this episode of The Trade Guys, we talk about the presidential candidates views on trade policy, a recent climate deal that could impact trade policy, and Vietnam’s new NME status by the Department of Commerce.

On this episode of China Field Notes, Scott Kennedy speaks with Michael Laske, a sage veteran auto industry consultant in China. In this in-depth conversation, he explains how over the last three decades China’s domestic auto firms went from being students in joint ventures to achieving global leadership in electric vehicles and batteries. He analyzes why Chinese industrial policy has been more effective in this sector than in others as well as the important value to the West of having their firms in China and Chinese firms in the Western markets. Since 1995, Michael has led the development of AVL List GMBH in China. AVL List is the leading provider of engineering and technology development support, and hardware and software testing solutions necessary for innovation and technology development in mobility sectors, particularly automotive applications. He has witnessed and directly participated in the growth of the automotive sector in China, as China eventually emerged as the largest market and later as a major source of technical innovation and exports. Michael believes that the automotive sector and its global relationships provide important insight into and strongly influence global geopolitical strategy and commercial developments. Michael Laske received an MA and an East Asian Institute Certificate from Columbia University’s School of International Affairs in 1980. Following four years in Taiwan, Michael and his family moved to China in January 1989, where he remains based.

Throughout the Western Hemisphere ports play a critical role in fostering economic growth, and serving as gateways through which the region engages a world that is eager for it to play a greater role in global value chains. At the same time, the region’s ports have made headlines for their role in the burgeoning trans-oceanic trade in illicit narcotics, gold, timber, and wildlife, while port cities consistently rank as some of the most violent locales in Latin America and the Caribbean. In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Douglas Farah, President of IBI Consultants. Together, they discuss the growing relevance of ports for criminal organizations to move illicit goods across oceans and national borders, as well as best practices for addressing these challenges. They also delve into China's growing role into the Western Hemisphere's port infrastructure and the potential vulnerabilities this may pose for the region.

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by Manoj Kewalramani, Fellow for China Studies and the Chairperson of the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme at the Takshashila Institution. He is also a non-resident Senior Associate with the Freeman Chair in China Studies, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. They discuss interpreting Beijing's actions and Sino-India relations.

Greg and Elina unpack the aftermath of Gen. Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s passing in Vietnam with Alex Vuving. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest: from the region’s Olympic representation to digital regulation.

Greg and Elina unpack the aftermath of Gen. Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s passing in Vietnam with Alex Vuving. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest: from the region’s Olympic representation to digital regulation.

The African continent faces several unique challenges that increase its vulnerability to cyber-attacks: a shortage of cybersecurity professionals, outdated software, lack of digital literacy among individuals, and struggles with personal data protection. While digital accessibility is on the rise in Africa, 60 percent of Africans (about 700 million people) remain unconnected to the internet. Digital literacy is the first step in tackling this challenge as connecting people is essential for improving education, job opportunities, and healthcare, as well as economic growth. However, Africa innovation and solutions show promise in ensuring the continent will overcome these hurdles and actively participate in the “digital revolution”. Fran Katsoudas, Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy and Purpose Officer at Cisco, joins Mvemba to share findings from Cisco’s recently launched report “Elevating Africa's Cyber Resilience: Unveiling Regional Challenges and Charting AI Solutions.”

This week Mike and Jude are joined by joined by Robert D. Blackwill, Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Richard Fontaine, Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). They discuss their new book Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power (June 2024, Oxford University Press).

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we dissect the recent African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) trade ministerial in Quito, and the WTO Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on Electronic Commerce.

This week, CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program Senior Adviser Linda Stuntz, Senior Associate John Larsen, and Fellow Cy McGeady join Quill Robinson to discuss permitting reform. With the introduction of Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Senator John Barrasso's (R-WY) Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, Washington is once again discussing how the permitting status quo is hindering progress on the United States’ energy security and climate goals.

Dr. Megan Ranney, the dynamic, charismatic Dean of the Yale School of Public Health, joined us to illuminate the strategy she has pioneered to curb firearm injuries and deaths in America. It is a true epidemic that begs a serious public health approach. It requires coming to terms with suicide and homicide in America—both sensitive, disturbing phenomena. It requires a concentrated focus on data gaps, research investments, effective interventions, and scaling the response. Together these actions hold the promise of reducing deaths and injuries by 50 percent. Many commonsense actions are steadily achieving major gains, including safe storage of weapons, better engineering of weapons, fostering a community of dedicated researchers, and introducing economic incentives that favor safety. In combination, these are demonstrably raising hope, even in the face of enduring stigma and skepticism, political divisions, gaps in knowledge, and misinformation and disinformation. Come listen for the full story.    Please note this episode contains subject matter relating to gun violence and the topic of suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Scott Kennedy joins us to discuss the major themes from China's long-anticipated Third Plenum and what it signaled for China’s economic trajectory in the coming decade. Dr. Kennedy highlights the continuity that the Third Plenum presented, with no drastic economic measures introduced. However, he underscores the idea that Chinese leadership’s statist approach may pose additional challenges in addressing domestic issues. Dr. Kennedy also discusses China’s linkage between national security and economic progress and its shift toward high-tech development to build resilience and decrease foreign reliance. Finally, Dr. Kennedy provides predictions on where China’s economic growth will be in the next two years.  Dr. Scott Kennedy is senior adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). A leading authority on Chinese economic policy and U.S.-China commercial relations, Dr. Kennedy has traveled to China for 36 years. Ongoing focuses include China’s innovation drive, Chinese industrial policy, U.S.-China relations, and global economic governance. His articles have appeared in a wide array of publications, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and China Quarterly. Kennedy hosts the China Field Notes podcast, featuring on-the-ground voices from China, and the Trustee Chair co-runs the Big Data China initiative, which introduces pathbreaking scholarly research to the policy community.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we are joined by Mark Sobel, a longtime veteran of the U.S. Treasury Department and expert on monetary policy. We discuss the global dominance of the U.S. dollar and potential challenges to its status. To learn more, check out the new video series on Defending the Dollar produced by CSIS.

Monica and Andreyka discuss the 10th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting, New Zealand’s engagements with the Solomon Islands, U.S.-China competition in Vanuatu, and other domestic and regional developments.

Last week, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington D.C. to deliver a speech to a joint meeting of Congress. Leah Hickert speaks with Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East Program, about the implications of Netanyahu’s visit on U.S. foreign policy in the region. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program.

This week, Kevin Book of Clearview Energy Partners joins Quill Robinson, Senior Program Manager and Associate Fellow, to discuss the climate and energy policy implications of the 2024 presidential election.

In this episode, hosts James Lewis and Chris Painter speak to guest Adam Segal, Senior Advisor for International Cyber and Digital Strategy Policy in The State Department’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. They discuss the global reactions to the International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy, (even China’s and Russia’s) and what ‘digital solidarity’ really means.

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns. They discuss his time spent in China and his perception of current and future U.S.-China relations.