Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

The annual Munich Security Conference was themed "Westlessness" defining “a widespread feeling of uneasiness and restlessness in the face of increasing uncertainty about the enduring purpose of the West”. Is the West becoming less relevant in global affairs? Are the West’s international partnerships endangered? And if so, what will the world look like in the future? Our Director Mark Leonard is joined by an all-star ECFR cast including Janka Oertel, Ulrike Franke, Ellie Geranmayeh and Jeremy Shapiro, for a very special episode recorded straight from the MSC – and covering everything from 5G, China, Iran and the future of Europe’s transatlantic relationship.Further readingsLand of the lost: My trip to the Munich Security Conference by Jeremy ShapiroEurope, 5G, and Munich: The China challenge and American mission by Janka Oertel​Facing the West’s Demons: The 2020 Munich Security Conference by Mark LeonardWestlessness: Lessons from the Western Balkans by Majda RugeCharm defensive: Macron and the Germans at the Munich Security Conference by Jana PuglierinThis podcast was recorded on 15 February 2020.Picture (c) MSC/Becker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When US-President Donald Trump revealed his much-awaited plan for peace for Israel and Palestine it was set to solve one of the world's longest-running conflict. But this “deal of the century” was not met with the same enthusiasm in Palestine as it was seen on Trump’s and Netanyahu’s faces – to say the least. Host Mark Leonard and our MENA experts Hugh Lovatt and René Wildangel are analysing in depth the “Peace Plan” and show how little there is actually in it for the Palestinians. “The proposal clearly challenges the internationally agreed parameters,” said the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell. But what can and should Europe do beyond statements? Further read: From negotiation to imposition: Trump’s Israel-Palestine parameters by Hugh LovattBookshelf:"Drinking the Sea at Gaza: Days and Nights in a Land Under Siege" Amira Hass"The living mountain" by Nan Shepherd"My Struggle" by Karl Ove Knausgård"Embracing Europe’s Power" by Josep BorrellThis podcast was recorded on 12 February 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week the European Commission published its EU Toolbox on 5G Cyber Security, with the aim of aiding the Member States in evaluating the risks associated with future usage of 5G infrastructure and networks. This was a step forward given the polarising debate surrounding the role of Chinese telecommunications firms like Huawei and ZTE within a future 5G network in Europe. The decision, however, will ultimately be a national one taken by individual member states. Our Director Mark Leonard is joined by Asia Programme Director Janka Oertel and Project Director of Stiftung Neue Verantwortung Jan-Peter Kleinhans to discuss the significance and implications of the toolbox and what this might mean for the EU.Bookshelf:"The logic of strategic assets" by Jeffrey Ding and Allan Dafoe "The Path to Power" by Robert Caro "Clash of Empires: Currencies and Power in a Multipolar World" by Charles Gave and Louis Vincent Gave "All the Names" by Jose SaramagoThis podcast was recorded on 5 February 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It came as a surprise when Russia’s government resigned just hours after Putin’s announced his plans for a possible referendum of constitutional changes. Host Mark Leonard is joined by Kadri Liik and Gustav Gressel to elaborate on the recent political changes that have happened in the world’ largest country over the course of just the past weeks. What role will Putin play in the future in Russia and on the global stage? Is there a change to recent the relationship between the EU and Moscow? And was does this all mean to Belarus, Ukraine and the NordStream 2 project? Further read:- "Will he stay or will he go? Putin’s role will change" by Kadri Liik- " The last of the offended: Russia’s first post-Putin diplomats" by Kadri LiikBookshelf:- "Brennender Enzian: Die Operationsplanung der NATO für Österreich und Norditalien 1951 bis 1960" by Dieter Krüger - "Admissions" by Henry Marsh"When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi- "Traditions and Trends in Global Environmental PoliticsInternational Relations and the Earth" ed. by Olaf Corry & Hayley StevensonThis podcast was recorded on 27 January 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Dworkin stands in for our usual host, Mark Leonard, to de-brief the Berlin Conference on Libya. Together with the ECFR’s experts Asli Aydıntaşbaş, Tarek Megerisi and Arturo Varvelli, he discusses Europe’s attempt to get back in the game in Libya after the country has been torn apart by many foreign forces and players. They evaluate the conference’s turnout and analyse the final agreements – while also looking at another question: what does this all say about European foreign policy?This podcast was recorded on 23 January 2020.Bookshelf:- "The Confines of the Shadow" by Alessandro Spina - "International Schemes, Libyan Realities" by Wolfram Lacher- "The Balkan Trilogy" by Olivia ManningFurther read on ecfr.eu- Views from the capitals: The Libya conference in Berlin- A chance for leadership: German foreign policy after the killing of Qassem Soleimani by René Wildangel- How Italy was marginalised in Libya by Mattia Giampaolo- How to repair Europe’s credibility in Libya by Tarek Megerisi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the Munich Strategy Forum 2019, host Mark Leonard sat down Toomas Ilves, the former president of Estonia aka the first smart country and “digital nation” in the world. What could we learn from this small EU member state when it comes to digitalisation? How did the digital revolution change foreign relations and international relations? And what role does Europe play it in? Frankly, does it play any role at all? Toomas Ilves points out how the lack of a common digital market puts the EU behind in advancing innovation and digitalisation in the 21st century. He urges Europe to finally merge the “two cultures” of sciences/tech and humanities to become a digital player in the world. This podcast was recorded on 2 December 2019.Bookshelf:• Two cultures by C.P. Snow • LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media by Peter W. Singer • The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for the Future at the New Frontier of Power by Shoshana Zuboff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, 100 years ago, the Versailles Contract went into effect which established the League of the Nations and laid the foundations for multilateralism. In 2019, Germany and France launched the Alliance for Multilateralism aiming at showing that countries still "support multilateralism and support the United Nations (to) remain the majority in the world," as French Foreign Minister Le Drian said. Planning to establish a network of countries ready to join forces and efforts on inequality or climate change, the Alliance also wants the members to strongly commit to a rules-based international order. But how will this look like in reality? Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, explains to Mark Leonard some concrete measures and how the old tale of the German-Franco friendship still serves as a role model for other countries for how to overcome decades of conflicts and rivalry. Further information: www.multilateralism.orgThis podcast was recorded on 3 December 2019. Bookshelf:•The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the US-killing of the Iranian military leader, Qassem Soleimani, the Middle East has been yet again sent in the heart to geopolitical uncertainty and frenzy. What does the killing mean for the future of the region, the Iran Nuclear Deal and the US role within it? Was there a strategy behind this offence and if yes, what kind? How should Europe react? In a special podcast edition, Mark Leonard talks with our senior policy fellows Ellie Geranmayeh, Jeremy Shapiro and Julien Barnes-Dacey about the implications for the neighbouring countries, Europe’s mediation role and whether there is a chance for de-escalation.This podcast was recorded on 6 January 2020.Bookshelf:- "Crisis in Iran will drive wedge between Europe and Washington" by Ellie Geranmayeh: https://www.politico.eu/article/crisis-in-iran-will-drive-wedge-between-europe-and-washington/ Picture (c) sayyed shahab o din vajedi/wikicommons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Tis the season! ...when Mark Leonard and Jeremy Shapiro review the year gone by and predict 10 foreign policy trends (plus two bonus ones) that will define 2020, the beginning of a new decade. With a score of 6.5/10 they couldn’t sustain last year’s success but can still pat themselves on their backs - or what do you think? Let us know about your foreign policy predictions for the upcoming year. Comment below or e-mail us! Bookshelf:- Ten Foreign Policy Trends for 2020 by Mark Leonard & Jeremy Shapiro - Mapping European Leverage in the MENA region by the ECFR MENA Programme: https://www.ecfr.eu/specials/mapping_eu_leverage_menaThis podcast was recorded on 16 December 2019. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode of our 1989 podcast miniseries, host Mark Leonard is joined by ECFR's young generation, all born between 1988-1990. Coming from the former GDR and Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Venezuela and the UK, they grew up in a borderless world, in a united Europe, with their parent's optimism about the future but with their teenage years shaped by the financial crisis and 9/11. So what did 1989 mean for their lives? And how will this generation influence the world and politics once it's their turn? This podcast was recorded on 18 December 2019.Bookshelf:- "Cruel Optimism" by Lauren Berlant- "The Wall" by John Lanchester- "My Parents: An Introduction" by Aleksandar Hemon- "Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow" by Yuval Noah HarariFilms:- "Sonnenallee"- "Good-Bye, Lenin!"- "The Lives of Others" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.