Deep Dish on Global Affairs
362 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago - ★★★★★ - 162 ratingsDeep Dish on Global Affairs goes beyond the headlines on critical global issues. With world news in rapid development, Deep Dish brings together experts in foreign policy, national security, economics, and whatever field is in flux during the week to talk through what's happening, why, and why it matters.
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Episodes
Should US Shrink the Pentagon to Increase National Security? - January 30, 2020
January 30, 2020 18:52 - 34 minutes - 79 MBAmerica spends more on its military than the next 10 countries combined, and the Department of Defense oversees some 1.3 million military personnel. But is it all necessary? Joining Deep Dish to discuss his provocative new book Close the Pentagon, Charles Kenny argues that not only can the United States cut its defense budget, but it can also better secure the nation by eventually shuttering the Pentagon and channeling some of the savings to development, diplomacy, and aid.
America First vs. Spider-Man: A Debate on Supporting Pro-Democracy Protests - January 23, 2020
January 23, 2020 20:43 - 41 minutes - 94.7 MBDemonstrators have taken to the streets from Hong Kong to Lebanon, with many calling for democratic reforms. Yet policymakers in the United States are split on whether or not to support pro-democracy movements abroad. Rochelle Terman and Paul Poast of the University of Chicago join Deep Dish to debate the two competing options, which they call “America first” and “Spider-Man.”
Strange Bedfellows: Anti-Immigrant Conservatives and Environmentalists Join Forces in Europe - January 16, 2020
January 16, 2020 22:01 - 28 minutes - 65.5 MBChancellor Sebastian Kurz of Austria, the young head of a conservative party deeply opposed to immigration, has just formed a coalition government with Austria’s Green party. Having adopted a platform that is anti-immigration, pro-business, and pro-environment, the odd pairing of these parties holds important and timely lessons for the larger realignment of left-right politics taking place across Europe, not least in Europe’s biggest economy, Germany. Sam Jones of the Financial Times joins D...
Iran's Retaliation Against the US Is Not One and Done - January 9, 2020
January 09, 2020 22:07 - 21 minutes - 49.5 MBEarlier this week, in retaliation for the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, Iran fired a dozen missiles on two bases in Iraq housing US troops. After, President Trump said Iran "appears to be standing down." But Kelly Magsamen, NSC director for Iran under US presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and now at the Center for American Progress, explains on Deep Dish that the repercussions of killing Soleimani will be felt for days, months, and even years to come.
Now Iraq's Parliament Votes to Expel US Forces. Why? - January 9, 2020
January 09, 2020 22:01 - 30 minutes - 69.7 MBFollowing the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani last week, Iraq's parliament voted to ask the prime minister to oust US forces from the country. It comes after violent protests in Iraq against both the Iraqi government and the US embassy in Baghdad. Emma Sky, a former political adviser to the commanding general of US forces in Iraq and now at Yale University, joins Deep Dish to explain why US-Iraq relations have deteriorated so abruptly and what it means for Iran and ISIS.
Conflict Has Changed. Do International Norms Still Matter? - Dec. 19, 2019
December 19, 2019 21:38 - 30 minutes - 42.4 MBAs we’ve seen in places like Syria and Iraq, today’s armed conflict is civilian-focused, driven by non-state actors, and increasingly urban. Do traditional international norms like the Geneva Conventions still matter? Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, joins Deep Dish to examine why changes in the nature of war have complicated the way international law governs humanitarian crises and urban conflict.
Is Dealing with Putin a Lost Cause for Washington? - Dec. 12, 2019
December 12, 2019 17:12 - 35 minutes - 56.2 MBEver since the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and its meddling in US elections in 2016, relations between Moscow and Washington have gone from bad to worse. But should the United States actively work to improve relations? Or is dealing with Putin a lost cause? Molly Montgomery, a former US foreign service officer and special advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, and William Ruger, vice president for research and policy at the Charles Koch Institute, join Deep Dish to discuss.
Goolsbee and Keynes on Trump's Trade Wars and the US Economy - Dec. 6, 2019
December 06, 2019 21:59 - 32 minutes - 47.9 MBThere's no sign of a big deal soon in the US-China trade war, the US Congress has not yet passed the USMCA, and the World Trade Organization’s appeals panel is in peril. But the US jobs market is booming, with 266,000 jobs added in November. The University of Chicago’s Austan Goolsbee, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama, and The Economist’s Soumaya Keynes join Deep Dish to discuss whether it's a moment for optimism or concern about the US economy.
Which Side Will India Take in US-China Rivalry? - Nov. 26, 2019
November 27, 2019 00:00 - 36 minutes - 54.2 MBA centerpiece of US strategy during the Trump administration has been the idea of the "Indo-Pacific," a massive single region stretching across both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. One of the goals in this strategy is to link up India with US allies in East Asia as a counterbalance to a rising China. But how does New Delhi see the situation? Sushant Singh, deputy editor of the Indian Express newspaper, joins the University of Chicago's Paul Staniland and the Council's Brian Hanson to discuss.
Ukraine's Zelensky Is Dealing with More Than the Impeachment Inquiry - Nov. 21, 2019
November 21, 2019 20:18 - 30 minutes - 42.3 MBWhile Ukraine dominates US news this week due to the impeachment proceedings, Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian President Putin are preparing for an upcoming meeting to find a peaceful resolution to the five-year conflict in eastern Ukraine. Melinda Haring of the Atlantic Council and Joanna Rohozinska of the National Endowment for Democracy join Deep Dish to discuss the latest in Europe.
Myanmar Accused of Genocide against Rohingya at UN Court - Nov. 14, 2019
November 14, 2019 18:37 - 25 minutes - 39.2 MBThis week, a case was filed in the International Court of Justice accusing Myanmar of having committed genocide against its Rohingya Muslim minority. It is a far cry from where the country also known as Burma seemed to be a few years ago, when the long-ruling military junta opened the door for democratic elections. Historian Thant Myint-U, author of the new book The Hidden History of Burma, joins Deep Dish to discuss Burma’s recent struggles with race, capitalism, and democracy, as well as t...
Hard Truths about Big Tech and the US Economy - Nov. 7, 2019
November 07, 2019 19:55 - 25 minutes - 29.4 MBFacebook, Google, Amazon, and Apple are massive companies, commanding so much of the market that they are now being called monopolies. Rana Foroohar, global business columnist for the Financial Times and author of the new book Don't Be Evil: How Big Tech Betrayed Its Founding Principles—and All of Us, joins Deep Dish to discuss how these data-fueled tech behemoths are disrupting the US economy and American politics.
The Case for America to Promote Democracy Abroad - Oct. 31, 2019
October 31, 2019 18:31 - 29 minutes - 43.9 MBThe breakdown of fledgling democracies in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, the return of authoritarian leaders, and the resurgence of protesters in the streets all suggest that democracy promotion is a failed project. But the United States still has an essential role to play in promoting democratic institutions abroad, argue Ambassador Derek Mitchell and Daniel Twining. The presidents of the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute join Deep Dish to explain why.
Congress Has Abandoned Its War Powers. Here's What to Do About It. - Oct. 24, 2019
October 24, 2019 14:33 - 28 minutes - 43.8 MBThe US Congress has not approved a use of force since 2002, when it voted to invade Iraq. "Too many members of Congress are all too happy to abdicate their constitutional responsibility and allow the president to go it alone," explains Oona Hathaway, professor of International Law at Yale Law School. Hathaway joins Deep Dish to lay out a step-by-step plan for Congress to revive its war powers.
A Prize-Winning Peace in the Horn of Africa - Oct. 17, 2019
October 17, 2019 15:47 - 29 minutes - 42.9 MBThe 2019 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his role in ending a 20-year military stalemate between Ethiopia and Eritrea. In fact, the historic rapprochement is just one element of the young leader’s ambitious, fast-moving reforms. Boston University’s Michael Woldemariam and the Council’s Ertharin Cousin join Deep Dish to discuss the strides so far and the steps ahead.
Has Brexit Finally Arrived? The Economist's Zanny Minton Beddoes Explains. - Oct. 9, 2019
October 09, 2019 18:03 - 27 minutes - 35.1 MBMore than 1,200 days have passed since Britain's referendum to leave the European Union, but little has been decided in that time about how Brexit will actually take place. As the Oct. 31 deadline nears and Boris Johnson's government tries to negotiate a deal at the wire, the editor-in-chief of The Economist joins Deep Dish to explain how the United Kingdom fell into this predicament and what to expect next.
How to End the 'Forever War' in Afghanistan - Oct. 3, 2019
October 03, 2019 20:58 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBMonday, October 7, marks 18 years since the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom. Since 2001, more than 2,400 US military personnel have died in Afghanistan, yet the Taliban and other insurgents continue to launch attacks, hold terrain, and decimate the US-backed Afghan security forces. Robert A. Pape, professor of political science and the director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats at the University of Chicago, joins Deep Dish to discuss another way forward for America’s longes...
From Mao to Now—70 Years of the People's Republic of China - Sept. 26, 2019
September 26, 2019 17:36 - 25 minutes - 34.5 MBOn October 1, the Chinese Communist Party marks 70 years in power. Much has changed since the founding of the People's Republic of China, but the legacy of its founder, the revolutionary Mao Zedong, still looms large today over Xi Jinping’s leadership and Beijing’s foreign policy. Julia Lovell, author of Maoism: A Global History, joins Deep Dish to discuss.
American Foreign Policy in the 2020 Election - Sept. 19, 2019
September 19, 2019 18:17 - 30 minutes - 44.1 MBNational security, alliances, immigration, and trade wars have already surfaced in debates and speeches by 2020 US presidential candidates. But how do the candidates’ ideas match those of Americans overall? James M. Lindsay of the Council on Foreign Relations joins the Council’s Dina Smeltz to discuss the findings of the newly released 2019 Chicago Council Survey on how Americans view US foreign policy.
The Australia-US Alliance in a Pacific Century - Sept. 17, 2019
September 17, 2019 20:30 - 24 minutes - 37.2 MBAustralia has long been a strong ally of the United States, but new challenges and opportunities, including the rise of China, confront the alliance in the 21st century. Ahead of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to the United States and state dinner with President Donald Trump, Dr. Michael Fullilove, executive director of the Lowy Institute in Sydney, joins Deep Dish to delve into this important but often-overlooked relationship.
Ahead of Israeli Elections, Netanyahu Doubles Down on Foreign Policy - Sept. 12, 2019
September 12, 2019 19:11 - 32 minutes - 45.8 MBOn Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will annex part of the Jordan Valley if he stays in power after elections next week. The decision comes as tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon and with Iran-backed militias in Syria flare up. The Jerusalem Post's Middle East affairs analyst Seth Frantzman and the Council's Cécile Shea join Deep Dish to discuss.
Fire Is Not Brazil’s Only Amazon Problem - Sept. 5, 2019
September 05, 2019 18:23 - 24 minutes - 36.2 MBFlames raging across the Amazon have captured the world’s attention, but Brazil faces other pressing economic, political, and conservation consequences due to deforestation as well. In all, the fires have revealed a stark division between increasingly urban populations and the rural areas that feed their modern way of life. Robert Muggah of the Igarapé Institute in Rio de Janeiro joins Deep Dish to discuss.
Germany's Surging Far-Right and the Future of Populism - Aug. 29, 2019
August 29, 2019 17:44 - 29 minutes - 43.6 MBOn September 1, two important state elections are being held in Germany’s Brandenburg and Saxony. The far-right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) looks poised to win. On Deep Dish, Sheri Berman of Barnard College explains why the AfD has emerged as a formidable populist challenger to the two long-dominant parties in Germany, the social democrats and the Christian democrats.
Sinking Jakarta Is a Test Case for Climate Retreat - Aug. 23, 2019
August 23, 2019 19:11 - 26 minutes - 40.6 MBIndonesia's massive, overcrowded capital is sinking due to climate change and depleted ground water. Now President Joko Widodo wants to move the capital and build an entirely new city. The decision comes just as Jokowi, as he is known, begins his second presidential term—and it's not the only challenge he faces. Tom Pepinsky of Cornell University and the Brookings Institution joins Deep Dish to discuss.
Kashmir Is the 72-Year 'Wound' between India and Pakistan - Aug. 15, 2019
August 15, 2019 13:57 - 29 minutes - 44.7 MBLast week, Narendra Modi’s government revoked the constitutional provision that had long granted special autonomy to India-administered Kashmir. Bloomberg’s Nisid Hajari, author of Midnight's Furies, and Paul Staniland of the University of Chicago join Deep Dish to discuss how the decision has once again torn open tensions between India and Pakistan—and what it means for the United States.
Japan-South Korea Feud Threatens Regional Stability and Security - Aug. 8, 2019
August 08, 2019 17:02 - 36 minutes - 56.4 MBLast week, Tokyo decided to downgrade its trade relationship with Seoul following weeks of protests, boycotts, and sparing. While bad blood between the two US allies goes back decades, its reemergence today raises new questions about stability and security in the region—and all while US relations with China and North Korea worsen. Alexis Dudden of the University of Connecticut and the Council’s Karl Friedhoff join Deep Dish to discuss.
Why Tunisia Is the Epicenter of Arab Democracy - Aug. 1, 2019
August 01, 2019 14:06 - 32 minutes - 44.9 MBTunisia is the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring. Yet the death of its first democratically elected president last week has raised new questions about its future. The outcome matters not just to Tunisians, but also as a test case for democracy across North Africa and the Arab world. Sarah Yerkes of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Gordon Gray, the US ambassador to Tunisia from 2009 to 2012, join Deep Dish to discuss.
Why Save the United Nations? - July 25, 2019
July 25, 2019 13:45 - 29 minutes - 43.6 MBWith the return of national populism to global politics, multilateral organizations such as the United Nations have come under renewed scrutiny. Yet the UN is much more than just colorful speeches from leaders each September in New York and vetoed resolutions in the Security Council. The Council’s Catherine Bertini, a former executive director of the UN World Food Programme, and the Council’s global governance fellow, Thomas Weiss, join Deep Dish to discuss the future of the UN and why the U...
Iran Reacts to US Sanctions—with Echoes of Run-up to Pearl Harbor - July 18, 2019
July 18, 2019 18:52 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MBUS sanctions on Iran are shifting the strategic calculus for Tehran to retaliate, creating a situation reminiscent of the sequence in 1941 that led Imperial Japan to attack the US naval base in Hawaii, argues Robert Pape of the University of Chicago. Ellen Laipson of George Mason University, too, warns about the White House neglecting the risks of economic coercion when it fails. Both join this week's Deep Dish to discuss what is at stake with Iran.
Hong Kong's Extradition Bill Is 'Dead' but Protests Live On - July 11, 2019
July 11, 2019 16:13 - 31 minutes - 47.5 MBMore than a million people have demonstrated in Hong Kong over the last month, rallying against a proposed bill that would have allowed for the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China. Yet even now that the bill has been suspended, the protests show no sign of abating. Director of the Southeast Asia Project at the Lowy Institute Ben Bland joins Deep Dish to explain what is happening.
Interviewing Vladimir Putin about Risk and Power - July 3, 2019
July 03, 2019 13:09 - 31 minutes - 46.2 MBIn a recent 90-minute interview with the Financial Times, President Vladimir Putin detailed his thoughts not only about Russia, but also about the United States, China, Europe, and the Middle East. Financial Times editor Lionel Barber, who conducted the interview, joins Council President Ivo Daalder and Deep Dish host Brian Hanson to discuss what the Russian president revealed about his worldview.
Sudan Could Be 'Worse Than the Syrian Civil War' - June 27, 2019
June 27, 2019 21:51 - 34 minutes - 43.3 MBSudan is careening towards a crisis. President Omar al-Bashir was ousted in April after three decades in power, yet heavily armed groups are now fighting in Sudan for control. At the same time, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, and the United States are each vying for influence. Andrew Natsios, director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at the Bush School at Texas A&M University and US envoy to Sudan during the George W. Bush administration, joins Deep Dish to explain what is goin...
What China Really Wants at Home and Abroad - June 20, 2019
June 20, 2019 17:14 - 26 minutes - 30.7 MBFor each bold move abroad, from the Belt and Road Initiative to island building, China seems confronted with new vulnerabilities at home, including the ongoing protests in Hong Kong. Jessica Chen Weiss, author of an intriguing new essay in Foreign Affairs, and Ali Wyne of the Rand Corporation join Deep Dish to discuss what is intrinsic and what is incidental to Beijing’s ambitions.
What Can Mexico Really Do About Migration? - June 13, 2019
June 13, 2019 19:04 - 28 minutes - 32.9 MBThis week President Donald Trump touted a new agreement with Mexico to stem the flow of migrants into the United States. But Mexican officials claimed both sides were still evaluating the situation. Earl Anthony Wayne, a former US ambassador to Mexico, joins Deep Dish to discuss what can realistically be done about migrant flows.
Why NATO Is an Alliance in Crisis - June 6, 2019
June 05, 2019 20:01 - 35 minutes - 54 MBThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization is facing "the most severe crisis in the security environment in Europe since the end of the Cold War and perhaps ever," warn Douglas Lute and Nicholas Burns. The two former US ambassadors to NATO recently joined Deep Dish to explain why.
City Diplomacy on the Rise - May 30, 2019
May 30, 2019 19:19 - 39 minutes - 45.6 MBAs cities grow in size and power, local governments are increasingly shaping their own diplomatic agendas independent from national governments. New York City's Commissioner for International Affairs Penny Abeywardena and Montréal's Director of International Relations Henri-Paul Normandin join Deep Dish to discuss the rise of city diplomacy.
The Rise and Fall of US Tariffs on Canada - May 23, 2019
May 23, 2019 13:51 - 35 minutes - 53.9 MBThe Trump administration raised tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum last year in the name of national security. Last week, President Trump ended the tariffs as a new trade agreement, the USMCA, moves forward. Bruce Heyman, a former US ambassador to Canada, and the Council’s Phil Levy join Deep Dish to discuss what happened and where the relationship goes now.
Does President Trump Want a War with Iran? - May 16, 2019
May 16, 2019 15:56 - 37 minutes - 42 MBThe White House escalated warnings about a threat from Iran this week, Tehran warned it may resume enriching uranium at higher levels, and more US warships were sent to the Middle East. Michael Singh of the Washington Institute and Ariane Tabatabai of the RAND Corporation join Deep Dish to explain what's going on.
What Happens When a Billion Indians Finally Get Online? - May 9, 2019
May 09, 2019 15:20 - 33 minutes - 42.7 MBThe spread of internet-connected smartphones in India is upending everything from jobs and marriage to politics and education. In 2000, only 20 million Indians had internet access. By 2020, more than 700 million will. Ravi Agrawal, author of India Connected, joins Deep Dish to explain how the smartphone is transforming the world's largest democracy.
Daniel Drezner: From Trade Wars to World War III - May 2, 2019
May 02, 2019 15:10 - 35 minutes - 52 MBWashington Post contributing editor and Council expert Daniel Drezner joins Deep Dish to discuss how trade disputes could spark World War III and why US grand strategy is more or less dead. His views on both could pretty accurately be described as "apocalyptic."
How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing What It Means to Be Human - April 25, 2019
April 25, 2019 14:00 - 34 minutes - 40.3 MBArtificial Intelligence is changing what it means to be human. From jobs and the economy to security and geopolitics, AI is rewriting human society in big ways that we are only just beginning to understand. Data scientist JT Kostman joins this week's Deep Dish podcast to explain.
Amb. Ryan Crocker: Did Iran Win the Iraq War? - April 18, 2018
April 18, 2019 14:00 - 38 minutes - 51.4 MBWarming ties between Baghdad and Iran and souring ties between Washington and both raise the question: Did Iran come out as the real winner of the Iraq war? Ryan Crocker, who served as the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon, joins Deep Dish to discuss.
Will Erdogan or NATO Survive Longer in Turkey?
April 11, 2019 20:00 - 45 minutes - 66.7 MBPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s long-dominant political party lost elections in Ankara and Istanbul last week. At the same time, a dispute between Washington and Ankara over Turkey buying a Russian missile system has hurt ties between the NATO allies. Steven A. Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations and Mustafa Akyol of the Cato Institute join Deep Dish to explain.
Amb. Dennis Ross: Trump's Golan Heights Decision Explained - April 4, 2019
April 04, 2019 19:58 - 31 minutes - 39.5 MBPresident Trump has signed an executive order to formally recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Ambassador Dennis Ross, who led the Israeli-Palestinian peace process for 12 years and served in senior political positions under Presidents Carter, Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, and Obama, joined this week's Deep Dish podcast to explain what this means.
Why Worry about Global Population Decline? - March 28, 2019
March 28, 2019 13:29 - 33 minutes - 39.9 MBThe world is in for a shock. Global population is expected to peak and then decline this century, reshaping everything from economic growth and immigration to government spending. Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson, authors of the provocative new book Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline, join the Council's Brian Hanson and Dina Smeltz to discuss why it's happening and how nations can prepare for this radical shift.
What Ukraine's Election Reveals, Five Years after Crimea - March 20, 2019
March 21, 2019 11:18 - 30 minutes - 45.1 MBComic actor Volodymyr Zelensky, who has no political experience but has played the Ukrainian president on TV, is leading in the polls ahead of Ukraine’s presidential election on March 31. Last weekend marked five years since Russia annexed Crimea, and fighting in eastern Ukraine, which has killed thousands, continues. Steven Pifer, former US ambassador to Ukraine, joins Deep Dish to explain what's going on.
Why Is the United States Bombing Somalia? - March 14, 2019
March 14, 2019 19:17 - 34 minutes - 80.1 MBIn recent months, Somalia has seen a surge of airstrikes by the US military as part of an intensifying campaign against al Shabaab, an extremist group affiliated with al Qaeda. Bronwyn Bruton of the Atlantic Council and Paul D. Williams of George Washington University join Deep Dish this week to explain what the United States is doing in Somalia and why al Shabaab is a target.
Bibi Netanyahu and the US-Israel Relationship - March 7, 2019
March 07, 2019 15:54 - 42 minutes - 98.2 MBPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces corruption charges ahead of Israel's election and the subsequent rollout of President Trump's Mideast peace plan. Douglas J. Feith, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in the George W. Bush administration, and Aaron David Miller, a twenty-year analyst, negotiator, and adviser on Middle Eastern issues at the Department of State, join Deep Dish this week to discuss the future of US-Israel relations.
India and Pakistan Clash in Kashmir - Feb. 28, 2019
February 28, 2019 19:54 - 22 minutes - 51.4 MBBad blood between India and Pakistan goes back decades, but tensions have escalated in recent days after a suicide bomber from a Pakistan-based militant group killed Indian paramilitary troops in Kashmir. Former US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter and Tanvi Madan of the Brookings Institution explain what you need to know about the ongoing crisis between two nuclear powers on this week's Deep Dish podcast.
China's Blockbuster Influence in Hollywood - Feb. 21, 2019
February 21, 2019 16:48 - 26 minutes - 60.7 MBThe 91st Academy Awards take place on Sunday in Los Angeles, but international markets, led by China, have eclipsed the domestic market in importance for the US movie industry, rewriting the rules about what kinds of films get made. On this week’s Deep Dish podcast, Lynda Obst, producer of Sleepless in Seattle, Contact, Interstellar, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Orville Schell of the Asia Society join Brian Hanson to discuss how China is changing the US box office.