Technology driven by artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, but the political spectrum is not responding fast enough. Agnes discusses machine learning, the profusion of cat photos on the internet and public-private partnerships in AI regulation with Jacob Parakilas from the US and Americas Programme. In 2017 the government of Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on women driving, to international acclaim. In the run-up to this policy becoming reality however Saudi women's rights activists have been threatened and imprisoned by the same administration. Ben meets Jane Kinninmont from the Middle East and North Africa Programme, who explains the significance of this and other Saudi social reforms. Read the Chatham House Report: Artificial Intelligence and International Affairs Read the Expert Comment: The Arrests of Saudi Women’s Driving Activists Underline the Limits of Reforms

Since ancient times states have attempted campaigns of subversion against their rivals. Sir David Omand, former Head of GCHQ, argues that cyberspace provides a multitude of new possibilities for interfering abroad. Ben met Sir David to discuss Russian interventions, fake news, foreign policy frenemies and jihadist social media.  After the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukrainian activists have faced harsh penalties for criticizing Russian actions in the region. Agnes met Nikolay and Tatyana Shchur to discuss the case of Oleg Sentsov, a film-maker and activist currently serving 20 years in a Russian prison for charges which some have claimed are fabricated.  Read the Journal of Cyber Policy article: The threats from modern digital subversion and sedition Find out more about the case of Oleg Sentsov: Ukrainian film-maker Oleg Sentsov goes on hunger strike in Russian prison

Ronan Farrow is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who was previously a foreign policy advisor to Hillary Clinton. In his new book, War on Peace, Farrow traces the decline of US diplomacy over the past 30 years, drawing on conversations with every surviving Secretary of State. This week Agnes met up with Farrow to discuss the waning reputation of career diplomats, how foreign leaders should deal with the Trump administration, and how new technology is transforming the art of diplomacy.  A longer transcript of the interview will be published in the June/July issue of The World Today.    

The United Nations has been going since 1945, and is the basis for most international cooperation. But in this disruptive political environment, is it still relevant? This week, Ben speaks to UN expert Thomas Weiss to find out. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the situation in Libya has disappeared from international headlines. Seven years on, a new report by Tim Eaton explores the chaotic war economy that has developed in the vacuum. He speaks to Agnes about smuggling, tribal factions and what must be done to resolve a growing crisis. Read the virtual issue: 70 years of the United Nations in International Affairs Read the Chatham House research paper: Libya's war economy: predation, profiteering and state weakness

This week Agnes meets Thomas Raines and Matthew Goodwin of the Europe Programme to revisit their research on the political Tribes of Europe in light of recent elections across the continent. Then, recording in San Francisco, Ben speaks to Rebecca Sanders from Cincinatti University about her recent article in International Affairs, which sheds light on conservative efforts to disrupt the women's rights agenda at the United Nations.   Read the Chatham House reports: Europe's Political Tribes: Exploring the Diversity of Views Across the EU The Future of Europe: Comparing Public and Elite Attitudes Take the online survey: Tribes of Europe Read the International Affairs article:  Norm spoiling: Undermining the International Women's Rights Agenda

In this week's episode Ben speaks to Laura Wellesley, a Research Fellow in the Energy, Environment and Resources Department at Chatham House, about her recent report assessing vulnerabilities in the global food trade. Then Agnes mediates a debate about how the internet is transforming the English language between journalist Marie Le Conte and The World Today editor Alan Philps. Read the Chatham House report: Chokepoints and Vulnerabilities in the Global Food Trade Read The World Today articles: The Joys of Online Syntax In Defence of Good Old Grammar    

This week, Ben speaks to Rob Yates, Head of the Universal Heath Coverage Policy Forum in the Centre on Global Health and Security at Chatham House. They discuss the widespread practice of detaining hospital patients in their wards if they cannot afford to pay their medical bills, an illegal policy affecting thousands in Africa and South Asia. Then, Agnes learns about the growth in activism around LGBTQ+ rights in Lebanon from Nicole El Khawaja, a Programme Coordinator with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House. They discuss recent developments in Lebanon and the wider region, including Beirut's inaugural Pride week in 2017, and assess whether progress can be maintained. Read the Research Paper: Hospital Detentions for Non-payment of Fees: A Denial of Rights and Dignity Read The World Today Article: Coming soon.

In this week’s episode, Ben speaks to Champa Patel about President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs in the Philippines, and the prospects for the preliminary examination launched recently by the International Criminal Court. Agnes then discusses UK defence policy and wider European security with Andrew Dorman, who also gives an insight into publishing with International Affairs. Read the Expert Comment  In Examining the Philippines’ Drug War, the ICC Takes a Positive but Challenging Step  Read the International Affairs Blogpost  UK Defence Policy: Groundhog Day Re-visited

This week, Agnes speaks to Helen Fitzwilliam about a new Italian judge-led project to relocate the wives and children of the Calabrian mafia family, the ‘Ndrangheta. Ben then interviews Xenia Wickett about her recent report on transatlantic relations. Read the article Escape from the Mafia: an Italian Judge’s Radical Plan Read the report Transatlantic Relations: Converging or Diverging? Department/project US and the Americas Programme, Transatlantic Rift: The State of US-Europe Relations

In this new podcast series, Agnes Frimston and Ben Horton interview Chatham House experts about the critical underlying issues which are shaping modern society. The first episode features Patricia Lewis, Head of the International Security Department at Chatham House, on cybersecurity for nuclear weapons systems; and Inderjeet Parmar, Head of Politics and International Relations at City University, on the future of the US-led liberal world order. Read the research paper: Cybersecurity of Nuclear Weapons Systems: Threats, Vulnerabilities and Consequences Read the International Affairs article: The US-led liberal order: imperialism by another name?