Counterpoint

Artificial intelligence continues to advance at a remarkable pace, raising big questions about the future of humanity. Leading figures warn that increasingly powerful AI systems could one day escape our control, but peers argue that line of thinking is just speculative fearmongering.

Welcome to Counterpoint, where we look at one big question facing world leaders from opposing points of view.

In this episode, we’re asking: Could AI destroy the world?

Arguing in favor is Stuart Russell, who has been referred to as the “godfather of AI” and whose foundational textbook, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, is used in universities around the world. He’s currently a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley.

And arguing against is Jürgen Schmidhuber, who has been referred to as the “father of modern AI” for his breakthroughs in the technology. He is currently a co-chair of the Center of Excellence for Generative AI at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by FP deputy editor Nick Danforth.

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It’s been six years since the Abraham Accords were signed, and like so much in the Middle East, their impact and future are very much an open question. The agreements were originally aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states. But analysts debate whether they have strengthened regional cooperation and security or contributed to greater instability in the Middle East.

Welcome to Counterpoint, where we take one big question facing world leaders and look at it from opposing points of view.

In this episode, we’re asking: Has the Middle East Benefited from the Abraham Accords?

Arguing in favor is Steven A. Cook⁠, a senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a columnist at Foreign Policy.

Arguing against is Matt Duss⁠, the executive vice president at the Center for International Policy and a former foreign-policy advisor to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. He recently co-authored the piece⁠ “How the Abraham Accords Fueled a New Era of Conflict”⁠ with Zuri Linetsky.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by FP deputy editor Nick Danforth.

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Last week at the United Nations, U.S. President Donald Trump made clear that another round of war with Iran was on the table. But after more than 200 days of conflict, what else can the United States do to force the Iranian leadership to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and abandon nuclear enrichment?

Welcome to Counterpoint, where we take one big question facing world leaders and look at it from opposing points of view.

In this episode, we’re asking: Is a confrontational approach to Iran necessary?

Arguing in favor is Matt Kroenig, a professor at Georgetown University and former U.S. Defense Department strategist.

And to argue against this is Trita Parsi, a co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and former president of the National Iranian American Council.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by FP deputy editor Nick Danforth.

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This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trade, technology, and Taiwan are all expected to be on the agenda. It’s the two leaders’ second meeting in less than six months, as they try to stabilize the future of U.S.-China relations. Many fear tensions are brewing, but with their tariff war in the past, could it be possible for the world's two biggest economies to work together?

Welcome to Counterpoint, where we take one big question facing world leaders and look at it from opposing points of view.

In this episode, we’re asking: Can the United States and China build a stable relationship?

Arguing in favor is Jessica Chen Weiss, a professor of China studies at Johns Hopkins University and a former senior advisor at the U.S. State Department.

Arguing against it is Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies U.S. strategy in Asia and U.S.-China competition. He is also a former staffer at the U.S. National Security Council.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by FP deputy editor Nick Danforth.

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NATO was created after World War II to deter the Soviet Union and protect Western Europe. But the trans-Atlantic organization did not disband after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In fact, in the years since, its membership has doubled to include countries in Eastern Europe and eventually Finland and Sweden. Supporters say the expansion helps protect countries from Russian aggression and makes Europe safer. But critics argue that NATO’s growth has provoked a confrontation with Vladimir Putin.

Welcome to Season 3 of Counterpoint, where we take one big question facing world leaders and look at it from opposing points of view. Our host this season is Nick Danforth, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy.

To launch the season, we’re asking: Has NATO expansion made Europe safer?

Arguing in favor is Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and a political science professor and senior fellow at Stanford University.

Arguing against is Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center and an assistant professor at Georgetown University. Ashford is also a columnist at Foreign Policy.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.

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The world at this moment is more fractured than it’s been in decades: more wars, more extremism, and deeper disagreements on a range of issues. On season 3 of Counterpoint, we get to the heart of those disagreements with a series of debates—hosted by Nick Danforth, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy magazine. Nick brings together two of the smartest people in their field on each episode, to face off over the world’s most vexing questions, including: Are the U.S. and China on a collision course? Has NATO expansion made Europe safer? And will AI destroy the world? Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.

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On a special bonus episode of Counterpoint, FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal sits down with former U.S. secretary of state Hilary Clinton on the main stage of this year’s Doha Forum to discuss the Trump administration’s newly released National Security Strategy, what Congress needs to do better, the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and more.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.

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On a special bonus episode of Counterpoint, FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal sits down with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, on the sidelines of the United Nations’ annual meetings to discuss relations with Washington, Russia’s war in Ukraine, recognizing Palestine, and dealing with China.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.

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The Bosnian War in the early 1990s was at the time the bloodiest conflict on European soil since World War II. Some 100,000 people were killed and more than 2 million displaced amid widespread ethnic cleansing and massacres.

In 1995, the warring parties struck a power-sharing deal in negotiations just outside Dayton, Ohio, in what came to be known as the Dayton Accords. But the deal didn’t really resolve the underlying problems. Bosnia continues to be plagued by ethnic division, and the country’s political structure is widely seen as ineffective and unstable.

Welcome to Counterpoint. On each episode, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view. 

In our season finale, we’re tackling the question: Did the Dayton Accords set Bosnia up for failure?

Arguing that the agreement put Bosnia on a path to perpetual crisis is Jasmin Mujanović, a senior nonresident fellow at New Lines Institute. He is the author of two books, Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans and  The Bosniaks: Nationhood After Genocide.

And making the case that the Dayton Accords were essential to bringing peace and maintaining stability is Chris Hill. A career diplomat, Hill was part of the U.S. delegation that brokered the agreement. Most recently, he served as the⁠ U.S. ambassador to Serbia⁠ under President Joe Biden.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.

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The United States and China took a step back this week from their trade war, announcing that tariffs imposed just a few weeks ago would be slashed significantly—at least for now. But even as the tension seems to be ebbing, some people in the United States are questioning whether it’s beneficial for the two economies to be intertwined at all.

Welcome to Counterpoint. On each episode, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view.  

Today, we’re tackling the question: Should the United States completely decouple from China? 

With us to make the case for a tough stance against China is ⁠Derek Scissors⁠, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the chief economist of the China Beige Book. He is also the author of the China Global investment Tracker.  

Arguing that broad decoupling won’t work to counter China is Lizzi C. Lee. She’s a fellow on Chinese economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.

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