Ten years after South Sudan’s independence, Ambassador Susan D. Page joins the Council’s Elizabeth Shackelford on Deep Dish to discuss their shared history in the country, what went wrong with statehood, and the lessons the international community must learn for the future.  

A century after the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, Bruce Dickson, author of The Party and the People: Chinese Politics in the 21st Century, joins Deep Dish to examine how the party maintains its power and what influences will shape its future—and geopolitics. 

After nearly 20 politically motivated arrests in the last month, Nicaraguan President Ortega’s crackdown on his opposition could shake the country’s democracy. Researcher Ryan Berg and journalist Cindy Regidor join Deep Dish to explain the field for November’s presidential election and whether we’re witnessing the rise of a “second dictatorship.”

Underneath the public face of unity at this week’s NATO meetings, potential disagreements and fissures between the United States and its European allies could significantly complicate the US’ return to the global stage. Council President Ivo Daalder and the New York Times’ Steve Erlanger join Deep Dish to analyze if President Biden has successfully reinvigorated the alliance and whether a shared agenda exists.

Researcher and practitioner Séverine Autesserre argues that traditional approaches to peacebuilding often fail because they follow a top-down formula: expert expatriates parachute in to solve a problem with big budgets, cut-and-paste solutions, and a return ticket home. She joins Deep Dish to explain why a new strategy is needed and how grassroots efforts offer hope for an end to violent conflict.

China announced families can now have three children as opposed to two — a reaction to new data showing shocking population growth slowdowns and mirroring global declines. Demographics expert Nicholas Eberstadt joins Deep Dish to explain why population size, capabilities, and characteristics matter more for competition between great powers than economic or military power. 

US Secretary of State Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to protecting American interests in the Arctic last week—but what does that mean, exactly? Arctic experts Eugene Rumer and Rebecca Pincus join Deep Dish to unpack the debate over the Arctic’s potential as a geopolitical flashpoint and possibilities for a very cold new Cold War.

After a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, former United States Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations Martin Indyk joins Deep Dish to explain the pattern driving the latest violence, and implications for the peace process, regional stability, and President Biden’s desire to pivot away from the Middle East. 

Turkish President Erdoğan initially pursued “zero problems with neighbors” as a foreign policy strategy, but now relies on the country’s military might to achieve political goals. Brookings’ Kemal Kirişci and journalist Ayla Jean Yackley join Deep Dish to explain what Turkey’s approach means for neighbors, allies, and foes.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called the United States' decision to leave Afghanistan by September 11 a “moment of both opportunity and risk” this week. The University of Texas at Austin’s Aaron O’Connell and the International Crisis Group’s Andrew Watkins join guest host Elizabeth Shackelford on Deep Dish to examine whether the United States can withdraw without undermining regional stability.