Diplomacy and Discourse Podcast

In this episode of the Diplomacy and Discourse Podcast, host A.R. takes a deep dive into the intellectual foundations of international relations — and why many of those foundations no longer hold up.

From Realism and Liberalism to Constructivism, Critical Theory, and Postcolonialism, we explore how these theories shaped our understanding of world politics — and why they may be out of sync with the complexities of today's geopolitical realities.

As global crises multiply and institutions struggle to adapt, is it time to rethink what we teach, how we theorize, and what we expect from world politics?

We discuss how:

• Modern leaders use traditional theories selectively — and sometimes manipulatively.
• Globalization, corporate power, and cyberwarfare are rewriting the rules.
• Constructivism and postmodern IR offer alternatives rooted in people power and cultural transformation.
• IR education must evolve to meet the challenges of a world shaped by both power and principle.

A.R. also walks you through the key critiques of NATO, UN cooperation breakdowns, and the real-world gaps between theory and practice — all while asking a crucial question: what should the next generation of IR scholars, policymakers, and citizens be learning instead?

🎧 Tune in, think critically, and join the conversation about what the future of international relations should look like.

📬 Questions or feedback? Email us at: [email protected]

• Acharya, Amitav. Towards a Global International Relations? International Relations Theory, 2017
• Dietzel, Alix. Global Justice and Climate Governance, Edinburgh University Press, 2019
• Holst, J.J. ‘Keeping a Fractured Peace’ in Subduing Sovereignty, Pinter Publishers, 1994
• Machiavelli, Niccolò. The Prince, Reader’s Library Classics, 2021
• McGlinchey, Stephen; Walters, Rosie, & Gold, Dana. International Relations Theory, E-International Relations, 2017
• NATO, nato.int
• Onuf, Nicholas. World of Our Making, Routledge, 2012
• Katzenstein, Keohane, Krasner. International Organization and the Study of World Politics, 1999
• Roberts, A. NATO’s ‘Humanitarian War’ over Kosovo, Survival, 41 (1999)
• Stoltenberg, Jens, Munich Security Conference, 18 Feb 2022: link
• Stoltenberg, Jens, Spain’s NATO Anniversary, 30 May 2022: link
• United Nations, un.org
• An Assessment of Modern International Relations Theory, Anglisticum Journal, 2024

Welcome back to Diplomacy and Discourse, and thank you for joining us for the final installment of our five-part series on power politics. In this episode, we zoom in on today’s global flashpoints—Ukraine, Taiwan, the South China Sea—and unpack how these battlegrounds are reshaping the balance of power.

From Russia’s costly war in Ukraine to China’s tightening grip over the Indo-Pacific, we examine how military aggression, spheres of influence, economic leverage, and strategic ambiguity are rewriting the rules of international engagement. This isn’t just about war—it’s about control, prestige, survival, and the future of a fragmented world order.

We tackle the rise (and potential fall) of multipolarity, the contradictions in America’s foreign policy, and why spheres of influence—once thought obsolete—are roaring back. By connecting the dots across regions and history, this episode sheds light on how today’s great-power tensions echo past rivalries while forging new global fault lines.

🎧 Tune in as we bring this series to a close with a clear-eyed look at what’s happening now, and where we might be headed next.

📬 Have questions or thoughts? Reach out at [email protected]

In Episode 12, Part 4 of Diplomacy and Discourse, we turn the page from the great power games of the past to the quiet calculations shaping the future. A.R. explores the subtle and often overlooked endgames of U.S. foreign policy — from Biden’s cautious yet coordinated response to the Ukraine war, to Trump’s unapologetically transactional worldview. This episode unpacks how restraint, ambiguity, and misread history are actively reshaping the norms of global conflict and cooperation.

We ask big questions: What does “victory” even mean in today’s multipolar world? How do great powers avoid war without sacrificing influence? And what are the long-term consequences when diplomacy becomes just another tool of leverage?

From NATO’s shifting posture to Trump’s freeze on aid and Biden’s high-stakes balancing act — this is a deep dive into the final chapters of 21st-century power politics, and the echoes they leave behind.

📩 Got thoughts? Send them to: [email protected] 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, comment, and follow for more critical international analysis every week.

In Episode 11, Part 3 of Diplomacy and Discourse, we dive into today’s most dangerous flashpoints—Ukraine, the South China Sea, and the Middle East—to reveal how power politics is alive, brutal, and evolving. From Russia’s Arctic ambitions to China’s Indo-Pacific expansionism, and from Iranian proxies to Israeli deterrence, this episode maps the high-stakes battlegrounds shaping our world. We also explore U.S. foreign policy, Trump vs. Biden strategies, and the rise of multi-alignment in a rapidly fragmenting global order.

Power politics didn’t die with the Cold War—it simply changed form. Tune in for a real-world look at the chessboard of 21st-century geopolitics.

💬 Like the episode? Drop your thoughts in the comments and share with fellow global affairs nerds!

📧 Email us: [email protected] 📌 Subscribe and follow for future episodes.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Diplomacy and Discourse. First off, I want to apologize for the two-week delay in getting this episode out. Life got a little hectic — I’ve been busy packing, planning, and traveling. I’m now officially recording this episode internationally from Israel/Palestine, where I’ll be based for the foreseeable future. I appreciate your patience, and I’ll do my best to keep the episodes coming, even while I’m on the move.

Now, onto the episode. This is Part 2 of our three-part series on global power dynamics, and we’re diving deep into the post–Cold War world. From the so-called “unipolar moment” of American dominance to the rise of new players like Ursula von der Leyen and Annalena Baerbock, this episode explores how the global chessboard has shifted—where soft power and diplomacy are now as crucial as tanks and tariffs.

We’re unpacking the second-term boldness of Donald Trump, contrasting it with the multilateral legacy of Joe Biden, and looking at how the Kremlin, NATO, and the EU have all recalibrated. Cyber warfare, climate diplomacy, and strategic backchanneling—this isn’t just statecraft, it’s the new battlefield.

Whether you’re tracking the front lines in Ukraine or the ideological shifts in Berlin and Washington, this episode breaks it all down.

💬 Have thoughts or questions? Hit me up at [email protected]

📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, leave a comment, and follow for more on the power politics shaping our world.

In Part 1 of this special multi-part series, we will take you all on an epic journey through the history of power politics — from the brutal campaigns of the Assyrians and the legal-religious statecraft of Babylon to the empire-building of Rome, Persia, and the competing city-states of Greece. We trace how monarchs used religion, diplomacy, and warfare to consolidate control, and how the 20th century transformed power into an industrial and ideological showdown.

This episode connects ancient conquests with Cold War standoffs, revealing how force, fear, and strategy have always shaped global order. If you’ve ever wondered why today’s world feels like a chessboard of alliances, rivalries, and influence — this is your starting point.

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a rating, and email your thoughts to [email protected].

We all hear that the future is renewable — but the road to clean energy is anything but smooth. In this episode, A.R. breaks down why the global transition to renewable energy isn’t just about going green — it’s a high-stakes power shift that's already reshaping global alliances, disrupting economies, and challenging long-standing geopolitical norms.

From skyrocketing energy prices and resource competition to the new geopolitical risks around critical minerals and supply chains, we look at how the pursuit of sustainability is opening new fault lines in international relations. This episode explores what governments, businesses, and citizens must grapple with as we head into a future defined not just by solar panels and wind farms — but by uncertainty, competition, and global restructuring.

🎧 Like what you hear? Subscribe, leave a rating, and email your thoughts to [email protected]

In this extended episode, we explore the forces transforming the modern Middle East — and why they matter to the entire world. From exploding populations and water scarcity to migration waves, energy competition, and new power dynamics, host A.R. breaks down the geopolitical pressures shaping the region’s future. You’ll hear how cities, corporations, and rising powers are redrawing the map — and how climate, economics, and technology are driving a seismic shift across borders. If you want to understand where global politics is headed, this episode is your roadmap.

🎧 Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and drop your thoughts at [email protected].

In this powerful opening to a two-part series, we will unpack how geography, economics, and diplomacy shape the modern global chessboard. From America's strategic advantages to China's growing challenges, and from the evolution of BRICS to the pivotal roles of Iran and Saudi Arabia, this episode dives deep into how "smart power" is redefining influence in a multipolar world. Learn how history, geography, and shifting alliances are creating new realities — and why mastering smart power is no longer optional for global players.

🎙️ Subscribe, comment, and send us your thoughts at [email protected].

In Part 2 of our exploration of complex global challenges, we shift from diagnosing the world’s most wicked problems to unpacking innovative and practical strategies for resolving them. From persistent Middle East instability to global climate inertia, this episode dissects the limitations of past interventions and looks at how systems thinking, collaboration, and forward-looking policies might offer a better path forward. Join A.R. as we break down geopolitics, education, and policy reform — and explore how countries, communities, and individuals can turn complexity into opportunity.

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and send us your thoughts at [email protected].

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Disarming Youth Combatants: Mitigating Youth Radicalization and V.pdf

Strategic Reengagement in the Middle East - Center for American Progress

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