This episode of The IR thinker examines the evolving partnership between India and Japan in the Indo-Pacific with Dr Srabani Roy Choudhury, focusing on how India’s SAGAR vision and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific concept complement one another in strategic and normative terms. The discussion explores defence cooperation, Taiwan’s growing salience, Japan’s changing defence posture, the role of the United States, and joint efforts on critical minerals, supply chains and energy cooperation as the two countries navigate an increasingly contested regional order.

Dr Srabani Roy Choudhury is Professor of Japanese Studies at the Centre for East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. Her research focuses on Japan’s foreign and security policy, Indo–Japanese relations and the politics of the Indo-Pacific, and in 2024 she received the Commendation for Promotion of Japanese Studies from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Publications:

The Indo-Pacific Theatre: Strategic Visions and Frameworks

Japan and its Partners in the Indo-Pacific: Engagements and Alignment

India-Japan Partnership: Abe the Game Changer

India, Japan and Beyond: Human Security, Environment, Development, Innovation and Resilience

Content

00:00 - Introduction

02:27 - Complementary Visions: India’s SAGAR and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)

09:39 - Reception of India’s SAGAR Initiative in Japan

12:11 - SAGAR: A Fixed Strategy or an Evolving Concept?

13:21 - Impact of Japan’s Increased Defence Spending on India-Japan Relations in the Indo-Pacific

19:04 - Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (RPSS) Between India and Japan

21:54 - The Role of Taiwan in Shaping India-Japan Relations

27:27 - Comparing the Postures of Abe, Kishida, and Ishiba Towards India

36:41 - Ishiba’s Controversial Statement on an ‘Asian NATO’

39:36 - The Role of the USA in India-Japan Relations

44:17 - Japan’s Recognition of Arunachal Pradesh and Its Strategic Implications Against China

48:39 - India’s Limited Engagement in Minilateral Initiatives with Like-Minded Nations

51:54 - Strengthening India-Japan Collaboration in Securing Critical Minerals and Supply Chains Through SCRI

54:29 - Energy Cooperation Between India and Japan

57:28 - The Future of India-Japan Relations

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This episode of The IR thinker explores the shifting contours of Australia–China relations with Philipp Ivanov, examining how Canberra navigates security concerns, economic interdependence and alliance commitments in an increasingly competitive Indo-Pacific. The conversation considers the impact of AUKUS and the Quad, China’s reaction to these partnerships, the role of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the evolving links in trade, higher education and energy between the two countries.

Philipp Ivanov is a public policy leader and China specialist with extensive executive experience across government, universities and think tanks in Australia, the United States, China, Asia and Russia. He is the founder of the Geopolitical Risks and Strategy Practice (GRASP) and a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Publications:

Australian CEOs face a wave of geopolitical risks

Together and Apart: The Conundrum of the China-Russia Partnership

A Second Chance: How Team Australia can Succeed in Asia

Disruptive Asia: 5-volume essay series on the impact of Asia’s rise on Australia

Russia has also become a lot more important to China

What Lies in Wait for Xi and Putin in the Year of the Dragon?

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

Content

00:00 - Introduction

01:38 - Current Diplomatic Landscape: Australia and China

05:14 - Domestic Consensus: Australia’s Internal Views on China

09:54 - Shifting Alliances: The Impact of Quad and AUKUS on Australia’s Strategy

14:28 - China’s Perspective: Reactions to Australia’s Security Partnerships

17:42 - The Belt and Road Initiative: Implications for China-Australia Relations

23:26 - Australia’s Strategic Response to the Belt and Road Initiative

29:02 - The U.S. Factor: American Influence on Australia-China Relations

35:12 - Trade Dynamics: Australia’s Economic Dependence on China

43:30 - Education and Espionage: Chinese Influence in Australian Academia

50:39 - Multilateral vs. Bilateral: Australia-China Engagement in the Indo-Pacific

56:16 - Energy Ties: The Australia-China Energy Relationship

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This episode of The IR thinker explores political meritocracy and meritocratic democracy with Assistant Professor Elena Ziliotti, examining how ideas drawn from Confucian and Western political theories can inform debates on leadership selection, voter competence and democratic equality. The conversation considers the claimed epistemic advantages of meritocratic arrangements, their vulnerabilities to manipulation and elitism, and the prospects for combining meritocratic insights with democratic institutions in diverse political contexts.

Elena Ziliotti is a tenured Assistant Professor of Ethics and Political Philosophy at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Her research focuses on political meritocracy, Confucian and liberal democratic thought, and the normative assessment of institutional designs that aim to promote good governance and public spirited leadership.

Publications:

Meritocratic Democracy: A Cross-Cultural Political Theory

Breaking the Mold: Normative Hybridity as the Key to Contemporary “Non-Western” Political Theorizing

An epistemic case for confucian democracy

Questions for Hierarchical Confucianism

Political meritocracy and the troubles of Western democracies

Content

00:00 - Introduction

01:51 - Meritocratic Democracy vs. Traditional Governance

05:51 - East vs. West: Understanding Meritocracy

07:17 - Epistemic Superiority of Democratic Rule

10:04 - Defining Public-Spirited Political Leaders

14:09 - Addressing Voter Manipulation Concerns

19:12 - Weaknesses of Political Meritocracy: A Confucian View

25:15 - Political Parties in a Cross-Cultural Context

27:53 - Democratic Institutions vs. Meritocratic Governance

31:55 - The Role of Partisan Juries in Candidate Selection

39:00 - Balancing Meritocracy and Democratic Equality

40:44 - Singapore and China

45:17 - Benefits of Confucian Insights for Western Democracy

49:35 - Bridging Western and Confucian Political Theories

52:26 - Influence of Eastern and Western Thought on Elena’s Research

55:26 - Goals for Meritocratic Democracy in Diverse Contexts

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This episode of The IR thinker examines the evolving politics of the Kurds with Dr Marianna Charountaki, from the impact of the 2003 US invasion on the Kurdistan Regional Government and the fallout of the 2017 independence referendum to relations with Türkiye, Baghdad and external powers such as Russia. The conversation explores global perceptions of the Kurds, their role in counter-terrorism and the Syrian conflict, and their continuing struggle for recognition, rights and a viable political future.

Dr Marianna Charountaki is Senior Lecturer in International Politics at the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom. Her research focuses on international relations theory, foreign policy analysis and Middle East area studies, with particular attention to Kurdish politics and the foreign policies of regional and external powers in the region.

Publications:

The Kurds and US Foreign Policy: International Relations in the Middle East since 1945

Kurdish policies in Syria under the Arab Uprisings: a revisiting of IR in the new Middle Eastern order

The GCC in Kurdish Politics

From resistance to military institutionalisation: the case of the peshmerga versus the Islamic State

Iran and Turkey: International and Regional Engagement in the Middle East

State and non-state interactions in International Relations: an alternative theoretical outlook

Non-state actors and change in foreign policy: the case of a self-determination referendum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Mapping Non-State Actors in International Relations

Content

00:00 – Introduction

02:19 – Impact of the 2003 U.S. Invasion on the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)

06:02 – Global Perceptions of the Kurds

08:29 – Türkiye’s Response to the PKK

12:25 – Current Relations Between Türkiye and the KRG

18:15 – Effects of the 2017 Kurdish Independence Referendum

25:49 – The Kurds’ Role in Fighting Terrorism and Western Relations

38:32 – KRG-Baghdad Relations on Oil Exports to Türkiye

46:51 – Russia’s Relations with the Kurds

54:38 – Human Rights and Crackdowns on Kurdish Political Parties

01:00:04 – The Kurds’ Role in the Syrian Conflict

01:08:51 – Future Political Goals

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This episode of The IR thinker examines Romania’s energy security and its strategic role in the Black Sea region with Roxana Caliminte, focusing on how offshore resources, regional tensions and EU climate goals intersect. The discussion explores Romania’s Black Sea energy strategy, relations with neighbours such as Bulgaria and Turkey, investment and infrastructure challenges, and the trade-offs between economic gains, environmental protection and long-term sustainability.

Roxana Caliminte served as Deputy Secretary General of Gas Infrastructure Europe from 2017 to 2024, having previously worked for Romania’s gas transmission operator Transgaz on relations with EU institutions and government bodies. She has also been an adviser on international relations and economic affairs in the Romanian Parliament, is a visiting lecturer at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, and has been recognised by Consultancy Intelligence Publishing as one of the Top 30 Female Energy Market Analysts globally.

Content

00:00 - Introduction

01:52 - Romania’s Black Sea Energy Strategy: Current Vision and Goals

04:25 - Strengthening Romania’s Energy Security

06:50 - Impact of the Ukraine Conflict on Romania’s Energy Security

08:14 - Balancing Energy Opportunities and Russian Interests in the Black Sea

10:09 - Diplomatic Relations with Bulgaria and Turkey in the Context of Energy

11:19 - Joint Energy Initiatives with Bulgaria and Turkey

12:08 - Romania’s Role in the EU’s Energy Security and Diversification

15:09 - Attracting Foreign Investment: Regulatory and Policy Challenges

16:43 - Economic Gains vs Sustainability in Exploiting Black Sea Energy

18:40 - Public Opinion on Black Sea Energy Projects and the Energy Transition

20:57 - Consequences of Failing to Capitalise on Black Sea Energy Resources

22:21 - Key Theoretical Factors for Potential Failure in Romania’s Energy Projects

23:44 - Technological Innovations Required for Deepwater Extraction in the Black Sea

25:23 - Infrastructure Upgrades Needed for Monetising Black Sea Energy Resources

27:42 - International Interest in Developing Black Sea Energy Projects

28:41 - Skilled Labour Requirements for Romania’s Energy Sector

30:06 - Balancing Environmental Protection and Energy Exploitation

33:13 - Impact of Energy Projects on Romania’s Fisheries and Tourism Sectors

35:06 - Meeting EU Energy and Climate Goals Through Black Sea Resources

38:13 - Government and Opposition Perspectives on Romania’s Energy Transition

40:37 - Potential Research Areas in Romania’s Energy Strategy and Policy

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This episode of The IR thinker traces the evolution of arms control from its Cold War origins to today’s challenges of governing rapidly advancing weapons technologies, in conversation with Dr Andrew Reddie. The discussion examines what makes arms control treaties work in practice, how non state actors and rising powers shape regimes, the implications of cases such as New START and the INF Treaty, and emerging ideas for regulating new nuclear and high tech weapons.

Dr Andrew Reddie is Associate Research Professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and Founder of the Berkeley Risk and Security Lab. His research sits at the intersection of technology, politics and security, focusing on how innovations in nuclear weapons, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence are reshaping international order and the governance of strategic weapons.

Publications:

Economic Statecraft in the 21st Century: Implications for the Future of the Global Trade Regime

Evidence of the unthinkable: Experimental wargaming at the nuclear threshold

Arms Control Workshop: Summary

19 Sanctions in an Era of Strategic Competition Get access Arrow

Content

00:00 - Introduction

02:16 - Evolution of Arms Control: From the Cold War to Technological Governance

05:32 - Weapons Under Current Arms Control Regimes

07:30 - Key Factors in Successful Treaty Implementation and Contemporary Challenges

11:09 - The Impact of Non-State Actors and Non-Superpowers on Arms Control

14:46 - Global Oversight and Supervision of Arms Control Regimes

17:23 - Verification Processes in Arms Control

19:52 - Identifying Loopholes in the Verification Processes

24:01 - The Implications of New START and INF Treaties on Modern Arms Control

27:44 - Contemporary Fears of a Renewed Arms Race

32:14 - The Unique Case of the USA as the Only User of Nuclear Weapons

33:05 - Enriched Uranium Weapons: A Closer Look

34:50 - China’s Approach to Arms Control

37:21 - Sino-Russian Consultations on Arms Control

38:38 - India and Pakistan: Approaches to Arms Control

39:13 - Iran and Israel: Divergent Approaches to Arms Control

41:07 - The United Kingdom and France’s Role in Arms Control

42:51 - Potential New Nuclear Weapon States: Candidates and Risks

47:39 - Innovative Approaches and Ideas for Strengthening Arms Control

50:03 - Incentives for States to Abandon Nuclear Weapons

51:15 - Governance of Nuclear Weapons: Current Frameworks and Future Directions

53:54 - Emerging Weapon Technologies and the Need for New Arms Control Regimes

56:31 - Prospective Areas for Future Research in Arms Control

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This episode of The IR thinker revisits the making and unmaking of the 2004 EU Constitutional Treaty with Professor Paul Craig, tracing the work of the Convention on the Future of Europe, the politics of drafting and ratification, and the reasons why the project ultimately failed. The discussion also addresses whether the European Union needs a constitution at all, what form such a document might take, and how the constitutional question continues to shape debates on European integration today.

Paul Craig is a British legal scholar specialising in administrative and European Union law. He served as Professor of English Law at the University of Oxford from 1998 to 2019, is now Emeritus Professor, and was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1998.

Publications:

EU Membership: Formal and Substantive Dimensions

The Evolution of EU Law (3rd edn)

EU Law: Text, Cases, and Materials (8th edn)

Content

00:00 - Introduction

02:32 - The Role of the Convention on the Future of Europe

13:46 - The Emergence of the 2004 Constitutional Treaty

27:34 - Reaching Consensus on the EU Constitution

30:41 - Influence of External Actors on the Convention

33:28 - Reasons Behind the Failure of the EU Constitutional Treaty

51:09 - Was the EU Constitution Intended to Supersede National Constitutions?

57:56 - Does the EU Need a Constitution?

01:04:22 - Areas for Further Research on the EU Constitutional Question

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This episode of The IR thinker explores the evolving practice of European diplomacy with Professor Iver B. Neumann, focusing on how the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as internal EU divisions, reshape diplomatic resources, priorities and strategies. The conversation examines the role and competences of the European External Action Service, debates over strengthening EU diplomacy, the influence of public opinion and media, and how different theoretical traditions inform contemporary diplomatic practice and its perceived Eurocentrism.

Professor Iver B. Neumann is a Norwegian political scientist and social anthropologist and Director of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute in Oslo. A former Montague Burton Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics, he has also held senior positions at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and teaches International Relations at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. His research focuses on how polities relate to one another across time and space, drawing on continental social theory and empirical work on Russian and Norwegian foreign policy and, increasingly, archaeology.

Publications:

Diplomaten som helt: Fridtjof Nansen

Returning Practice to the Linguistic Turn: The Case of Diplomacy

At Home with the Diplomats: Inside a European Foreign Ministry

Diplomatic tenses: A social evolutionary perspective on diplomacy

Content

00:00 - Introduction

02:36 - Impact of the Israeli-Gaza Conflict and the War in Ukraine on European Diplomatic Resources

09:31 - Assessment of European Diplomatic Evolution

12:38 - Internal Divisions within European Diplomacy

18:04 - Competences of the European External Action Service (EEAS)

20:01 - Debate on Strengthening the EEAS

24:46 - Public Opinion and Its Influence on European Diplomacy

28:50 - Role of Media in Shaping Diplomatic Discourse

33:44 - European Diplomacy and Its Engagement with the Middle East

35:09 - EU Diplomacy and the Recognition of a Palestinian State

37:23 - Critiques of EU Diplomacy from Non-European Nations

39:32 - Diplomacy as Practice vs. Diplomacy as Foreign Policy

42:40 - Diplomacy and Theoretical Frameworks

50:28 - Influence of Realist, Liberal, and Constructivist Paradigms on Diplomacy

53:06 - Is Diplomacy a Eurocentric Notion? Myth or Reality?

57:08 - Prominent Schools of Diplomacy

58:36 - Distinctive Features of Norwegian Diplomacy

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This episode of The IR thinker examines the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and its implications for the United Kingdom’s national security with Dr Gareth Mott. The conversation explores borders and sovereignty in cyberspace, key threats facing the UK, the role of public and private actors in defence, international cooperation, and the tension between effective security and the protection of citizens’ privacy.

Dr Gareth Mott is a Research Fellow in the Cyber team at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI). His research focuses on the governance of cyberspace, the changing cyber risk environment and the strategic development of cybersecurity at both national and organisational levels, with particular interest in the challenges and opportunities posed by peer to peer technologies.

Publications:

Constructing the Cyberterrorist: Critical Reflections on the UK Case

Content

00:00 - Introduction

01:52 - Exploring the Concept of Borders in Cyberspace

06:40 - Sovereignty and the Fragmentation of the Internet

13:06 - Cyber Threats Facing the United Kingdom

24:31 - Protecting the UK from Cyber Attacks: State and Private Sector Roles

26:56 - Key Institutions Managing UK Cybersecurity

30:33 - Overview of the UK Cyber Security Strategy

33:49 - Applying Traditional Deterrence Theory in Cyberspace

39:33 - The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Cybersecurity

40:34 - UK’s Capabilities in Detecting and Responding to Emerging Cyber Threats

44:35 - International Cooperation in Cyberspace Security

46:04 - The Existence and Role of Cyber Law Enforcement

47:47 - Cybersecurity Education in the UK: Quality and Focus

50:54 - Balancing Cybersecurity with Citizens’ Privacy

53:42 - Identifying Research Gaps in Cybersecurity

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This episode of The IR thinker explores Professor Timo Kivimäki’s notion of a “Long Peace” in East Asia, examining its historical roots, the role of non-interference, developmentalism and economic interdependence, and the distinct diplomatic practices that underpin regional stability. The conversation also addresses key criticisms, current security threats, and what Western policy-makers and scholars might learn from East Asian approaches to peacekeeping and order-building.

Professor Timo Kivimäki is a leading scholar of International Relations, currently Professor at the University of Bath and Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Sejong Institute in Seoul. He has previously held professorships at the Universities of Helsinki, Lapland and Copenhagen, and directed both the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies and the Institute of Development Studies in Helsinki, contributing extensively to peace research and the study of East Asian international relations.

Publications:

Protecting the Global Civilian from Violence

The Failure to Protect: The Path to and Consequences of Humanitarian Interventionism

The Long Peace of ASEAN

Power, contribution and dependence in NATO burden sharing

Content

00:00 - Introduction

02:15 - Inspiration for Studying Peace in the East Asia Region

03:42 - Challenges Faced in Researching East Asia

05:19 - Defining the Long Peace of East Asia

07:06 - Differentiating the Long Peace from Other Peace Periods in the Region

08:22 - The Principle of Non-Interference

11:15 - Origins of the Non-Interference Concept in East Asia

12:57 - Criticism: Non-Interference and the Perpetuation of Authoritarian Violence

17:44 - The Concept of Developmentalism

19:07 - China and ASEAN’s Role in East Asian Peace

21:25 - Face-Saving Strategies in Diplomacy

25:27 - Economic Interdependence in East Asia

27:42 - Exploring Other Forms of Interdependence

28:57 - Weaknesses in the Long Peace of East Asia Theory

31:36 - Balancing Non-Interference with Humanitarian Intervention in East Asia

34:22 - Diverse Regimes and the Notion of Democratisation in East Asia

39:36 - Lessons the West Can Learn from East Asian Peacekeeping

43:36 - Multipolarity vs. the Current West-Led International Order

46:51 - Explaining Current Security Threats in East Asia

52:33 - Potential Research Gaps in East Asian Peace Studies

54:43 - Diversity of Researchers in Peace Studies

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