The World Next Week

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss U.S.-German security cooperation in NATO and in the Indo-Pacific; China’s National People’s Congress begins its legislative session; Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha awaits the verdict of his treason trial as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s authoritarian grip tightens; and political tensions rise in Nigeria as the country reacts to Bola Tinubu’s presidential win.

Mentioned on the Podcast

"Satellite Photos Show Expansion of Chinese-funded Naval Base in Cambodia," Radio Free Asia

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/german-chancellor-scholz-visits-washington-chinas-congress-convenes-cambodian-opposition

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, holds its presidential election; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reaches the one-year mark; U.S. President Joe Biden’s new restrictions on migrants seeking asylum spurs fury from immigration activists.

Mentioned on the Podcast

Michelle Gavin, “The Continental Implications of Nigeria’s Elections,” CFR.org

Ebenezer Obadare, “What’s at Stake in Nigeria’s General Elections?,” CFR.org

“The Invasion That Shook the World,” Council of Councils

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/nigerias-election-one-year-russia-invaded-ukraine-us-asylum-restrictions-and-more

World leaders attend the Munich Security Conference, a high-level event focusing on global challenges; U.S. President Joe Biden visits Poland to reinforce NATO’s resolve for supporting Ukraine; and tens of thousands protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed changes to powers of the judiciary branch.

Mentioned on the Podcast

“Biden’s SOTU, Blinken Visits China, EU Bans Russian Petroleum Products, and More,” The World Next Week

Joshua Kurlantzick, Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China’s Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World

Olaf Scholz, “The Global Zeitenwende: How to Avoid a New Cold War in a Multipolar Era,” Foreign Affairs

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/munich-security-conference-biden-visits-poland-israels-judiciary-overhaul-and-more

Turkey and Syria struggle to respond to devastating earthquakes; Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, puts forward possible pardons for thousands of protesters; and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington, DC. 

Mentioned on the Podcast

Relief organizations among those involved in the massive response to Turkey and Syria:

• Ahbap

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/turkey-syria-earthquake-aftermath-khameneis-pardon-lula-visits-washington-and-more

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Beijing to try to stabilize U.S.-China relations; and the European Union’s embargo on Russian refined oil  products is scheduled to go into effect. 

Mentioned on the Podcast

Richard Haass, The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens

Ana Swanson, “Netherlands and Japan Said to Join U.S. in Curbing Chip Technology Sent to China,” New York Times  

Recommended Reading

James M. Lindsay, “Ten Facts About the State of the Union Address,” The Water’s Edge  

Pope Francis visits the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan during his fourth visit to Africa; Russia reacts to Western pledges to send tanks to Ukraine; and the United Nations works to counter the Taliban’s discrimination against women amid an escalating humanitarian crisis.

Mentioned on the Podcast

“The Power of the Pope,” Why It Matters

Qin Gang, “The Planet’s Future Depends on a Stable China-U.S. Relationship,” Washington Post

“The World Next Year: What to Watch in 2023,” The World Next Week

This is Jim’s last episode as a regular co-host of The World Next Week. Revisit a live taping that marked the tenth anniversary of the show, in which Jim and Bob were joined by NPR journalist Deborah S. Amos: “2019 Back to School and Live Taping of The World Next Week Podcast.”

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan discusses Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; China grapples with a sharp influx of COVID-19 cases amid Lunar New Year travels; and NATO concerns rise over tensions between Greece and Turkey. 

Mentioned on the Podcast

“China’s Covid Surge, With Yanzhong Huang and Zongyuan Zoe Liu,” The President’s Inbox

Steven A. Cook, “What Everyone Gets Wrong About Turkey,” Foreign Policy

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/high-level-us-visit-israel-chinas-covid-clouded-new-year-greece-turkey-tensions-and-more

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confronts the challenges posed by riots in the capital, Brasília; Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio visits U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss U.S.-Japan security cooperation; and the Czech Republic votes for a new president. 

Mentioned on the Podcast

Benjamin H. Bradlow and Mohammad Ali Kadivar, “How Brazil Can Prevent an Authoritarian Resurgence,” Foreign Affairs

“Constitutional Change in Japan,” CFR.org

The 118th U.S. Congress gets off to a rocky start; U.S. President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador meet in Mexico City for the tenth North American Leaders’ Summit; and China relaxes its strict COVID-19 border policies amid a surging COVID caseload. 

Mentioned on the Podcast

Qin Gang, “The Planet’s Future Depends on a Stable China-U.S. Relationship,” Washington Post

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/118th-us-congress-north-american-leaders-summit-china-reopens-and-more

In this special year-end episode, CFR Senior Fellow Carla Anne Robbins joins James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon to review the biggest events of 2022 and the stories to keep an eye on next year. They discuss precarious U.S.-China relations, climate change, Russia’s war in Ukraine, Iran’s protests, the state of democracy globally, and more. 

Mentioned on the Podcast

Alice C. Hill, “COP27 Didn’t Make Enough Progress to Prevent Climate Catastrophe,” CFR.org

Joshua Kurlantzick, Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China’s Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World

Beza Tesfaye, Climate Change and Conflict in the Sahel

“National Security Strategy [PDF],” The White House

“Renewables 2022 [PDF],” International Energy Agency

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-next-year-what-watch-2023