Ti Kosmos podcast

Human Rights in China and the responsibility of the West/ IDIS- China Program

 What is the current state of human rights in China? To what extend have they deteriorated under the rule of Xi Jinping? How does that affect the West? Are western countries sometimes complicit and what should be done?

To discuss about the current state of human rights in China we spoke with Ms. Eva Pils, Professor of Law at King’s College London, and one of the leading experts with extensive research experience in the field of Human Rights in China. 

Professor Pils explained the evolution of human rights in China during the last decades, and how they have deteriorated under the rule of Xi Jinping since 2012. Moreover, she analyzes why and how what happens in China affects directly and indirectly the countries of the West.  Not only we have a moral obligation to respect and promote human rights anywhere in the world, but also, we become complicit to human rights abuses when, for example we import products associated with forced labor and other abuses. Furthermore, Professor Pils explains how Chinese diaspora anywhere in the world can be subject to human right abuses from the Chinese state. 

This podcast is part of IDIS- China Program podcast Series, in cooperation with “Ti Kosmos podcast”. The host of the podcast is Marilisa Anastasopoulou. 

The Chinese Program at the Institute of International Relations (IIR – IDIS) promotes the systematic study of contemporary China in Greece, aiming to provide an in-depth understanding of China’s historical evolution, contradictions, political, economic, and social processes, as well as its global role.

For more information on the IDIS-China Program please visit:

https://chinaprogram.gr 

Τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα στην Κίνα και η ευθύνη της Δύσης / Κινεζικό Πρόγραμμα του Ι.Δ.Ι.Σ

Ποια είναι η τρέχουσα κατάσταση των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων στην Κίνα; Σε ποιο βαθμό έχουν επιδεινωθεί υπό την ηγεσία του Σι Τζινπίνγκ; Πώς επηρεάζει αυτό τη Δύση και γιατί την αφορά; Είναι, κάποιες φορές, η Δύση συνένοχη σε παραβιάσεις των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων στην Κίνα; Και τι μπορεί να γίνει γι' αυτό;

Συζητήσαμε την τρέχουσα κατάσταση των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων στην Κίνα, με την κ. Eva Pils, Καθηγήτρια Νομικής στο King’s College του Λονδίνου, με εκτενή ερευνητική εμπειρία στον τομέα των Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων στην Κίνα.

 Αυτή η συζήτηση αποτελεί μέρος της σειράς podcast του Κινεζικού Προγράμματος του Ινστιτούτου Διεθνών Σχέσεων σε συνεργασία με το "Ti Kosmos podcast". Παρουσιάστρια του podcast είναι η Μαριλίζα Αναστασοπούλου. 

 Το Κινεζικό Πρόγραμμα του Ινστιτούτου Διεθνών Σχέσεων  (Ι.ΔΙ.Σ.) προωθεί τη συστηματική μελέτη της σύγχρονης Κίνας στην Ελλάδα, επιδιώκοντας να προσφέρει σε βάθος κατανόηση της ιστορικής εξέλιξης, των αντιθέσεων, των πολιτικών οικονομικών και κοινωνικών διεργασιών, καθώς και του παγκόσμιου ρόλου της σύγχρονης Κίνας.

 links to audio sources used in the introduction of the podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2IeAFvZT_Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJTXpRLqgGg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNHgnBtuPos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrwNNfwJcO8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=0o_dLsxXc_s

https://www.france24.com/en/video/20220901-to-china-s-fury-un-accuses-beijing-of-uyghur-rights-abuses

US- China Relations: strategic competitors or outright enemies?

US-China relations are among the most important bilateral relations in the world, as noted by United States secretary of state Anthony Blinken in 2023.

Is China America's rival or enemy? What are the three main issues that the US government is monitoring regarding China? What will happen to Taiwan? How is the European Union positioned in relation to China and the US? How does China interact with authoritarian regimes and the "informal" network being formed globally?

Professor Neysun Mahboubi, Director of the Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations at the University of Pennsylvania, provides answers to these questions.

This podcast is part of the IDIS-China Program Podcast Series, in cooperation with the “Ti Kosmos Podcast.” The host of the podcast is Marilisa Anastasopoulou.

The China Program at the Institute of International Relations (IIR – IDIS) promotes the systematic study of contemporary China in Greece, aiming to provide an in-depth understanding of China’s historical evolution, contradictions, political, economic, and social processes, as well as its global role.

For more information on the IDIS-China Program please visit:

https://chinaprogram.gr

Links to audio sources used in the introduction of the podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGggLYszJYY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQkfFIcYrds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIvaIgBgnWk

Aμερική και Κίνα: ανταγωνιστές ή εχθροί;

Οι σχέσεις ΗΠΑ-Κίνας είναι μία από τις σημαντικότερες διμερείς σχέσεις στον κόσμο, όπως είχε δηλώσει ο Αμερικανός Υπουργός Εξωτερικών Άντονι Μπλίνκεν το 2023.

Είναι η Κίνα ανταγωνιστής ή εχθρός της Αμερικής; Ποια είναι τα τρία βασικά θέματα που απασχολούν την αμερικανική κυβέρνηση σε σχέση με την Κίνα; Τι θα συμβεί με την Ταϊβάν; Ποια είναι η θέση της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης απέναντι στην Κίνα και τις ΗΠΑ; Πώς συνδέεται η Κίνα με τα αυταρχικά καθεστώτα και το «άτυπο» δίκτυο που δημιουργείται παγκοσμίως;

Σε αυτά τα ερωτήματα απαντά ο καθηγητής Neysun Mahboubi, διευθυντής του Προγράμματος για το «Μέλλον των Αμερικανο-Κινεζικών Σχέσεων» του Πανεπιστημίου της Πενσυλβάνια.

Αυτή η συζήτηση αποτελεί μέρος της σειράς podcast του Κινεζικού Προγράμματος του Ινστιτούτου Διεθνών Σχέσεων, σε συνεργασία με το "Ti Kosmos podcast". Παρουσιάστρια του podcast είναι η Μαριλίζα Αναστασοπούλου.

Το Κινεζικό Πρόγραμμα του Ινστιτούτου Διεθνών Σχέσεων (Ι.Δ.Ι.Σ.) προωθεί τη συστηματική μελέτη της σύγχρονης Κίνας στην Ελλάδα, επιδιώκοντας να προσφέρει μια σε βάθος κατανόηση της ιστορικής εξέλιξης, των αντιθέσεων, των πολιτικών, οικονομικών και κοινωνικών διεργασιών, καθώς και του παγκόσμιου ρόλου της σύγχρονης Κίνας.

Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες σχετικά με το Πρόγραμμα, επισκεφθείτε τη διεύθυνση:
https://chinaprogram.gr

*https://cscc.sas.upenn.edu/people/Neysun_Mahboubi

On October 7th, 2023, Hamas launched a horrendous attack on Israel in years killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials. 

 One a half month after the attack the war in Gaza continues and a severe humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Close to 13,000 people have been killed by the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials.

 On November 21st Israel and Hamas agreed a deal for the release of 50 civilian hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a four-day halt to hostilities.*

 “Ti kosmos” podcast hosted Gilles Kepel, one the Europe’s leading experts on the Middle East  and discussed about the current state of the conflict. 

 Mr. Kepel analyses what Israel should do now, how Arab states perceive the conflict, as well as the key role of Egypt and Saudi Arabia in resolving the conflict and for the day after. 

(* that the discussion took place before the announcement of the hostage deal)

How technology affects our lives? How is the digital public space changing? What are the new forms of communication? Should we be afraid of technology? How does it affect the conduct of wars?

 These are some of the issues discussed with renowned philosopher, cultural theorist and media scholar Pierre Lévy.

 The discussion was held at Delphi, one the side of the 1st Delphi Dialogues on “Technology and Democracy” organized by the European Cultural Centre οf Delphi (ECCD)

https://eccd.gr/en/democracy-and-technology/

 The quotes at the beginning of the podcast are taken from the Dialogues from the following speakers:

1.     Étienne Balibar, University of Paris X-Nanterre and University of California

2.     Philip N. Howard, University of Oxford

3.     Jeffrey Schnapp, Harvard University

4.     Panagiotis Roilos, Professor at Harvard University, President of the European Cultural Centre of Delphi

On the 28th of May 2023 Erdogan won the presidential elections of Turkey, extending his rule to the third decade. In his victory speech he claimed Turkey won.

Gilles Kepel, one of the most estimated experts on Islam and the Middle East explains to Marilisa Anastasopoulou and “Ti Kosmos” Podcast what these elections really mean for Turkey. 

Professor Keppel talks about what is at stake internally, how ideology has been more important than economy and portrays how now Turkey entails two different countries within its borders. 

Moreover, professor Kepel explains how the system of international relations has shifted towards the East and the respective role and foreign policy of Turkey in the area.

To whom will President Erdogan turn to ask for help now that the economy of his country is nearly collapsing?

Gilles Kepel authored more than 20 books on the Middle East, North Africa, Islam in France and Europe, translated in many languages (lastly, Away from Chaos / The Middle East and the Challenge to the West, Columbia Univ. Press). He has taught at Sciences Po in Paris, the LSE in London, Lugano in Switzerland, among others, and advised senior European and Arab political and business leaders. He also contributes weekly to al monitor. 

Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/gilles-kepel#ixzz83Nb9WS6Y

The world is watching. For many the upcoming elections the 14th of May are the most important of the year. 

How important are they for the future of Turkey? What is their significance? Will Turkey change its foreign policy if the opposition wins? How democratic is Turkey?

We discuss these issues with the esteemed analyst and professor at Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Mr. Soli Özel. 

This podcast is hosted by Marilisa Anastasopoulou.

The discussion took place during the VIII Delphi  Forum.

How do modern dictators operate? Why has Putin opted for old-style fear dictatorship? Is Erdogan a modern dictator? What do the two men have in common? What is the future of democracy?

Marilisa Anastasopoulou hosts Daniel Treisman, “modern” dictatorship expert and discuss how Putin and Erdogan have ruled for the last two decades and what they have in common. 

 Moreover, they talk about democracies, spin and fear dictatorships in the world today and what are the current trends. 

 Daniel Treisman, professor of political science at the university of California, has co-authored together with Sergei Guriev, the book "Spin Dictators: The Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century ".

 In their book they argue that the dominant model of dictatorship has changed. There is a new type of dictatorship that is not so brutal and bloody and based on fear, the way Mao and Stalin ruled for example, but that is less violent, and it manipulates information and the system so that people genuinely support the leader. This intermediate modern model is called "Spin Dictatorship".


Interesting links related to this podcast:

 Andrei Shleifer & Daniel Treisman: A normal country: Russia after communism (2005)

https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/0895330053147949

 Daniel Treisman: The reverse evolution of spin dictatorship- Putin goes to war (2022)

https://re-russia.net/en/expertise/026/

 Guardian video: Putin's Russia: dictator syndrome and the rise of a 'mafia state'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irzB-C9eSrQ

 ABC News video: The New Tsar: How Putin Became Russia's Dictator | Foreign Correspondent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAncC-f5uGQ

While Ukraine has managed to win this war in the “hearts and minds of the people” (predominantly of the West) analysts argue it’ s going to be a long war.

Michael C.  Kimmage, professor of History at the Catholic University of America, author of the book “The Abandonment of the West”, and regular contributor at the Foreign Affairs is our guest  in this “Ti kosmos” podcast.

 Issues discussed:

What are the scenarios for the end of the crisis? Will there be an escalation or a spill over in other countries? What are the tragedies associated with this war? What is “Wartime Putinism”? Can Russia be defeated? How the debate in the US regarding the support of the war will be shaped in the coming months? Does this war bring the US closer to Europe?

Today’s Ti kosmos podcast cooperates with the Institute of International Relations and is co-hosted by Marilisa Anastasopoulou and the executive director of IDIS, Ms. Ino Afentouli.

 Relevant Links

• https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2020-04-14/abandonment-west-history-idea-american-foreign-policy
• https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/wartime-putinism
• https://history.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/kimmage-michael/index.html

Ένα χρόνο μετά την εισβολή της  Ρωσίας στην Ουκρανία οι σχέσεις Κίνας- Ρωσίας βρίσκονται στο προσκήνιο. Η Δύση ανησυχεί για περαιτέρω σύσφιξη των σχέσεων Κίνας - Ρωσίας. Οι ΗΠΑ προειδοποιούν ότι η Κίνα μπορεί να δώσει οπλικά συστήματα στη Ρωσία για να τα χρησιμοποιήσει στον πόλεμο στην Ουκρανία. 

 Μέχρι που μπορεί να φτάσει η σχέση Κίνας- Ρωσίας; Είναι πράγματι μία φιλία «δίχως όρια»;

 Ο Δρ. Γιώργος Τζογόπουλος, λέκτορας στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Ευρώπης, senior fellow στο ΕΛΙΑΜΕΠ και ειδικός σε θέματα Κίνας συζητάει με την Μαριλίζα Αναστασοπούλου. 

To understand the current situation, after almost a year from the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Ti kosmos Podcast, in cooperation with the Institute of International Relations (IDIS)*, invited Mr. Alexander Cooley, one of the leading experts in the studies of Russia and Eurasia.  This podcast is co-hosted by Ms. Ino Afentouli, Executive Director of IDIS, and journalist & researcher, Marilisa Anastasopoulou. 

The discussion addresses issues such as:
•How have expectations changed after almost one year of war?
•The reaction of the West 
•What is happening inside Russia?
•Has the war weakened or strengthened Russia and how?
•What is the reaction of global south?
•What can we expect from now on?

Alexander Cooley is the Claire Tow Professor of Political Science and Vice Provost for Academic Centers and Libraries at Barnard College, Columbia University, and an Academy Adjunct Faculty member at Chatham House. From 2015 to 2021 he served as the 15th Director of Columbia University's Harriman Institute for the Study of Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe.
https://www.alexanderacooley.com/

*https://idis.gr/