Political theorists Avia Pasternak, Associate Professor in Political Theory at University College London, and Zofia Stemplowska, Professor of Political Theory at Oxford University, engage in a thoughtful discussion of the justifications for the imposition of sanctions on Russia. When imposing sanctions, how do we consider costs on populations versus the possibility of preventing harm; individual responsibility of citizens versus the decisions and behavior of political leaders; citizens' awareness of the harms being committed and control over these harms? Avia and Zofia discuss these and other questions in light of the imposition of sanctions on Russia following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

Avia and Zofia: Are Severe Sanctions on Russia Morally Justified?

Avia Pasternak: Responsible Citizens, Irresponsible States Should Citizens Pay for Their States' Wrongdoings?

Zofia Stemplowska: Responsibility and Distributive Justice

For episode updates follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer 

Steven Pifer, former US Ambassador to Ukraine, and affiliate of Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation, discusses US-Ukraine relations following the breakdown of the Soviet Union, Ukraine's decision to give up nuclear weapons, key economic challenges, US support for Ukraine post-24-Feb, and Ukraine's reconstruction. 

Steven Pifer - The Eagle and the Trident: US-Ukraine relations in turbulent times 

Follow Steven Pifer on twitter: @steven_pifer

For episode updates - follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer 

Michael Doyle, Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, considers liberal peace theory in light of the current war in Ukraine. What is liberal peace theory? Do democratic regimes encourage restraint? Why is economic integration not sufficient to avoid war? How important is the dimension of regime type to Russia's invasion of Ukraine? What is the importance of national self-determination? Prof. Doyle engages these issues in a thoughtful, measured and insightful discussion. 

Michael Doyle's forthcoming book - Cold Peace: Avoiding the New Cold War

For episode updates follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer

John Blaxland, Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies and former Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University, discusses the way in which the war in Ukraine will shape security in the Asia-Pacific region - John notes differences between Russia and China as global powers, India's position and this shapes relations in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (US, Japan, Australia & India), and impacts on the 2021 AUKUS deal (US, UK & Australia) including an interesting conversation on the utility of nuclear submarines. 

Follow John on twitter: @JohnBlaxland1

For episode updates follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer

Maksym Yali, Head of Center for New World Order and Professor of International Relations at National Aviation University in Kyiv, responds to Ukrainian troops withdrawal from Lysychansk in the Luhansk region, and the political, military and symbolic signiicance of Russia's withdrawal from Snake Island. 

For episode updates follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer 

Ivan Shmatko, doctoral student in Criminology at  the University of Alberta, and Dafna Rachok, doctoral candidate in Anthropology at the University of Indiana, both from Ukraine and currently in Kyiv, share their experiences of war, invasion, volunteering, civil society and Ukraine's resolve.

Follow Ivan on twitter: @shmatkoivan

Follow Dafna on twitter: @dafnarachok

Link to come back alive 

Link to insight LGBTQ NGO 

Link to UAnimals  

Toby Newstead, Lecturer in Management at the University of Tasmania, and Suze Wilson, Senior Lecturer at the School of Management at Massey University in New Zealand, discuss the importance of character and virtues to good leadership - and how this applies to what we have seen of President Zelensky's leadership during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

Suze and Toby on virtues and Zelensky's leadership in The Conversation "The Value of Virtue: 7 reasons why Volodymyr Zelenskyy's crisis leadership has been so effective" 

Suze and Toby's research on virtues and crisis leadership during the COVID19 pandemic

For episode updates follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer 

Jamie Shea, with 30 years experience as a NATO official including as NATO spokesperson during the war in Kosovo and as NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, discusses NATO's 2022 Strategic Concept, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NATO's response, and what Sweden and Finland's membership means for the alliance. 

Jamie Shea - Strategy and Security Institute 

Jamie Shea - Chatham House

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Volodymy Dubovyk, Associate Professor of International Relations at Mechnikov University in Odessa, Ukraine discusses US-Ukraine relations with a view from Ukraine. We discuss the evolution of US-Ukraine relations since the breakdown of the USSR, relations during President Zelensky's terms, and since the full-scale Russian invasion on 24 February this year. 

Volodymyr Dubovyk, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian studies 

Follow Volodymyr on twitter: @volodymdubovyk

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This was an extensive, in-depth and informative discussion with Matthew Light, Associate Professor of Criminology and Sociolegal Studies at the University of Toronto, expert on post-Soviet states.

Matthew outlines the different trajectories of post-Soviet states, Kazhakstan's refusal to support recognition of Russian-backed regions in Ukraine as sovereign territories, the approach and position of the Baltic states, the legacy and dynamics of Russian speaking populations, and NATO's role in regards to post-Soviet states. 

Matthew Light on the post-Soviet region

Matthew Light on migration from former Soviet states

Follow Matthew Light on twitter: @mattlightcrim

For episode updates follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer

I can also be reached at [email protected] or [email protected]