What if - The EUISS Foresight Podcast

In this episode, Janis Kluge (SWP) takes Florence Gaub to a future where Russia has reformed its economy with spectacular success. What would have to happen for this to come true, what would it mean - and what stands in the way of this being achievable?

In this episode, Sinikukka Saari and Stanislav Secrieru explain to Florence Gaub why there is a danger that Russia may become divided into four Russias: differentiated in economic but also geographic terms - and what this means for the future.

While technology might be just the sum of science and industry, for China it is a pillar of its geopolitical ambition. In this last episode of our miniseries on China, Alice Ekman and Florence Gaub dig deeper into the role of technology in China’s pursuit of power, and take stock of where we are at – and where we are going.

As China gains more and more influence on the global stage, the big question is what it intends to achieve with this new status. In this second episode of our miniseries on China, Alice Ekman and Florence Gaub discuss how China has moved from quietist diplomacy to expansive geopolitical ambition, and what this could mean for the rest of the world.

China not only has a vision for a different world order, it also has a vision for deploying different diplomatic practices. In this first episode of our mini-series on China, EUISS Senior Analyst Alice Ekman discusses the distinctive methods of Chinese diplomacy with Deputy Director Florence Gaub, explains why these are a challenge for the EU, and how it should respond.

The pandemic has hit the United States harder than any other country; and Americans are scheduled to go to the polls in November. Will the coronavirus lead to a postponement of the elections? And in that case what will happen? Will the virus swing the election in favour of either candidate? EUISS Senior Associate Analyst Simona Soare discusses this and more with Florence Gaub in this last instalment of the Covid-19 podcast season.

Projections show a possible death toll of more than 3 million for Africa, but what if these calculations turn out to be wrong? EUISS Senior Analyst Giovanni Faleg discusses with Florence Gaub whether we can expect lower fatality rates, what this could mean for the continent, and what needs to be done urgently.

Currently, 43 states in the world are experiencing ongoing conflicts. What impact will the Covid-19 pandemic have on these conflicts? Will they escalate, or is there perhaps an opportunity for peace? EUISS Senior Associate Analyst Katariina Mustasilta discusses with Florence Gaub how conflict research sheds light on the link between discontent and crisis.

Russia initially seemed to be doing better than other states when it came to the pandemic, but it has since emerged that the truth is far from what the Kremlin projected. How is Putin managing Covid-19? What do Russians think about it – and what does it mean for Putin's future projects? EUISS Senior Associate Analyst Sinikukka Saari explains it all to Florence Gaub in this episode.

In this episode, EUISS senior analyst Stanislav Secrieru discusses with Florence Gaub what economic impact Covid-19 will have on three Eastern neighbourhood states. Will the flow of remittances cease altogether? How will people and states cope? And what can we do about it?