​The IR thinker just got a major design upgrade. 🎙️✨ We’ve refreshed our Substack to bring you our in-depth interviews with top global experts in a much cleaner, sleeker layout. ​Come, explore the new look and subscribe so you never miss an episode: 🌍👇 theirthinker.substack.com

📢 Update: Future-proofing The IR thinker! Phase 1 is a brand-new Instagram presence built from scratch. Check out the fresh visuals across all episodes since 2023. INSTAGRAM link: www.instagram.com/theirthinker/

When AI fights, the war never ends. 🤖 In this episode, Myriam Dunn Cavelty @myducave.bsky.social joins us to discuss how AI accelerates cyberattacks, complicates attribution, and outpaces human governance. youtu.be/wdpwVncNkKQ #Cybersecurity #ArtificialIntelligence #CriticalInfrastructure

A note to listeners and subscribers The IR thinker is currently in the middle of a substantial infrastructure and design enhancement process. This affects how the podcast is presented across platforms.

An excellent talk with Professor Jonathan Fisher, co-editor of African Affairs journal, about the peer review process, the journal's challenges, and its future vision. #africanaffairs #africanpolitics #academicpublishing youtu.be/LNf43bAV4Aw

A great conversation with the editorial team, Dr Vampa @davidevampa.bsky.social and Dr Lopez-Santana @marielylopezs.bsky.social, of Regional & Federal Studies @regfedst.bsky.social on territorial politics, peer review, and the future of regionalism research. youtu.be/60Q0ma3gC3c

Dr Piotr Pietrzak joins us to trace Poland's journey from historical insecurity to strategic confidence. Can Poland sustain great-power aspirations without overreaching? #Poland #strategicculture #geopolitics youtu.be/cx8RAlDaEKQ

In this episode, Dr Carl Death examines how African actors negotiate, contest, and reimagine climate governance across local, continental, and global arenas. #africanagency #climategovernance youtu.be/1WyAdggRhNg

In this episode, Myriam Dunn Cavelty @myducave.bsky.social and Nicole Jenne @nicjenne.bsky.social discuss the intellectual identity of Contemporary Security Policy @cspjournal.bsky.social, its peer review process, their editorial work, and future visions. LINK: youtu.be/ZJyhXn--iAk

In this episode, I speak with Dmitry Gorenburg @russmil.bsky.social, editor of Problems of Post-Communism, a leading peer-reviewed journal on political, economic, security, and international developments in post-communist societies. #problemsofpostcommunism LINK: youtu.be/Iun0LUyF0LM

Dr Wai Yan Phyo Naing highlights Myanmar as a state where neutralist tradition, decades of military rule, and post-coup fracture combine to shape an exceptionally complex foreign policy landscape. #Myanmar #Geopolitics youtu.be/ZBo-Et_Ai04

In this episode, I speak with Professor Sergei Prozorov about biopolitics, one of the most provocative frameworks in political theory, and how it reshapes our understanding of power and life across IR, philosophy, and Soviet studies. #biopolitics youtu.be/Gzmqo50YXOM

How does a country under heavy sanctions continue to win influence across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia? In this episode, Vladimir Liparteliani unpacks the full machinery of Russian soft power — from RT and Sputnik to educational diplomacy, ... #russiansoftpower youtu.be/1chWY2zvKYc

South Africa has one of the most underrated nuclear energy stories. Dr. Kelvin Kemm — physicist with 25+ years of hands-on SMR experience — explains why it matters. #NuclearEnergy #SMR #SouthAfrica #AfricanEnergy #EnergyTransition youtu.be/9DohvlwaGjY

Professor Jack Holland @profjackholland.bsky.social discusses the British Journal of Politics and International Relations (BJPIR) @bjpir.bsky.social — its DNA, review process, and future direction. #bjpir youtu.be/DYfwbJ67AzM

A heartfelt thank you to historian Philip Snow for lending his expertise on Sino-Russian relations. Together, we traced the arc of history to uncover the principles shaping this complex partnership — and to put many long-standing questions to rest. youtu.be/J0Yojb20Jec

Critical Update: In Memory of Steven Gruzd Steven Gruzd was abducted and murdered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in what authorities described as an 'express kidnapping'. Steven will always be with us through an episode we recorded together. Rest in peace.

@theirthinker.bsky.social has reached over 1,500 followers on LinkedIn, many thanks to those who follow this project there. For iPhone users: The IR thinker needs reviews on the Apple Podcasts platform. Would you be so kind as to provide one? Thank you! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

This interview with Professor Mark N. Katz @marknkatz.bsky.social explores one of the central debates in contemporary international relations: the transition from unipolarity to a more complex multipolar world. #multipolarworld #worldorder #unipolarworld youtu.be/VwlAuTle3z0

In this interview, political scientist Marc Sanjaume‑Calvet examines the constitutional status of Catalonia, the distribution of powers within the Spanish state, and the evolving debates surrounding Catalan autonomy and identity. #catalonia #spanishpolitics youtu.be/DF_SaHQZG_k

In this episode, Professor David M. McCourt unpacks the foundations of New Constructivism: where it came from, what it demands of researchers, and where it's heading. #constructivism #newconstructivism #irtheory youtu.be/oozY4W8JoSA

Thank you to @reubensteff.bsky.social Reuben Steff for a fascinating conversation on New Zealand's geopolitical positioning. Highly recommend for anyone thinking about small states navigating a shifting international order. youtu.be/7woS06fgGqI

In this episode, Professor Charlotte Epstein reflects on how postcolonial perspectives reshape the study of norms in international relations, challenging conventional accounts of diffusion, compliance, and legitimacy. #norms #postcolonialism youtu.be/0tqSNgrH_n4

📢 Starting in 2026, guests can choose between traditional video interviews or audio-only conversations 👍

In 2026, The IR thinker is dedicating 7 episodes to invite research journal editors to speak about research, methodology, and how journals have evolved. Please write your recommendations for which journals I should invite.

In this episode, we sit down with political analyst Marc Saxer to explore his theory of Transformative Realism and why he believes we’re living through a profound systemic crisis. youtu.be/BXcDYTxmoQs?...

In this episode, Vineet Thakur unpacks the historical and intellectual foundations of Indian diplomacy. We discuss classical strategic traditions, civilisational and colonial legacies, caste and elite networks in diplomatic culture, non-alignment, etc. youtu.be/GfA8t4chTvQ

In this episode, Martin Vladimirov unpacks Bulgaria’s evolving energy landscape in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine. youtu.be/ONo-PVbRAJY?...

In this conversation, Professor Dimitry Kochenov unpacks the paradoxes at the heart of modern citizenship, from the lived reality of statelessness to the contested nature of “real” EU citizenship. #EUcitizenship #EUlaw youtu.be/HJDFk-U1ZJQ

What's @irthinker.com ? I'm answering this on Medium. medium.com/@martinzubko...

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dr. Stephen Herzog as we explore the intricate landscape of nuclear strategy, from the fundamentals of deterrence theory to the geopolitics of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. #NuclearStrategy #ArmsControl #GlobalSecurity youtu.be/g_dvcAN4d0Q

In this episode, Professor Chenggang Xu discusses the ideas behind Institutional Genes and how they explain the evolution of political systems from imperial China to modern authoritarian regimes. #chinapolitics #chinahistory youtu.be/5wk2168WEUs

In this incisive interview, Dr Madalitso Zililo Phiri dismantles the epistemic hegemony of Eurocentric International Relations theory and maps an emergent African IR scholarship. #AfricanIR #IRtheory youtu.be/SUi1oBH2hVE

In this interview, Andreas Schroeder maps Germany’s gas security from short-term contracts to new gas-fired plants and LNG infrastructure. He weighs the nuclear phase-out, EU dependence on non-Russian suppliers, and the risks ahead. 100th episode Thank you for your support! youtu.be/4IQTNW8s-Ds

In this episode, Telmen Altanshagai discusses Mongolia’s evolving energy landscape, from diversification strategies and regional connectivity to the governance challenges shaping the country’s path toward greater energy security. #mongoliaenergysecurity #mongoliaenergy youtu.be/ZdYRgmUAmE0

In this interview, strategist and defence analyst Dr. Peter Layton offers a clear-sighted assessment of how Australia is recalibrating strategy, capability, and partnerships amid intensifying regional competition. #Australianationalsecurity youtu.be/114kJOFslKw

Professor Murman Margvelashvili charts Georgia’s path from Soviet-era systems to a contested contemporary energy landscape, where hydropower dependence, emerging technologies, and grid vulnerabilities intersect with strategic autonomy. #georgiaenergysecurity #energysecurity youtu.be/Saj2L3-DpwE

In this interview, Dr. Kenneth McDonagh unpacks the drivers, dilemmas, and implications of Ireland’s evolving national security posture at home, in Europe, and on the global stage. #IrelandSecurity #IrishNeutrality #NationalSecurityStrategy youtu.be/HIyOpj0QinQ

What does Georgia’s EU integration really mean for democracy, regional security, and great power competition? David Bujiashvili unpacks the past, present, and future of this pivotal process. #GeorgiaEU #EUintegration #Georgia youtu.be/Xv4gPbJoZV4

In this conversation with Professor Patrick Holden, we examine how the EU exercised power during Brexit, interrogating the interplay of communication, institutional structures and rhetorical strategy. youtu.be/v7n3eUtwnO0

Professor Tahir Abbas explores the multifaceted nature of modern radicalisation, examining the unique drivers, dynamics, and dilemmas facing Western societies (USA, UK, Western Europe) today as they confront a threat that is constantly evolving online and offline. youtu.be/FI_2Fv3fGu4

In this conversation, Dr Emmanuel Matambo unpacks how Africa–China relations really work beyond the headlines. We dive into debates on ‘debt-trap diplomacy’, technology, governance, and the cultural impact of China across Africa. youtu.be/FLecugmsU08

Dive into the complex world of maritime piracy and security in this insightful interview with Professor Timothy Edmunds, exploring the evolution, organization, and modern challenges of piracy at sea, grey-zone tactics and the protection of critical undersea infrastructure. youtu.be/1Yqj9SMKAKA

In this interview, Dr. Marina Cino Pagliarello explores how universities and academia shape the European Union’s foreign policy through soft power and informal diplomacy. youtu.be/YTFWHc5LIM4

In this interview, Dr Satoru Nagao shares expert insights on the evolving strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines. From historical legacies to defence, diplomacy, and economic cooperation, we explore how both countries navigate today’s Indo-Pacific challenges. youtu.be/GZtdb4_-DQg

Hussein Banai joins us to explore Trump’s foreign policy, comparing his first and second terms across global hotspots, from America First to the 2025 Israel-Iran conflict and U.S. strikes. #Trump #ForeignPolicy #Iran #Israel #Geopolitics youtu.be/lICHJNEE4kQ

'IR thinker' is available on Amazon Music music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/a88...

The Zones of Peace Concept – Arie M. Kacowicz | 2025 Ep. 11 Why do some regions achieve lasting peace while others remain trapped in cycles of conflict? Professor Arie M. Kacowicz, a leading expert on the Zone of Peace concept, elaborates in detail. youtu.be/tViSPxS7IuE

Grateful to my growing network of IR scholars, practitioners & curious minds on Bluesky 🌍 Your insights on global affairs, thoughtful critiques and willingness to engage with complex geopolitical questions make this space invaluable for intellectual exchange. Thank you for elevating the discourse.

Rebuilding Syria - Joseph Daher | 2025 Episode 10 Tune in for an engaging discussion with Dr. Joseph Daher as we explore the future of post-Assad Syria. We’ll cover the war economy’s impact, the whereabouts of Assad’s inner circle, and the current state of Syria’s economy. youtu.be/s-pvI2JWV8M