Independent Thinking

Chatham House
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Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox hosts conversations with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts to provide insight into the latest international political issues. Independent Thinking gives listeners the opportunity to engage with the high level conversations hosted by Chatham House.

  1. 1 day ago

    How did 9/11 shape the world we live in?

    Twenty five years ago the deadliest terrorist attacks in human history, on 11 September 2001, saw 2,977 people killed in New York, Washington, and aboard the planes hijacked by 19 members of Al-Qaeda. An immediate response followed with the US-led 'war on terror', which saw Western forces occupy Afghanistan and Iraq, and two decades of military operations across the Middle East and beyond. We look back over a quarter of a century to examine the longer-term consequences of 9/11. We examine how US foreign policy and military power changed perceptions of America and its allies. We look at the consequences for a Middle East still riven by conflict. And we discuss how the focus on counterterrorism left the US positioned to deal with a new multipolar era in which it faces challenges from Russia and the rise of China. This week's episode is hosted by Laurel Rapp, director of Chatham House's US and North America Programme, standing in for Bronwen Maddox.  She is joined by General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with the International Security Programme. Also by Farea Al-Muslimi, a research fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme. And by Jason Burke, International Security Correspondent of the Guardian. Produced by Podmasters, with thanks to Stephen Farrell. About Independent Thinking Independent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues. More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

  2. 4 Sept

    What is the United Nations for?

    The United Nations convenes for its 81st General Assembly next week amid turmoil around the world that it seeks to bring together. The conflicts in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza, and the US, China and Russia's undermining of the rules-based international order cast a shadow over UNGA. Can the organization renew itself for a dangerous multipolar world? Or is it doomed to the same fate as the League of Nations? Bronwen Maddox discusses the UN's present and future with Heather Hurlburt, associate fellow with our US and North America Programme; Marc Weller, head of our Global Governance and Security Centre; and Zizette Darkazally, associate fellow with our Middle East and North Africa Programme. Produced by Podmasters, with thanks to Sara Seth and Stephen Farrell. Explore Chatham House's latest: Research paper| What Haitians want from the next phase of UN and international support Comment | Can the UN close the global AI gap?  Policy paper | What the Burnham government should do in its foreign policy Magazine issue | The World Today summer issue Audio | Africa Aware🎧 Audio | The Climate Briefing🎧 Follow Independent Thinking on your favourite podcast apps.

  3. 28 Aug

    Iran, Gaza, Trump and Netanyahu: Understanding the Middle East's crises

    It's been a tumultuous year in the Middle East – and it's far from over. Six months after the US and Israel launched their offensive against Iran, the conflict continues to disrupt trade, energy and food security. President Trump struggles to escape a deadlock that threatens to seriously damage him in the American mid-term elections. Meanwhile, Gaza remains locked in a humanitarian crisis despite a ceasefire, while Israel faces growing political division ahead of an October election that will determine Benjamin Netanyahu's fate. As leaders wrestle with security, alliances and the fallout from multiple conflicts, we discuss the future of a troubled region. Bronwen Maddox is joined by director of Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme, Dr Sanam Vakil; associate professor in politics and international relations at UCL, Dr Julie Norman; and Israeli politician and journalist, Ksenia Svetlova. Produced by Podmasters for Chatham House, with thanks to Sara Seth and Stephen Farrell. Explore Chatham House's latest work: Policy paper| What the Burnham government should do in its foreign policy Comment | Should Egypt join the Mecca Pact? Comment | Nigeria will need more than a bigger army to tackle security challenges Magazine issue | The World Today summer issue Audio | Africa Aware🎧 Follow Independent Thinking on your favourite podcast apps.

  4. 21 Aug

    The summer of '26: A turning point for the climate crisis?

    The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier can't wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to slow or reverse the climate spiral – even in the face of a US administration that is committed to fossil fuels? How do the two approaches of mitigation and adaptation translate into real life on the ground? And is there any good news amid the smoke and gloom? Bronwen Maddox is joined by water and climate specialist Dr Beatrice Mosello and sustainability expert Dr Patrick Schröder from Chatham House, and special guest Oliver Morton, The Economist's planetary affairs correspondent. Produced by Podmasters for Chatham House, with thanks to Sara Seth and Stephen Farrell. Explore Chatham House's latest work: Comment | Wildfires and extreme heat show climate change is now Europe's biggest security threat Video | Burning questions facing Burnham Comment | Melting ice and power shifts: Europe and Canada should seize their Arctic moment Magazine issue | The World Today summer issue Audio | Africa Aware🎧 Audio | The Climate Briefing Follow Independent Thinking on your favourite podcast apps.

  5. 14 Aug

    The foreign policy challenges Labour can't ignore

    Britain's new prime minister Andy Burnham is not known for his interest in foreign affairs, but foreign affairs are eternally and often unforgivingly interested in Britain. What should Burnham and his new foreign secretary Ed Miliband prioritise on the global front? How can they balance the urgent demands of defence, climate action, resetting relations with the EU and Britain's place in the wider world? And who is going to pay for it all? To discuss what should be on Burnham and Miliband's to-do lists, Bronwen Maddox is joined by Olivia O'Sullivan, director of Chatham House's UK in the World Programme, and Owen Jenkins, research director for Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Produced by Podmasters, with thanks to Stephen Farrell and Sara Seth. Explore Chatham House's latest: Video | Burning questions facing Burnham Comment | Why Carney's pipeline gamble is a bad bet for Canadian taxpayers Comment | Zambia's election: President Hichilema must preserve his country's democratic reputation Magazine issue | The World Today summer issue Audio | The Climate Briefing🎧 Audio | Africa Aware🎧 Follow Independent Thinking on your favourite podcast apps.

  6. 7 Aug

    Is the AI boom about to bust?

    The $2.6 trillion spent on artificial intelligence, data centres and advanced chipmaking dwarfs the cost of previous infrastructure megaprojects. Yet AI has become a money pit for tech giants like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Meta, and the tech is failing to hit its stratospheric targets. Could an AI crash take overinvested economies down with it? In the longer term, whose approach will dominate? Will it be the US's private-led model with tech giants at the top? Or China's tactic of spreading low-cost AI throughout the Global South, with an eye on dominating the future? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Alex Krasodomski, director of Chatham House's Digital Society Programme; James Kynge, a senior research fellow for China and the World with the Asia-Pacific Programme; and Creon Butler, director of the Global Economy and Finance Programme. Produced by Podmasters, with thanks to Stephen Farrell and Sara Seth. Explore Chatham House's latest: Comment | What the UK should learn from Kimi K3, WAICO and the Hugging Face incident Comment | What the UK government should do on AI and tech policy Research paper | Breaking the deadlock on AI governance Magazine issue | The World Today summer issue Audio | The Climate Briefing🎧 Audio | Africa Aware🎧 Follow Independent Thinking on your favourite podcast apps.

  7. 31 Jul

    If Ukraine is winning the war, why did Zelenskyy fire his defence minister?

    Ukraine's drone strikes deep into Russian territory coincided with one of Kyiv's biggest political and military convulsions of the war: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired the popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov only for his decision to spark protests across the country. Why did Zelenskyy do it? Has the power struggle damaged his authority? Is Ukraine really regaining the initiative in the war? And what will it take to force Russia to the negotiating table? John Lough examines the potential turning point in the war with Vadym Prystaiko, former Ukrainian ambassador to the UK; Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at Kings College London; and Jaroslava Barbieri of Chatham House's Ukraine Forum. Produced by Podmasters for Chatham House, with thanks to Sara Seth and Stephen Farrell. Explore Chatham House's latest: Comment | Ukraine's allies should make an offer to Russians before September's 'elections' Comment | Will Ukraine's Wildberries attacks force Putin to the negotiating table? Comment | Ukraine needs help against Russian missiles now. What more can allies do? Magazine issue | The World Today summer issue Audio | The Climate Briefing🎧 Audio | Africa Aware🎧 Follow Independent Thinking on your favourite podcast apps.

  8. 24 Jul

    Can Andy Burnham remake Britain at home and abroad?

    Andy Burnham took over as UK prime minister with a vow to restore hope in British politics – and an early volley of voter-friendly policy promises. But are they quite as significant as billed? How much room to manoeuvre does Burnham really have? Will new chancellor John Healey release enough funds to the Ministry of Defence, which he quit in frustration? Does Ed Miliband have what it takes to succeed as foreign secretary? And how will Britain's place in the world change? Olivia O'Sullivan, director of Chatham House's UK in the World Programme, is joined by The Economist's political correspondent Hugo Gye and Chatham House associate fellow Jamie Gaskarth to discuss the first days of Burnham's premiership. Produced by Podmasters for Chatham House, with thanks to Sara Seth. Explore Chatham House's latest: Comment | How Burnham should engage with Africa Comment | The wishful thinking behind the war with Iran Comment | 'Structural divergence' in China's economy exposes a growing problem Magazine issue | The World Today summer issue Audio | The Climate Briefing🎧 Audio | Africa Aware🎧 Follow Independent Thinking on your favourite podcast apps.

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About

Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox hosts conversations with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts to provide insight into the latest international political issues. Independent Thinking gives listeners the opportunity to engage with the high level conversations hosted by Chatham House.

Information

  • Creator
    Chatham House
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Chatham House 2020
  • Show Website
    Independent Thinking

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