CSIS

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Channel • 52 Shows

Government

Government

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News

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News Commentary

Updated Fortnightly
Government

Government

Updated Fortnightly
Government

Government

Updated Fortnightly
History

History

Updated Weekly
News

News

Updated Monthly

2 APR

How the Chinese Communist Party Stays in Power

In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Ben Hillman, Director of the Australian Centre on China in the World at Australian National University and co-editor of the new book, The Communist Party of China: Understanding the Durability of the World's Most Powerful Political Organization. Ben explains how the Party has managed to stay in power, becoming the world's second-longest ruling party (barely losing out to North Korea's communist party) and maintaining an iron grip on power across vastly different phases in China's development. Ben addresses the role of ideology in Party governance, the utility of linguistic engineering and patriotic symbols in bolstering political legitimacy, the role of the United Front Work Department in manufacturing buy-in, and the Party's tremendous capacity for coercion.

2 Apr

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42 min
2 DAYS AGO

The Iran War and Strategic Competition in Asia

In this episode, Mike sits down with Evan Medeiros, the Penner Family Chair in Asia Studies at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and Cling Family Distinguished Fellow in U.S.–China Studies. They examine Beijing’s response to the war in Iran, trace the evolution of the China–Iran relationship, and assess the conflict’s long-term strategic implications for Asia and U.S.–China competition.

2 days ago

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43 min
30 MAR

EU-Australia Trade Deal, Sanctions Relief for Russia and Iran, UK Steel Tariffs, and US-Ecuador Agreement

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill opens with an update on the ongoing 14th WTO Ministerial Conference and the legislative implementation of the EU-U.S. trade deal. Bill and Scott then dive into the completed EU-Australia trade deal, the Trump administration's temporary pause on oil sanctions on Russia and Iran, new steel tariffs in the UK, and the new Agreement on Reciprocal Trade between the U.S. and Ecuador.

30 Mar

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34 min
18 MAR

Holding the Line: Denial Defense Along the First Island Chain

Mike joins Toshi Yoshihara, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington, D.C., to explore the significance of the First Island Chain in U.S. strategic thinking on Asia. They trace its historical role in achieving a favourable regional balance of power, unpack its enduring relevance under the Trump administration, and assess how China is contesting its limits, before turning to what the United States and its maritime Indo-Pacific allies must do to reinforce credible deterrence across an increasingly contested region.

18 Mar

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44 min
3 DAYS AGO

One Year After Liberation Day, Plus the E-Commerce Moratorium and New Chinese Investigations

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott reflect on the anniversary of Liberation Day and how President Trump has reshaped the global economic landscape. They also react to the failure to renew the global moratorium on e-commerce taxation at the 14th WTO Ministerial and new Chinese investigations into U.S. trade practices.

3 days ago

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28 min
2 APR

How the Iran War and the Price of Oil Impact the Kremlin's Calculus

Max and Maria are joined by Hanna Notte and Janis Kluge for a deep dive on how the Iran war and turmoil in global energy markets continue to impact Russian foreign policy. This conversation was recorded on March 25, 2026.

2 Apr

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48 min
19 MAR

Decoding China's Two Sessions: Politics, Purges, and a New Five Year Plan

In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Neil Thomas, Fellow on Chinese Politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis. They discuss the significance of China's recent "Two Sessions," where the National People's Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference come together with great pageantry to announce new policies. Neil unpacks the state of China's elite politics and purges, the highlights of the 15th Five-Year Plan, President Xi's conservative approach to policymaking, and who might rise to important roles during Xi's fourth term.

19 Mar

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49 min
6 JAN

Ely Ratner - Does Asia Need a Collective Defense Pact?

Mike joins Ely Ratner, Principal at The Marathon Initiative and Senior Adviser at Clarion Strategies. Previously he was Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs during the Biden administration, and before that he was Executive Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). They discuss the strategic competition with China, the difficulties and opportunities around the China challenge, what the most significant things the U.S. did relating to allies and partners during the Biden Administration, and the case for a Pacific defense pact.

6 Jan

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43 min
5 MAR

Understanding Chinese Power

In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Zoe Liu, Fellow in China Studies with the Council on Foreign Relations. They discuss Zoe’s new Foreign Affairs piece, China’s Long Economic War: How Beijing Builds Leverage for Indefinite Competition. Zoe offers a new framework for understanding China’s national power, evaluating the country’s evolving capacity, capital, character, and credibility.

5 Mar

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51 min
23 MAR

SCOTUS Decision Check-in, U.S. Cuba Relations, and USMCA Updates

Bill and Scott discuss the SCOTUS ruling on the IEEPA tariffs one month after its decision, unpack the challenges and sanctions in the U.S.-Cuba relationship, and give an update on USMCA.

23 Mar

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35 min

CSIS podcasts feature experts & scholars on a range of critical issues surrounding geopolitics, national security, defense, & international affairs topics.