Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

ECFR
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Weekly podcast on the events, policies and ideas that will shape the world.World in 30 minutes is curated by Mark Leonard, Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), and features top-level speakers from across the EU and beyond to debate and discuss Europe’s role in the world. It was awarded “Best podcasts on EU politics” by PolicyLab in 2019.Member of the EuroPod network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 11h ago

    European defence after the NATO summit

    This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Camille Grand, secretary general of ASD Europe and special adviser to ECFR’s European Security programme, and Marta Prochwicz Jazowska, deputy head of ECFR’s Warsaw office and policy fellow, to discuss what the outcome of the NATO summit in Ankara means for Europe’s security. They draw on ECFR’s recent policy brief “Making defence European again” to assess whether the alliance has emerged stronger—or simply avoided a crisis. European leaders left Ankara relieved that US president Donald Trump has reaffirmed US support for NATO and avoided announcing major troop withdrawals, but fundamental questions about Washington’s long-term commitment remain unresolved. Mark, Camille and Marta explore how Europe can strengthen its own defence capabilities while maintaining NATO as the cornerstone of collective security. Can Europe build the military capabilities it still lacks? How should responsibilities be divided between NATO, the EU and smaller coalitions of willing states? What would a more credible European nuclear deterrent look like? And can Europe strengthen its own defence without weakening the transatlantic alliance? This podcast episode was recorded on July 9th 2026. Bookshelf · The Sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark · The Great Delusion by John J. Mearsheimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    European defence after the NATO summit

  2. Jul 9

    Marine Le Pen’s comeback

    This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin, head of ECFR’s Paris office and senior policy fellow, and Jeremy Cliffe, ECFR’s editorial director and senior policy fellow, to discuss Marine Le Pen’s decision to run in France’s 2027 presidential election. After a Paris appeal court ruling rescinded her ban from holding public office, Le Pen has reasserted leadership of the far-right National Rally (RN) and sidelined Jordan Bardella, who was widely expected to lead the party into the 2027 election. Her announcement has led to rivals across the centre and the left recalibrating their strategies in an already volatile political landscape. Together, Mark, Célia and Jeremy explore how Le Pen’s candidacy changes France’s electoral outlook. They discuss whether she is a stronger candidate than Bardella, how French political parties are preparing for an election that RN enters as the favourite, and they draw on ECFR research to examine what an RN presidency could mean in practice. Would a Le Pen government seek confrontation with Brussels? How might it reshape France’s approach to migration, the EU budget and European integration? Could nationalist governments across Europe really cooperate? And how would a Le Pen presidency impact relations with Ukraine, the US and France’s European allies? This podcast episode was recorded on July 8th 2026. Bookshelf Marie Antoinette by Stefan ZweigMuskism by Quinn Slobodian and Ben TarnoffIf Bardella wins: Scenarios for a far-right presidency in France by Célia Belin, Jeremy Cliffe, Camille Lons and Constance Victor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Marine Le Pen’s comeback

  3. Jul 3

    The China challenge

    This week, Mark Leonard speaks to Mike Kuiken, vice chair of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, and Randy Schriver, chair of the commission and former US assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs, about US-China relations in this period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.  The war in Iran and Russia’s war against Ukraine are raising questions about the balance between the Indo-Pacific and other global theatres. Together, Mark, Mike and Randy discuss the implications of China’s support for Russia and Iran, competition in emerging technologies such as AI, biotechnology and quantum computing, and whether the United Nations could be an arena for strategic rivalry. How is the conflict in the Middle East affecting America’s Indo-Pacific strategy? How would a crisis over Taiwan impact global semiconductor supply chains? And what do these developments mean for Europe?  This podcast episode was recorded on April 23rd 2026. Bookshelf   Freedom’s forge by Arthur Herman The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto Acquired Wall-e  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The China challenge

  4. Jun 26

    British politics ten years after Brexit

    It is ten years since Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, and the country is once again facing political upheaval. Keir Starmer has resigned as prime minister after his Labour rival Andy Burnham’s decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election. At the same time, ECFR has released new research which suggests that the public view on Brexit has evolved significantly—despite much of the political debate still being rooted in the divisions of 2016.  This week, Mark Leonard speaks with Marcus Roberts, CEO of Mandate Research and longtime Labour strategist, about how attitudes towards Brexit have changed and what this means for Britain’s political future. A decade on from Brexit, British politics remains turbulent, but public opinion is changing in ways that many politicians have failed to recognise.  Bookshelf  ECFR policy brief: Brexit isn’t working: British voters are ready for a European future   This podcast was recorded on June 24th 2026  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    British politics ten years after Brexit

  5. Jun 18

    Peace in the Middle East

    This week, Julien Barnes-Dacey welcomes Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s minister of foreign affairs, for a fireside chat at ECFR’s Annual Council Meeting. In Prince Faisal’s first public appearance since the Iran-US memorandum of understanding was announced, he and Julien discuss what the deal means for the prospect of stability in the Middle East. Prince Faisal argues that the memorandum presents an important opportunity to end the conflict and create a diplomatic path forward. While he welcomes efforts to address Iran’s nuclear programme, he stresses that long-term verification mechanisms, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and a broader regional security dialogue are essential to building confidence and preventing future crises. He also warns that recent attacks have created a deep trust deficit between Iran and its Gulf neighbours, making any meaningful economic rapprochement a long-term challenge. Julien and Prince Faisal explore Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, the need to balance deterrence with diplomatic engagement, and how regional actors can rebuild trust after the conflict. They also discuss Israel’s opposition to the agreement, the future of Gaza, the importance of a political horizon for Palestinians and whether military approaches alone can deliver long-term security in the Middle East. Is the Iran-US agreement a foundation for a more durable regional security framework? How can Iran and its neighbours rebuild trust? What role should the US, Europe and Middle Eastern powers play in shaping the next phase of diplomacy? And is there still a viable path towards a broader political settlement in the Middle East? This episode was recorded on June 17th 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Jun 12

    How progress ends

    This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Carl Benedikt Frey, associate professor of AI and work at the Oxford Internet Institute and author of How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation and the Fate of Nations, to discuss whether AI enthusiasm is obscuring a more fundamental problem: the global slowdown in productivity and innovation. Carl argues that technological progress is neither inevitable nor guaranteed. Despite rapid advances in computing, the internet and AI, productivity growth is stagnating. He suggests that innovation depends on the institutions, incentives and political conditions—as well as technological breakthroughs—that allow societies to adapt and scale new ideas. Mark and Carl explore what the rise of AI reveals about the changing balance between innovation and concentration, why China’s embrace of open-weight AI models could challenge American technological leadership, and why Europe continues to struggle in digital industries despite its strengths in manufacturing. Is AI about to unleash a new era of prosperity? Why has productivity growth remained weak despite decades of technological advances? What does the AI race mean for competition between the US, China and Europe? And is the greatest risk facing advanced economies the end of progress itself? This episode was recorded on April 30th 2026. Bookshelf Milton Friedman: The Last Conservative by Jennifer Burns Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How progress ends

  7. Jun 5

    The age of hyperpolitics

    This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Anton Jäger, lecturer in politics at Oxford University and author of Hyperpolitics: Extreme Politicization Without Political Consequences, to discuss why political engagement is surging across Western democracies—even as traditional political institutions continue to weaken. Anton argues that the West has entered a “hyperpolitics” era, marked by intense political engagement and protest but lacking durable organisations capable of sustaining change. Unlike the 1930s, to which the current era is often compared, today’s citizens are more politicised yet less likely to join institutions that enable long-term collective action. Mark and Anton explore how social media shapes political expression, why contemporary politics feels simultaneously more intense and less effective, and what figures like Donald Trump reveal about the relationship between political mobilisation and institutional power. They examine why right-wing movements appear to have adapted more successfully to the hyperpolitical age, and whether a new form of political organisation could eventually emerge from today’s fragmented landscape. What explains the growing gap between political engagement and political influence? Why are traditional institutions struggling to channel public discontent? Has the right found a more effective formula for the hyperpolitical era? And how could we move from hyperpolitics to a new age of institutional politics? This episode was recorded on March 27th 2026. Bookshelf: Hyperpolitics: Extreme Politicization without Political Consequences by Anton Jäger Nations and Nationalism by Ernest Gellner  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The age of hyperpolitics

  8. May 29

    The rise of populism

    This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Liam Byrne, a British Labour Party MP and chair of the House of Commons Business and Trade Select Committee, to talk about the rise of right-wing populism across Europe and why mainstream politics is struggling to respond. Drawing on his new book, Why Populists are Winning and How to Beat Them, Byrne argues that widening wealth gap, declining local communities and broken promise of democracy have created fertile ground for populist movements. Together, Mark and Liam explore the different groups of voters supporting populist parties, the powerful networks funding and amplifying populist movements, and why mainstream parties may be making a strategic political mistake by chasing harder-line rhetoric. The conversation ultimately tackles why more voters are turning away from mainstream parties, the roles economic stagnation, cultural pessimism and immigration play in driving support for populists, and how wealthy donors, media ecosystems and digital platforms have reshaped populist discourse across Europe and beyond. Bookshelf Billionaire Backlash: The Age of Corporate Scandal and How it Could Save Democracy - Pepper Culpepper and Taeku Lee  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The rise of populism
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About

Weekly podcast on the events, policies and ideas that will shape the world.World in 30 minutes is curated by Mark Leonard, Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), and features top-level speakers from across the EU and beyond to debate and discuss Europe’s role in the world. It was awarded “Best podcasts on EU politics” by PolicyLab in 2019.Member of the EuroPod network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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