The IR thinker

Martin Zubko
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The IR thinker features in-depth interviews with leading experts in international relations, foreign policy, and global affairs. The IR thinker is an independent, non-partisan and non-aligned platform. It hosts a wide range of perspectives on international relations but does not endorse any political party, government or ideological position. Since its first episode in 2023, The IR thinker has produced more than 100 episodes as a pro bono initiative established by Martin Zubko, an international relations scholar and lecturer. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. The Changing World Order - Mark N. Katz | Ep. 5 (2026)

    1 DAY AGO

    The Changing World Order - Mark N. Katz | Ep. 5 (2026)

    This interview with Professor Mark N. Katz explores one of the central debates in contemporary international relations: the transition from unipolarity to a more complex multipolar world. Drawing on historical cases and current geopolitical developments, the discussion examines whether multipolarity is truly the global norm, how great powers are defined, and what the post-Cold War “unipolar moment” tells us about today’s shifting balance of power. The conversation also addresses the rise of emerging actors such as BRICS, the strategic behaviour of smaller states, and the evolving role of alliances, norms, and regional rivalries—from the Middle East to the Global South. Ultimately, it offers a nuanced assessment of whether a multipolar world necessarily produces a stable and coherent international order, and highlights key research questions shaping the future of global politics. Mark N. KatzMark N. Katz is Professor Emeritus of Government and Politics at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, where he taught from 1988 until his retirement in 2024. A specialist in Russian foreign policy, great-power competition, and the international politics of the Middle East, his research has long focused on Soviet and Russian engagement with the developing world and revolutionary movements in international politics.  Publications: Personal Blog American Foreign Policy: Can the U.S. Get Out of a Difficult Situation? The Multipolar World Is Nothing New: Why the Return of Many Powers Does Not Mean the Birth of a New Order The Soviet Roots of Putin’s Foreign Policy Toward the Middle East The Third World in Soviet Military Thought The USSR and Marxist Revolutions in the Third World Content 00:00 – Introduction 02:03 – Is Multipolarity the Historical Norm? 04:08 – The Liberal Order During the Cold War 04:53 – What Makes a Country a Great Power? 09:36 – Understanding the Unipolar Moment 12:19 – When Did Unipolarity End? 15:41 – 9/11, Terrorism and the Limits of Polarity Theory 21:51 – The Sino–Soviet Split and a Brief Tripolar World 25:26 – BRICS and the Rise of Multipolarity 27:25 – Multipolar World vs Multipolar Order 30:27 – Global South Views on Multipolarity 33:15 – How Small States Play Great Powers Against Each Other 38:00 – If China Dominates... 41:25 – Do Alliances Limit a Country’s Power Ambitions? 43:45 – Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel in a Multipolar Middle East 47:06 – What the Arab Spring Reveals About Multipolarity 50:49 – Do International Norms Still Matter? 53:12 – Key Research Questions on the Future of Multipolarity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
  2. Catalonia's Pursuit of Self-government - Marc Sanjaume-Calvet | Ep. 4 (2026)

    17 MAR

    Catalonia's Pursuit of Self-government - Marc Sanjaume-Calvet | Ep. 4 (2026)

    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. The discussion also explores Catalonia’s external action, from its relations with the European Union and international organisations to the constraints imposed by Spanish constitutional law, including the legacy of the 2017 referendum and Article 155. Marc Sanjaume-CalvetMarc Sanjaume-Calvet is Associate Professor of Political Science at Pompeu Fabra University. He has also served as an advisor at the Self-Government Studies Institute, a research centre linked to the Government of Catalonia. His work sits at the crossroads of federalism, self-determination, and territorial conflict, with broader interests in national and ethnic conflicts.  Publications: Asymmetry as a Device for Equal Recognition and Reasonable Accommodation of Majority and Minority Nations. A Country Study on Constitutional Asymmetry in Spain The Political Use of de facto Referendums of Independence The Case of Catalonia Defensive Federalism: Protecting Territorial Minorities from the "Tyranny of the Majority" The Exodus That Never Was? An Empirical Analysis on Territorial Conflict and Foot-Voting The Politics of Independence Referendums: Never Mind the Ballots Content 00:00 – Introduction 01:50 – Constitutional Status of Catalonia 05:21 – Identity and Demography in Catalonia 08:15 – Distribution of Competences 11:46 – The Future of Catalan Autonomy 16:10 – “Unity of Foreign Action” in Spanish Constitutional Law and Its Constraints on Regional Diplomacy 21:04 – Coordination and Tension between Catalonia’s External Action and Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs 23:39 – Catalonia and the European Union 29:40 – International Agreements and Catalonia’s Network of External Delegations 33:53 – Catalonia’s Interaction with International Organisations and Multilateral Forums 37:51 – The 2017 Independence Referendum and Article 155 44:21 – Emerging Research Agendas in the Study of Catalonia’s Autonomy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  3. The New Constructivism - David McCourt | Ep. 3 (2026)

    10 MAR

    The New Constructivism - David McCourt | Ep. 3 (2026)

    In this episode, Professor McCourt unpacks the foundations of New Constructivism: where it came from, what it demands of researchers, and where it's heading. From the theory/method distinction to the practice and relational turns, from C. Wright Mills to Multiple Correspondence Analysis, this is a wide-ranging conversation about how social science can move beyond positivist inheritances without losing analytical rigor. We also explore New Constructivism's blind spots, its uneven development across the US and Europe.  David McCourtDavid McCourt is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Davis, where he teaches sociological and international theory. His research sits at the intersection of political sociology and international relations, with a focus on the social foundations of state action in world politics. Empirically, his work centres on the foreign policies of the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Theoretically, he usually draws on constructivist, practice-based, and relational approaches to examine how states define and enact their roles on the international stage. Publications: Constructivism’s Contemporary Crisis and the Challenge of Reflexivity Practice Theory and Relationalism as the New Constructivism Domestic Contestation Over Foreign Policy, Role-based and Otherwise: Three Cautionary Cases The New Constructivism in International Relations Theory The End of Engagement: America’s China and Russia Experts and U.S. Strategy Since 1989 The Dragon Defined: How Washington, Canberra, and London Reimagined China Content 00:00 - Introduction 02:37 - Core Principles of New Constructivism 19:24 - Is the Theory/Method Distinction Itself a Positivist Inheritance? 24:00 - Methodology vs. Methods: The Root of Constructivist Misreadings 33:33 - Constructivism as Classic Social Analysis: The C. Wright Mills Connection 37:25 - Broadening the Methodological Repertoire Without Fetishising Technique 41:27 - What Must Stay Constant as Constructivism Evolves? 46:14 - Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) as a Constructivist Tool 52:15 - The Practice Turn and Relational Turn in New Constructivism 57:23 - Diverging Trajectories: New Constructivism in the US and Europe 01:00:43 - New Constructivism, Global South Scholarship, and Postcolonialism 01:05:11 - The Weakest Link: Where New Constructivism Falls Short 01:07:54 - The Limits of New Constructivism: Where It Should Not Be Applied Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 10min
  4. New Zealand's Geopolitics - Reuben Steff | Ep. 2 (2026)

    3 MAR

    New Zealand's Geopolitics - Reuben Steff | Ep. 2 (2026)

    In this episode, together with Dr Reuben Steff, we explore how New Zealand’s geographic isolation, colonial legacies, and small-state status have shaped a distinctive strategic culture; one that combines alliance cooperation with a persistent commitment to autonomy, non-nuclear norms, and multilateralism. Reuben SteffReuben Steff is a Senior Lecturer at Mendel University in Brno whose scholarship engages some of the most pressing questions in contemporary international relations and security. His research spans the implications of artificial intelligence for the global balance of power, the interaction between nuclear deterrence theory and ballistic missile defence within the security dilemma, New Zealand and United States foreign policy, and the dynamics of great-power competition between the United States and China.  Publications: New Zealand’s Geopolitics and the US-China Competition ‘Our region is now a strategic theatre’: New Zealand’s balancing response to China The strategic case for New Zealand to join AUKUS Pillar 2 US Foreign Policy in the Age of Trump: Drivers, Strategy and Tactics Emerging Technologies and International Security: Machines, the State, and War Examining the immanent dilemma of small states in the Asia-Pacific: The strategic triangle between New Zealand, the US and China Hard Balancing in the Age of American Unipolarity: The Russian Response to US Ballistic Missile Defense during the Bush Administration (2001–2008) Content 00:00 – Introduction: Conceptualising New Zealand’s Strategic Posture 02:03 – Geographic Isolation and the Evolution of New Zealand’s Strategic Culture 13:56 – From the South Pacific to the Indo-Pacific: Regional Order and Strategic Repositioning 18:06 – The Treaty of Waitangi and Its Implications for External Partnerships 21:47 – Strategic Autonomy, Nuclear-Free Norms, and the AUKUS Question 30:44 – Domestic Debates on Nuclear Policy and National Identity 34:21 – ANZUS (1951) in Contemporary Perspective: Alliance Politics and Strategic Recalibration 36:25 – Trans-Tasman Relations: Convergence, Friction, and Structural Asymmetry 40:38 – Economic Interdependence with China and Security Alignment with Western Partners 45:22 – Engagement with India and ASEAN: Diversification and Indo-Pacific Strategy 49:23 – The European Union and New Zealand: Trade, Norms, and Strategic Convergence 53:54 – Hedging in Practice: Small-State Strategy Amid Great-Power Competition 56:34 – The War in Ukraine and Its Implications for New Zealand’s Foreign Policy 01:01:11 – Multilateralism, Liberal Order, and China’s Parallel Institutional Architecture Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 6min
  5. Decolonising Norms in IR - Charlotte Epstein | Ep. 1 (2026)

    18 FEB

    Decolonising Norms in IR - Charlotte Epstein | Ep. 1 (2026)

    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. The conversation explores colonial inheritances embedded in contemporary normative orders, while examining positionality, experience, and the epistemological stakes of critical scholarship. Charlotte EpsteinCharlotte Epstein is Professor at Tokyo College, University of Tokyo, where her work examines how language and political power have jointly constituted the modern international order. Publications: The power of words in international relations: Birth of an anti-whaling discourse Who speaks? Discourse, the subject and the study of identity in international politics Constructivism or the eternal return of universals in International Relations. Why returning to language is vital to prolonging the owl’s flight The postcolonial perspective: an introduction Against international relations norms: Postcolonial perspectives Birth of the state: The place of the body in crafting modern politics Content 00:00 – Introduction 01:42 – Colonialism and Postcolonialism: Conceptual Clarifications 04:08 – Rationale for Employing Postcolonial Perspectives 07:22 – Postcoloniality as Positionality Beyond Historical Periodisation 12:29 – Studying Norm Diffusion and Compliance Beyond Coercion 22:50 – Why Norms Reveal Colonial Inheritances More Sharply than Concepts 27:53 – From Norms as Practices to Norms as Epistemological Categories 32:25 – Situated Perspectives, Critical Authority, and the Risk of Relativism 35:42 – The Role of Experience in Postcolonial Norm Research 39:26 – Key Sources on the Concept of Experience 43:02 – ‘Norming’ and ‘Re-Norming’ in a Foucauldian Perspective 47:54 – The Ambivalences of Research Success 50:39 – Principal Challenges in Postcolonial Approaches to Norms Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
  6. Transformative Realism - Marc Saxer | 2025 Episode 31

    17/12/2025

    Transformative Realism - Marc Saxer | 2025 Episode 31

    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. From the erosion of international norms to the urgent need for reimagined statecraft, Marc offers a compelling framework for understanding the forces reshaping our world and what political leadership must look like in response. Marc SaxerMarc Saxer is a political analyst, strategist, and writer with two decades of experience in international relations. He heads the Asia Pacific office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Shtiftung and convenes the Asia Strategic Foresight Group. Publications: Transformative Realism: How to overcome the system crisis Geopolitical Conflict in the Wolf World: Great Power Competition and the Illiberal Revolt against the Liberal Order Content 00:00 - Introduction 01:38 - Understanding Transformative Realism 04:50 - Defining Systemic Crisis 07:39 - Marc’s Most Compelling Crisis Case Study 15:08 - The Erosion of International Norms and Rules 18:24 - Recognizing the Signs of Systemic Crisis 20:18 - The Role of Agency in Transformative Realism 28:18 - Reimagining Statecraft and Political Leadership 33:44 - The Crisis in Modern Statecraft Education Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  7. India's Diplomacy - Vineet Thakur | 2025 Episode 30

    08/12/2025

    India's Diplomacy - Vineet Thakur | 2025 Episode 30

    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 and strategic autonomy, neighbourhood diplomacy, and India’s contemporary practice of multi-alignment amid shifting great-power rivalries. Vineet ThakurVineet Thakur is a University Lecturer in International Relations at the Institute for History, Leiden University. He received his doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in 2014 and has held academic positions and fellowships across India, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. His professional experience includes teaching appointments at Ambedkar University Delhi, the University of Johannesburg, and the School of Oriental and African Studies, following which he joined Leiden University in 2017. He has been a fellow at the University of Cambridge, the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study, and Rhodes University. His research is situated in postcolonial international relations, with a particular focus on the politics of knowledge, disciplinary hierarchies, and the global intellectual history of International Relations, especially in the Indian context. Publications: V.S. Srinivasa Sastri: A Liberal Life India’s First Diplomat: V.S. Srinivasa Sastri and the Making of Liberal Internationalism Postscripts on Independence: Foreign Policy Discourses in India and South Africa Content 00:00 – Introduction and Framing of India’s Diplomatic Trajectories 02:03 – Mandala Theory and Kautilya’s Arthashastra as Lenses for Contemporary Regional Policy 05:10 – Intellectual and Historical Inspirations Behind India’s Diplomatic Traditions 06:32 – Civilisational State Narratives Versus Colonial Administrative Foundations of Indian Diplomacy 10:53 – Social Stratification and the Influence of Caste Networks on Diplomatic Recruitment and Culture 22:12 – Nehruvian Idealism and Non-Alignment as Strategy: Autonomy, Hedging, and Principled Neutrality 27:55 – Overlooked and Marginalised Practices in India’s Cold War Diplomatic History 30:30 – The Strategic Logic and Practical Outcomes of the “Neighbourhood First” Diplomatic Doctrine 35:18 – Structural Constraints and Policy Stalemate in India–Pakistan Diplomatic Engagement 37:34 – China’s Strategic Shadow and Its Effects on India’s Diplomatic Posture Towards Pakistan 39:08 – India’s Diplomatic Approach to Tibet in Historical and Contemporary Perspective 43:29 – Multi-Alignment as Strategy: Balancing Great Powers in India’s Contemporary Foreign Policy 47:45 – The Absence of a Permanent United Nations Security Council Seat and Its Diplomatic Consequences 51:15 – India–Africa Relations and the Underdeveloped Economic Dimension of South–South Diplomacy 54:21 – Hindu Nationalism and Its Influence on the Ideational Foundations of Indian Diplomacy 58:24 – Neglected Themes and Under-Researched Domains in the Study of Indian Foreign Policy *** at 10:29, there is a missing word ‘overstated’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 1min
  8. Bulgaria's Energy Security - Martin Vladimirov | 2025 Episode 29

    01/12/2025

    Bulgaria's Energy Security - Martin Vladimirov | 2025 Episode 29

    In this episode, Martin Vladimirov unpacks Bulgaria’s evolving energy landscape in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine. We discuss shifts in the country’s energy mix, offshore wind prospects in the Black Sea, the strategic role of gas pipelines and interconnectors, and the future of key assets such as the Chiren gas storage facility, the Maritsa Iztok lignite complex, and potential new nuclear reactors. Martin VladimirovMartin Vladimirov is Director of the Energy and Climate Program at the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), where his work focuses on European and Balkan energy security, energy transition pathways, and the geopolitical dimensions of Russian and Chinese economic influence. He has extensive experience as an energy analyst for The Oil and Gas Year, contributing in-depth reports on Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Saudi Arabia, and has consulted for international oil companies across the GCC and MENA regions. Martin is also an affiliated expert with the European Geopolitical Forum in Brussels and previously worked as an energy and economic analyst for CEE Market Watch, covering Iran and Central Asia. Publications: Managing Assets Under OFAC Sanctions Energy and Climate Security in Europe: From Crisis Response to Structural Transformation The Kremlin Playbook in Mexico: Asymmetric Influence The Imperative to Weaken the Kremlin’s War Economy: What the West Can Do Closing the backdoor: The new TurkStream is here. Can the West stop it? Content 00:00 – Introduction 01:38 – Bulgaria’s Evolving Energy Mix after the War in Ukraine 09:07 – Exploring Bulgaria’s Offshore Wind Potential 12:45 – Strategic Energy Pipelines Crossing Bulgaria 17:16 – Bulgaria’s Relationship with Gazprom and Gas Contracts 24:14 – The Greece–Bulgaria Gas Interconnector (IGB) 27:05 – Alexandroupolis LNG Terminal and Regional Gas Connectivity 28:53 – The Role of Chiren Underground Gas Storage 34:31 – The Future of the Maritsa Iztok Lignite Power Complex 40:50 – Assessing the Feasibility of Two New Nuclear Reactors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
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About

The IR thinker features in-depth interviews with leading experts in international relations, foreign policy, and global affairs. The IR thinker is an independent, non-partisan and non-aligned platform. It hosts a wide range of perspectives on international relations but does not endorse any political party, government or ideological position. Since its first episode in 2023, The IR thinker has produced more than 100 episodes as a pro bono initiative established by Martin Zubko, an international relations scholar and lecturer. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Martin Zubko
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Martin Zubko
  • Show Website
    The IR thinker