Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

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Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

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. Hot and cold wars: How Eurasia shaped the modern geopolitical world

    1 DAY AGO

    Hot and cold wars: How Eurasia shaped the modern geopolitical world

    Hal Brands argues that, while American power is often seen as dominating the modern era, it is in fact part of a long and violent Eurasian century. From world war one to today's geopolitical tensions involving the US and the authoritarian axis of China, Iran and Russia, the Eurasian landmass has consistently shaped global conflict. This week Mark Leonard welcomes Hal Brands, the Henry Kissinger distinguished professor at the John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, to discuss his new book, The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World. What inspired him to write it? How is the second Eurasian century, driven by the authoritarian axis of Russia, China, and Iran, emerging? And how does Donald Trump change the equation between liberal powers and the authoritarian Eurasian heartland? Bookshelf: The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World by Hal Brands By More Than Providence by Michael J. Green   This podcast was recorded on 10 January 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  2. Live from the Munich Security Conference: Europe’s wake-up call

    5 DAYS AGO

    Live from the Munich Security Conference: Europe’s wake-up call

    Last week, US president Donald Trump shocked Europeans when he announced the start of peace talks on the war in Ukraine, following a call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Trump’s announcement fuelled fears that peace talks could begin without Ukrainians or Europeans at the table, and result in key concessions to Moscow. In this episode, recorded live from the Munich Security Conference, Mark Leonard welcomes senior policy fellow Ulrike Franke, distinguished policy fellow Camille Grand, senior policy fellow and director of ECFR’s Asia programme Janka Oertel, and senior policy fellow and head of ECFR’s Berlin office Jana Puglierin. Together, they unpack this year's conference and discuss the state of transatlantic relations and the condition of European security. What do Trump’s plans for peace talks entail for Ukraine? How can Europe secure a role in the negotiations? And what must Europeans do to provide solid security guarantees and secure the continent’s future? Bookshelf Ende der China-Illusion by Janka Oertel Transatlantic twilight: European public opinion and the long shadow of Trump by Jana Puglierin, Arturo Varvelli and Pawel Zerka The Plot against America by Philip Roth Es werden schöne Tage kommen by Zach Williams Die Rückkehr des Krieges by Franz-Stefan Gady The Age of Unpeace by Mark Leonard This podcast was recorded during the Munich Security Conference (14-16 February 2024) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  3. The Norwegian way: Why Oslo talks to everyone

    FEB 7

    The Norwegian way: Why Oslo talks to everyone

    As a committed NATO ally and EU partner, Norway is deeply embedded in Western security structures and stands firmly with Ukraine against Russian aggression. But its ‘Norwegian model’ of foreign policy—engaging in dialogue with actors and countries whose values and interests contradict its own—is unique. This week Mark Leonard welcomes Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, Norway’s deputy foreign minister and member of the Norwegian Labour Party, to discuss the country’s distinct approach to diplomacy and international engagement. What defines this method? How does it serve Norway in a world of geopolitical fracture and crises? How does Norway benefit from talking to almost everyone—and what is the risk of not having these conservations? This podcast was recorded on January 28 2025 Bookshelf The Norwegian way: Why Oslo talks with everyone and still believes in multilateralism by Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements that Changed the World by Stuart Eisenstadt The Last Colony: A Tale of Exile, Justice and Britain's Colonial Legacy by Philip Sands Non-Zero: The Logic of Human Destiny by Robert Wright Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  4. Europe confronts Trump: the politics of transatlantic relations

    JAN 31

    Europe confronts Trump: the politics of transatlantic relations

    Less than two weeks into his second term and President Donald Trump is already dominating global headlines. From reigniting trade war threats and doubling down on his ambitions to acquire Greenland, to withdrawing from multilateral agreements and demanding that NATO allies allocate 5% of their GDP to defence—his administration is swiftly attempting to reshape global dynamics. Meanwhile, Trump’s ally Elon Musk is stirring political controversy and further unsettling European leaders.  This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Camille Lons, deputy head of ECFR’s Paris office, Marta Prochwicz Jazowska, deputy head of ECFR’s Warsaw office, Jana Puglierin, head of ECFR’s Berlin office, José Ignacio Torreblanca, head of ECFR’s Madrid office and Arturo Varvelli, head of ECFR’s Rome office, to discuss how European capitals are responding to Trump’s dramatic return to the White House. Which major issues are they trying to deal with? And how are Europeans and the EU preparing for all the disruption to come?  Bookshelf:  Geopolitics and Democracy: The Western Liberal Order from Foundation to Fracture by Peter Trubowitz and Brian Burgoon  Orbital by Samatha Harvey  Realpolitik How to face the global disorder by Giampiero Massolo  The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser  Cocktail sugar : et autres nouvelles de Corée by Kim Ae-ran, Go Eun-ju, Jeon Gyeong-nin, Eun Hee-kyung, Oh Jung-hi, Han Kang, Park Chan-Soon, Pak Wan-So  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  5. Insights from Davos: Trump’s impact on the global economy

    JAN 24

    Insights from Davos: Trump’s impact on the global economy

    ECFR is live from the WEF 2025 in Davos, where top business leaders are gathered to discuss the state of the world. After Donald Trump’s inauguration just three days ago, attendees eagerly await the absent US president's video address on Thursday afternoon. This week Mark Leonard welcomes Carl Bildt, co-chair of ECFR’s council and former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden, and Arancha González, dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Science Po and former foreign minister of Spain, to discuss their insights from public conversations and private meetings at this year’s WEF. What is most striking about the 2025 edition? How is the mood around the global economy? And does Trump’s return mean for the threat of tariffs and war in Ukraine?   Bookshelf: Open but Secure: Europe’s Path to Strategic Interdependence by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with ECFR This podcast was recorded on January 23rd 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
  6. Election countdown: New Germany, new Europe, new podcast

    JAN 17

    Election countdown: New Germany, new Europe, new podcast

    With just five weeks remaining until the German federal election, Friedrich Merz's CDU is leading in the polls. But significant shifts in geopolitics—and opinion—can occur in weeks and days: and this election will take place in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s inauguration and amid the stagnation of the Franco-German engine. Now, recognising the importance of German leadership in Europe, Searching for Deutschland explores the foreign policy dimensions of Germany’s electoral campaign. This week Mark Leonard welcomes editorial director and senior policy fellow Jeremy Cliffe, and ECFR’s Berlin office head and senior policy fellow Jana Puglierin, to discuss their new podcast, and Merz’s foreign and domestic policies. What exactly is the “Merz Doctrine”? How might Merz deal with the second Trump administration? And what are his views on Russia and Ukraine? The podcast was recorded on January 16th 2025 Bookshelf: The Divider Trump in the White House, 2017-2021by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser Alone in a Trumpian world: The EU and global public opinion after the US elections by Timothy Garton Ash, Ivan Krastev, Mark Leonard  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  7. Poland’s presidency: A new European leadership

    JAN 10

    Poland’s presidency: A new European leadership

    On 1 January, Poland assumed presidency of the EU Council. But it steps into the spotlight during a period of seismic geopolitical shifts. With the war in Ukraine raging and Donald Trump’s imminent return to power, Poland faces immense pressure to lead while navigating Europe’s complex security landscape. This week Mark Leonard welcomes Joanna Bekker, deputy managing director at leading Polish think-tank Polityka Insight, Piotr Buras, head of ECFR’s Warsaw office, and Marta Prochwicz Jazowska, deputy head of ECFR’s Warsaw office, to discuss Poland’s presidency of the EU Council. What does its motto of “security” mean for Europe in practice? Will the upcoming Polish presidential election impact its direction? And, with France and Germany missing in action, can Poland seize the moment to assume greater leadership in Europe?   Bookshelf: Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz Kaput: The End of the German Miracle by Wolfgang Münchau Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder   This podcast was recorded on 8 January 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  8. Ten foreign policy predictions for 2025

    JAN 3

    Ten foreign policy predictions for 2025

    2024 was a year of intense geopolitical shifts and growing uncertainty. But one thing remains consistent: ECFR’s ever-popular predictions podcast. In our first outing for 2025, Mark Leonard and ECFR research director Jeremy Shapiro team up to reflect on the accuracy of last year’s predictions—and, with crystal balls in hand, try to decipher which forces will shape 2025. Is this the year they finally achieve 10/10? Let us know if you think they missed something! Write your own predictions in to Mark via mark.leonard@ecfr.eu. Bookshelf: A Nasty Little War: The West's Fight to Reverse the Russian Revolution by Anna Reid Regime Change: Toward a Postliberal Future by Patrick J. Deneen 2024: The year we embrace predictable surprise by Mark Leonard and Jeremy Shapiro   This podcast was recorded on 27 December 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
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4.6
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93 Ratings

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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