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The IR thinker

Martin Zubko
Cybersecurity
China
Ransomware
European Diplomacy
United Kingdom
Russia
European Union
National Cyber Security Strategy
Cyber Espionage
India
U.S. Energy Security
Royal United Services Institute
Foreign Policy
Ukraine
Energy Transition
Critical Terrorism Studies
Central Asia
Terrorism
Chinese Theories Of International Relations
Us-China Energy Dynamics

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 pro... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes105Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesDocumentaryScienceSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

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 i... more

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This episode of The IR thinker features a wide-ranging conversation with Professor Dimitry Kochenov on what it really means to “belong” in a world where citizenship is conditional, unequal, and sometimes absent altogether. We unpack the paradox of ci... more

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This episode of The IR thinker offers a clear and structured tour of contemporary nuclear strategy with Dr Stephen Herzog, moving from the basic categories of nuclear weapons to the political struggles surrounding their control. We unpack the logic o... more

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This episode of The IR thinker features Professor Chenggang Xu on the conceptual and empirical foundations of his book Institutional Genes: Origins of China’s Institutions and Totalitarianism. The conversation unpacks what he means by “institutions” ... more

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Recent Guests

Anders Wivel
Professor of international relations at University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
Episode: EU's Soft Balancing Governance - Andres Wivel | 2025 Episode 5
Ingvild Bode
Professor of International Relations and Director of the Center for War Studies at the University of Southern Denmark
University of Southern Denmark
Episode: Norms and Autonomous Weapon Systems - Ingvild Bode | 2025 Episode 4
Christopher Lamont
Dean of E-Tracks International Relations Program and Vice Dean of the Graduate School of International Relations at the Tokyo International University in Japan.
Tokyo International University
Episode: Research Methods & Shifts - Christopher Lamont | 2025 Episode 3
Dr. Vlado Vivoda
Distinguished scholar and researcher at the University of Queensland, focusing on geopolitics of critical minerals and sustainable energy policies.
University of Queensland, Sustainable Minerals Institute
Episode: Global Quest for Critical Minerals - Vlado Vivoda | 2025 Episode 2
Dr. Christopher Mott
Washington Fellow at the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy, an international relations scholar specializing in geopolitics.
Institute for Peace & Diplomacy
Episode: Illusion of Hegemony - Christopher Mott | 2025 Episode 1
Mark LeBar
Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University and Editor of Social Theory and Practice
Florida State University
Episode: Virtue Eudaimonism: Ancient Wisdom for International Relations - Mark LeBar | 2024 Episode 37
Bill Emmott
Independent writer and consultant, former editor of The Economist
The Economist
Episode: Japan's Political Uncertainty & International Relations - Bill Emmott | 2024 Episode 36
William Baber
Professor at the Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University, expert in business negotiations
Kyoto University
Episode: Business Negotiations in International Relations - William W. Baber | 2024 Episode 35
Tomasz Morozowski
Analyst at the Institute for Western Affairs in Poznań specializing in German studies
Institute for Western Affairs
Episode: Germany & Emerging Powers - Tomasz Morozowski | 2024 Episode 34

Host

Martin Zubko
Host of IR thinker, an international relations lecturer.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

US-China Energy Dynamics & Solar Industry - Quill Robinson | 2024 Episode 12
Q: What would you recommend for junior researchers as areas of research?
I recommend focusing on linking trade with climate policies, exploring emerging technologies like geothermal and long-duration storage, and examining how to make fossil fuels less emissions intensive.
US-China Energy Dynamics & Solar Industry - Quill Robinson | 2024 Episode 12
Q: How do Chinese energy exports influence the energy security policies of the United States and the European Union?
Chinese energy exports significantly impact US and EU energy security policies due to their dominance in solar technology manufacturing, which influences the strategic considerations of these nations.
The Long Peace of East Asia - Timo Kivimäki | 2024 Episode 19
Q: How do you see diversity of researchers and peace research at the moment?
Kivimäki notes that while Chinese scholarly contributions are increasing, peace research remains dominated by Western interventionist perspectives.
The Long Peace of East Asia - Timo Kivimäki | 2024 Episode 19
Q: How is Asian countries understand democracy?
Kivimäki states that Eastern and Western ideas of democracy differ, with East Asia focusing more on collective well-being over individual freedoms.
The Long Peace of East Asia - Timo Kivimäki | 2024 Episode 19
Q: What do you think is the source of the non-interference sort of mentality or thinking?
Kivimäki explains that East Asian countries prioritize their solutions and recognize that enforcing external norms often leads to conflict escalation.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The IR thinker

What is The IR thinker about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Featuring expert interviews on topics related to international relations, foreign policy, and global affairs, the featured content offers listeners in-depth insights from leading scholars and practitioners in the field. Discussions cover a wide range of contemporary issues, such as geopolitical tensions, the implications of emerging technologies like autonomous weapons, and the historical context of normative changes in international governance. The diverse backgrounds of the guests enrich the dialogues, often bringing unique perspectives from academia and policy-making to the complexities of global affairs. Topics are rooted in both theoretical and practical aspects, making the content relevant for listeners interested in understanding the... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The IR thinker?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The IR thinker:

1. The Trade Guys

How many episodes of The IR thinker are there?

The IR thinker launched 2 years ago and published 105 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The IR thinker?

Recent guests on The IR thinker include:

1. Anders Wivel
2. Ingvild Bode
3. Christopher Lamont
4. Dr. Vlado Vivoda
5. Dr. Christopher Mott
6. Mark LeBar
7. Bill Emmott
8. William Baber

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