Undercurrents - Season 1

In this new podcast series, Agnes Frimston and Ben Horton interview Chatham House experts about the critical underlying issues which are shaping modern society. The first episode features Patricia Lewis, Head of the International Security Department at Chatham House, on cybersecurity for nuclear weapons systems; and Inderjeet Parmar, Head of Politics and International Relations at City University, on the future of the US-led liberal world order. Read the research paper:  Cybersecurity of Nuclear Weapons Systems: Threats, Vulnerabilities and Consequences Read the International Affairs article:  The US-led liberal order: imperialism by another name?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Episode 1: Cybersecurity, and Liberal World Order

This week, Agnes speaks to Helen Fitzwilliam about a new Italian judge-led project to relocate the wives and children of the Calabrian mafia family, the ‘Ndrangheta. Ben then interviews Xenia Wickett about her recent report on transatlantic relations. Read the article  Escape from the Mafia: an Italian Judge’s Radical Plan Read the report  Transatlantic Relations: Converging or Diverging?   Department/project   US and the Americas Programme,&nbsp;Transatlantic Rift: The State of US-Europe Relations

Episode 2: The Calabrian Mafia, and Transatlantic Relations

In this week’s episode, Ben speaks to Champa Patel about President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs in the Philippines, and the prospects for the preliminary examination launched recently by the International Criminal Court. Agnes then discusses UK defence policy and wider European security with Andrew Dorman, who also gives an insight into publishing with&nbsp;International Affairs. Read the Expert Comment&nbsp;  In Examining the Philippines’ Drug War, the ICC Takes a Positive but Challenging Step&nbsp; Read the International Affairs Blogpost&nbsp;  UK Defence Policy: Groundhog Day Re-visited

Episode 3: Duterte’s War on Drugs, and European Security

This week, Ben speaks to Rob Yates, Head of the Universal Heath Coverage Policy Forum in the Centre on Global Health and Security at Chatham House. They discuss the widespread practice of detaining hospital patients in their wards if they cannot afford to pay their medical bills, an illegal policy affecting thousands in Africa and South Asia. Then, Agnes learns about the growth in activism around LGBTQ+ rights in Lebanon from Nicole El Khawaja, a Programme Coordinator with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House. They discuss recent developments in Lebanon and the wider region, including Beirut's inaugural Pride week in 2017, and assess whether progress can be maintained. Read the Research Paper:  Hospital Detentions for Non-payment of Fees: A Denial of Rights and Dignity Read The World Today Article: Coming soon.

Episode 4: Illegal Hospital Detentions in Africa, and LGBTQ+ Rights in Lebanon

In this week's episode Ben speaks to Laura Wellesley, a Research Fellow in the Energy, Environment and Resources Department at Chatham House, about her recent report assessing vulnerabilities in the global food trade. Then Agnes mediates a debate about how the internet is transforming the English language between journalist Marie Le Conte and The World Today editor Alan Philps. Read the Chatham House report:  Chokepoints and Vulnerabilities in the Global Food Trade Read The World Today articles: The Joys of Online Syntax  In Defence of Good Old Grammar &nbsp; &nbsp;

Episode 5: Chokepoints in Global Food Trade, and How the Internet is Changing Language

This week Agnes meets Thomas Raines and Matthew Goodwin of the Europe Programme to revisit their research on the political Tribes of Europe in light of recent elections across the continent. Then, recording in San Francisco, Ben speaks to Rebecca Sanders from Cincinatti University about her recent article in International Affairs, which sheds light on conservative efforts to disrupt the women's rights agenda at the United Nations.&nbsp;&nbsp; Read the Chatham House reports: Europe's Political Tribes: Exploring the Diversity of Views Across the EU The Future of Europe: Comparing Public and Elite Attitudes Take the online survey: Tribes of Europe Read the International Affairs article:&nbsp; Norm spoiling: Undermining the International Women's Rights Agenda

Episode 6: Tribes of Europe Update, and the International Women's Rights Agenda at the UN

The United Nations has been going since 1945, and is the basis for most international cooperation. But in this disruptive political environment, is it still relevant? This week, Ben speaks to UN expert Thomas Weiss to find out. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the situation in Libya has disappeared from international headlines. Seven years on, a new report by Tim Eaton explores the chaotic war economy that has developed in the vacuum. He speaks to Agnes about smuggling, tribal factions and what must be done to resolve a growing crisis. Read the virtual issue: 70 years of the United Nations in International Affairs Read the Chatham House research paper:  Libya's war economy: predation, profiteering and state weakness

Episode 7: Libya's war economy, and is the United Nations still relevant?

Ronan Farrow is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who was previously a foreign policy advisor to Hillary Clinton. In his new book, War on Peace, Farrow traces the decline of US diplomacy over the past 30 years, drawing on conversations with every surviving Secretary of State. This week Agnes met up with Farrow to discuss the waning reputation of career diplomats, how foreign leaders should deal with the Trump administration, and how new technology is transforming the art of diplomacy.&nbsp; A longer transcript of the interview will be published in the June/July issue of The World Today.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Episode 8: Ronan Farrow on Diplomacy

Since ancient times states have attempted campaigns of subversion against their rivals. Sir David Omand, former Head of GCHQ, argues that cyberspace provides a multitude of new possibilities for interfering abroad. Ben met Sir David to discuss Russian interventions, fake news, foreign policy frenemies and jihadist social media.&nbsp; After the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukrainian activists have faced harsh penalties for criticizing Russian actions in the region. Agnes met Nikolay and Tatyana Shchur to discuss the case of Oleg Sentsov, a film-maker and activist currently serving 20 years in a Russian prison for charges which some have claimed are fabricated.&nbsp; Read the Journal of Cyber Policy article:  The threats from modern digital subversion and sedition Find out more about the case of Oleg Sentsov:  Ukrainian film-maker Oleg Sentsov goes on hunger strike in Russian prison

Episode 9: Digital Subversion in Cyberspace, and Oleg Sentsov's Hunger Strike

Technology driven by artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, but the political spectrum is not responding fast enough. Agnes discusses machine learning, the profusion of cat photos on the internet and public-private partnerships in AI regulation with Jacob Parakilas from the US and Americas Programme. In 2017 the government of Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on women driving, to international acclaim. In the run-up to this policy becoming reality however Saudi women's rights activists have been threatened and imprisoned by the same administration. Ben meets Jane Kinninmont from the Middle East and North Africa Programme, who explains the significance of this and other Saudi social reforms. Read the Chatham House Report:  Artificial Intelligence and International Affairs Read the Expert Comment:  The Arrests of Saudi Women’s Driving Activists Underline the Limits of Reforms

Episode 10: Artificial Intelligence in International Affairs, and Women Drivers in Saudi Arabia

In this bonus episode we bring you a recording of a roundtable from the 2018 Chatham House London Conference. This annual event brings together policy-makers, academics and business figures from around the world to London to discuss key global issues. Undercurrents hosted a breakfast roundtable as part of the conference, focusing on how elites can re-engage with their publics. A panel of experts from six different countries joined Ben and Agnes to share their views on questions including:  Is political participation in decline? Are traditional forms of politics outdated? What impact has the digital revolution had on the political sphere?&nbsp; How can politicians reconnect with their voters?  Listen to more highlights from the  London Conference 2018.

BONUS Episode: How Can Political Elites Reconnect With Voters?

Alistair Burt MP is Minister of State for the Middle East at the Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office. In a recent speech at Chatham House he launched a new report from the government's Stabilisation Unit on new approaches to resolving armed conflicts. Drawing on examples from conflicts as diverse as Libya and Colombia, the report explores how deal making and peace building can reduce conflicts around the world. Agnes spoke with Alistair after the speech to find out more. Despite the success and acclaim garnered by movements such as Time's Up and #MeToo, women's access to the global economy is still a major issue. From gender pay gaps to the lack of affordable childcare, in the majority of countries women are still greatly disadvantaged. The Gender and Growth Initiative at Chatham House seeks to develop policies for combatting these problems. In their first joint interview Agnes and Ben caught up with Stephane Dubois and Roxanne Bildan to discuss how the initiative is working with the G20 to drive change in this area.&nbsp; Read the speech:  Deal Making and Peace Building: a New Approach to Reducing Conflict Find out more:  Chatham House 2018 International Policy Forum on Gender-Inclusive Growth &nbsp;

Episode 11: New Approaches to Peace Building, and Gender-Inclusive Growth at the G20

President Trump is visiting the UK this week in between summits with NATO and Russian President Putin. Agnes discusses the UK-US special relationship and European responses to the current President with Leslie Vinjamuri (Head of the US &amp; Americas Programme) and Hans Kundnani (Senior Research Fellow in the Europe Programme).&nbsp; Another country adapting its foreign policy approach in light of an increasingly unpredictable US is Japan. A new special issue of International Affairs explores Japan's relations with its Asian neighbours. Ben speaks to Corey Wallace, one of the issue's guest-editor's, about Japan's response to the Singapore Summit, TPP and China's role in the region.&nbsp; Read the Expert Comment:  To Engage America, Theresa May Should Recognize the Real Concerns that Trump Raises Read the International Affairs special issue:&nbsp; Japan's Pivot in Asia

Episode 12: Trump's Visit to the UK, and Japanese Foreign Policy in Asia

India is the world’s largest democracy, with more than one billion people and an economy expanding faster than China’s. But the rewards of this growth have been far from evenly shared, and the country’s top 1% now own nearly 60% of its wealth. James Crabtree's new book The Billionaire Raj&nbsp;explores the dynamics behind the rise of a new class of Indian billionaires. Ben met up with James, and Champa Patel from the Asia-Pacific Programme, to discuss inequality, corruption and capitalism in modern India. A series of scandals involving the sexual exploitation of vulnerable people by individuals working for, or with, the United Nations have shaken the organization in recent years. The issue is beginning to be addressed by  an ambitious new strategy from Secretary-General Guterres. Ben and Agnes met  Jane Connors,&nbsp;the first Victims’ Rights Advocate for the United Nations, to discuss the difficulties of&nbsp; Find the Book:  The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age Watch the Chatham House Event:  Preventing Sexual Exploitation in the United Nations &nbsp; &nbsp;

Episode 13: India's Billionaires, and Sexual Exploitation in the UN

The average refugee camp has a lifespan of 18 years, but in most cases the infrastructure in place is designed for temporary emergency responses. One area this particularly affects is energy provision, with the majority of refugees reliant on burning wood. On top of this, many humanitarian agencies are dependent upon costly and damaging diesel fuel to power their relief efforts.&nbsp; The  Moving Energy Initiative at Chatham House believes that renewable energy solutions can improve the health and quality of life of refugees while also saving money for the aid providers. Agnes speaks to Owen Grafham, who manages the initiative, to find out more.&nbsp; Also in this episode, Ben meets Richard McGregor,&nbsp;a Senior Research Fellow at the Lowy Institute for International Affairs in Sydney, to discuss Australia's foreign policy in the midst of the Sino-US struggle for supremacy in Asia. Read the Expert Comment:  Why Access to Energy Can Empower Refugees Read more on Asian geopolitics:  Publications by Richard McGregor

Episode 14: Sustainable Energy for Refugees, and Australian Foreign Policy

Just under 18 months have passed since the UK government triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, formally beginning the UK's exit from the European Union. With only seven months left to sign a withdrawal agreement, Ben discusses the state of the negotiations with Georgina Wright, from Chatham House's Europe Programme. Among other issues they tackle the Irish border question, Michel Barnier's approach to the negotiations and how the EU member states are responding to the challenge of Brexit. Listen from 7:00. The global financial system has long allowed wealthy individuals to escape the confines of their domestic tax systems and hide their money in foreign havens. Oliver Bullough is an investigative journalist whose new book Moneyland explores how the institutions of Europe and the United States have become money-laundering operations, undermining the foundations of Western stability and allowing dictators in the Global South to siphon away their country's resources for personal gain. Agnes meets Oliver to find out more. Listen from 27:37.&nbsp; Read the Expert Comment:  An Orderly No-Deal Brexit Would Still Come With Costs Read the book: Moneyland: Why Thieves And Crooks Now Rule the World and How to Take it Back &nbsp; &nbsp;

Episode 15: Brexit Update, and Corruption in the World of the Global Super-Rich

Cybercrime is on the rise throughout the world, but the vast wealth of the GCC states (Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait) makes them especially vulnerable. In response increasingly stringent laws governing online activity have been enacted, but do these measures encroach too much on the rights of individuals? Agnes speaks to Joyce Hakmeh to find out.&nbsp; Much is written about the experiences of refugees, but rarely do we hear from them directly. Shatila Stories, a new novel from Peirene Press, is the result of a groundbreaking project to teach creative writing in the Shatila refugee camp in Lebanon. Ben finds out more in conversation with Meike Ziervogel and Suhir Helal.&nbsp; Read the research paper:  Cybercrime legislation in the GCC countries: fit for purpose?&nbsp; Read the book: Shatila Stories&nbsp;&nbsp;

Episode 16: Cybercrime in the GCC states, and Fiction from Refugee Camps

In the latest volume of his diaries, out this week, Alastair Campbell (former Director of Communications for Tony Blair) looks back on Gordon Brown's time in office between 2007 and 2010. Ben met Alastair to discuss among other things the art of political leadership, Brexit, the state of the Labour Party and policies to combat mental illness. Listen from 5:17. This month marked 10 years since the 2008 financial crisis, an event that still weighs heavily on political systems across the world. Agnes visited London's Guildhall to discuss the aftermath of the crash with Alistair Darling (former Chancellor of the Exchequer), who was speaking at an event organised by Chatham House's Global Economy and Finance Department. Listen from 35:47. Read the book:  Alastair Campbell Diaries Volume 7: From Crash to Defeat 2007-2010 Find out more about the event:  A Decade on from the Financial Crisis: the Legacy and Lessons of 2008 We apologise for the sound quality at the start of this episode, please stick with it - it improves!

Episode 17: Alastair Campbell on New Labour and Brexit, Alistair Darling on the Financial Crisis

US President Donald Trump found much of his electoral success by utilising two central ideas in American political culture - the 'American Dream' and 'America First'. Academic and commentator Sarah Churchwell's new book Behold America explores the historial roots of these ideas, and the significant consequences of their manipulation. Agnes meets with Sarah to find out more.&nbsp; The illegal trade in ivory is a significant element of the informal economies of many African states, not least Uganda. In a new article in International Affairs Kristof Titeca reveals his findings from a series of interviews conducted with Ugandan individuals involved in all stages of the ivory trade. Ben spoke to Kristof to discuss the challenges posed by policy-makers hoping to cease this lucrative trade.&nbsp;&nbsp; Read the book:  Behold America: The Entangled History of 'America First' and the 'American Dream' Read the article: 'Understanding the illegal ivory trade and traders: evidence from Uganda'

Episode 18: The American Dream vs America First, and Uganda's Illegal Ivory Trade

Across the world more attention is being placed on how to construct environmentally sustainable, carbon neutral buildings as part of the wider fight against climate change. Agnes discusses green building projects in Jordan with Glada Lahn, a Senior Research Fellow in the Energy, Environment and Resources Department at Chatham House. Alongside the Olympics, the football World Cup is possibly the most-watched international event. Hosting the World Cup can be a powerful statement of a nation's intent to gain a global profile, but there are often unintended consequences. Ben speaks to Paul Brannagan from Manchester Metropolitan University about Qatar's soft power experiment in hosting the 2022 World Cup.&nbsp; Read the International Affairs article:&nbsp; 'The soft power-soft disempowerment nexus: the case of Qatar'

Episode 19: Green Building Projects in Jordan, and Qatar's Football World Cup

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