On 30 August 2021, US troops and their allies withdrew from Afghanistan, leaving the country under Taliban rule. In this episode of Die Kulturmittler:innen – Deep Dive we’re joined by Emran Feroz to explore the human rights situation in Afghanistan which is marked by a complex interplay of political instability, cultural practices, and restrictive policies. Women's rights in particular have been massively restricted since the Taliban took over, with bans on education, employment, and public freedoms. Violence against minorities, suppression of free speech, and harsh laws further worsen the situation.

Emran Feroz is journalist and book author, and regularly reports from and about Afghanistan for media such as Die Zeit, Al Jazeera, The New York Times or ifa’s online magazine Qantara.de.

Emran Feroz’ articles on Qantara.de as well as a link to his new book “Vom Westen nichts Neues” can be found here: https://qantara.de/en/author/emran-feroz

For all other information visit our website: https://culturalrelations.ifa.de/en/ To learn more about ifa: https://www.ifa.de/en/

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email us at podcast@ifa.de.

Die Kulturmittler:innen | Deep Dive: Afghanistan's Struggle for Human Rights

In this episode we discuss the last time that Canada was invaded in 1866, check out the episode to figure out who did it!

Follow us on the socials: https://linktr.ee/AlmostDiplo 

Disclaimer: The comments and views discussed in the podcast are our own and do not represent those of any entity we volunteer with or are employed by.

Song: Jail Billz
Arist: Weeping Icon

EP91 - The Last Time Canada Was Invaded

On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we take a look at the challenges ahead for Mercosur, Mercado Común del Sur (Southern Common Market), as this trading bloc seeks to sign a FTA with the EU despite opposition from several European nations and approval from others, political polarization and enmity between Argentina's President Milei and Brazil's President Lula. 

Does this new look deal being negotiated differ at all from the original one, what can we expect during this era of new international contexts with the government of President Trump in the USA, will Mercosur expand and will there be an agreement so that individual member states achieve bilateral trade deals with third parties? 

We speak to Ignacio Bartesaghi, PhD in International Relations, Director of the Instituto de Negocios Internacionales at the Universidad Católica del Uruguay and expert on Mercosur. 

Mercosur & EU Trade Deal:Breakthrough or Breakdown?

In this episode, Dr Rishi Gulati is in conversation with Professor Giesela Rühl on the rise of international commercial courts. Professor Rühl has held the Chair of Civil Law, Civil Procedure, European Private and Private International Law, International Civil Procedure and Comparative Law at Humboldt-University of Berlin since 2020. She is the Secretary General of the European Association of Private International Law, and amongst other leading works, is the co-editor of New International Commercial Courts: A Comparative Perspective (Larcier-Intersentia, 2024). The conversation touches on defining international commercial courts, where have they been created, what are their features, how are these courts innovative, the challenges they face, and the future of international commercial courts.

The Rise of International Commercial Courts: Dr Rishi Gulati and guest Professor Giesela Rühl

On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we take a profound look at current events involving Panama, most notably the statements about the country made by President Trump. Was Panama a bad deal for the US? Is there a possibility of the US invading Panama in a second take on 1989's operation Just Cause? Does China control the canal? 

It's a sign of the times that we have to seriously consider the possibility of President Trump ordering an invasion of a democratic ally. So, we put Panama's diplomatic tensions with the US into a historical context and deconstruct many of the baseless fallacies being repeated. 

Explaining in great depth and clarifying many of the complexities in the relationship between Panama and the US and the issues of the canal and Chinese involvement is John Feeley, former US ambassador to Panama, former political consultant for Univision, an officer and helicopter pilot in the Marine corps and a senior western hemisphere official. 

Was Panama a Bad Deal for the United States?

In this episode of the European Dialogue, brought to you by the EU-VALUES Network, we welcome Prof. Meltem Müftüler-Baç, expert on Turkey-EU relations and external differentiated integration.

Drawing from her recent paper, “A Fragile Relationship: Turkey and the European Union Moving Beyond Membership with External Differentiated Integration” (2025), Meltem unpacks the nuanced and often tense dynamics shaping Turkey’s unique relationship with the EU beyond the traditional membership framework.

We explore key topics such as:
✅ What “external differentiated integration” is, and what it means for Turkey and the EU
✅ How Turkey’s selective adoption of EU rules challenges European values like democracy and the rule of law
✅ The EU’s approach to encouraging political reform in Turkey, and Ankara’s response
✅ The role of economic and trade ties in sustaining the relationship despite political deadlock
✅ How Turkey’s ties with the EU compare to other non-member European countries
✅ The prospects and pitfalls of this model as a long-term solution for Turkey-EU relations

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or SoundCloud! Leave us a comment and let us know what you thought of this episode - we would love to hear from you

📚 And to read more...: 
Muftuler Bac, M. (2024). A fragile relationship: Turkey and the European Union moving beyond membership with external differentiated integration. West European Politics: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01402382.2024.2442870

🌐 Learn More About Our Work: EU-VALUES Website: www.eu-values.eu/

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#TurkeyEU #EuropeanUnion #ExternalDifferentiatedIntegration #Democracy #RuleOfLaw #EuropeanPolitics #TradeRelations #EUValues #PoliticalReform #EuropeanIntegration #EUResearch

A Fragile Partnership: Rethinking Turkey-EU Relations with Prof. Meltem Müftüler-Baç

Paper Title:
Beyond the Primakov Triangles: Any Chance for Deconfliction in the Middle East?

Date:
23 May 2025

Publishers: 
LUGARIT + Syrian Anonymous Journalists  

Author: 
Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj

Summary:
An article examines the legacy of triangular diplomacy and political alliances and its impact in the Middle East, highlighting how mid-level powers and political actors use these alliances to balance conflicting interests. While effective for larger powers, this strategy often perpetuates conflicts in smaller states, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced approach that prioritizes peace and stability over geopolitical maneuvring. That same logic will likely have important ramification for negotiating post Arab Spring internal politics in the region.

Link:
https://link.lugarit.com/oh7O

Photo: 
Yevgeny Primakov — Russian statesman, Arabist, and strategist. He served as Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, intelligence chief, and Speaker of the Supreme Soviet. A key architect of post-Soviet foreign policy, Primakov championed multipolarity and triangular diplomacy as tools for global balance.  Photo © Vladimir Zabyalov / TASS / Scanpi

Beyond the Primakov Triangles: Any Chance for Deconfliction in the Middle East?

العنوان 
ما وراء مثلثات بريماكوف: هل هناك فرصة لنزع التصعيد في الشرق الأوسط؟

تاريخ النشر
٢٣ أيار ٢٠٢٥

الناشر 
لوغاريت + صوت سوري

المؤلف
عمر عبد العزيز الحلاج 

الخلاصة
تتناول هذه المقالة تاريخ الدبلوماسية ثلاثية الأطراف والتحالفات السياسية الثلاثية وأثرها في الشرق الأوسط، مبيّنةً كيف تستخدم القوى المتوسطة والتحالفات السياسية هذه التحالفات لموازنة المصالح المتضاربة. وعلى الرغم من فعاليتها بالنسبة للقوى الكبرى، فإن هذه الاستراتيجية غالبًا ما تُكرّس الصراعات في الدول الصغيرة، مما يسلّط الضوء على الحاجة إلى مقاربة أكثر توازنًا تضع السلام والاستقرار في مقدمة الأولويات بدلًا من الحسابات الجيوسياسية. وهذا المنطق السياسي سيكون له انعكاسات للتفاوضات المجتمعية داخل دول المنطقة ما بعد الربيع العربي,

الرابط
https://link.lugarit.com/oh7O

الصورة
يفغيني بريماكوف — رجل دولة روسي، مستعرب واستراتيجي. شغل مناصب رئيس الوزراء ووزير الخارجية ورئيس الاستخبارات ورئيس مجلس السوفييت الأعلى. كان أحد أبرز مهندسي السياسة الخارجية الروسية بعد انهيار الاتحاد السوفييتي، ودافع عن التعددية القطبية والدبلوماسية الثلاثية كأدوات لتحقيق التوازن العالمي.  الصورة © فلاديمير زابيالوف / تاس / سكانبي

ما وراء مثلثات بريماكوف: هل هناك فرصة لنزع التصعيد في الشرق الأوسط؟

Prof. Dale Copeland, Professor of International Relations at the University of Virginia, and a leading expert on the origins of great power economic and military conflict, as well as U.S.-China strategic competition shares valuable insights from his book “A World Safe for Commerce: American Foreign Policy from the Revolution to the Rise of China.”

This episode explores how U.S. foreign policy has long been shaped by the need to secure trade vital to national security. Dale Copeland argues that while commerce can promote peace, it can also drive conflict when access to key goods is threatened. Tracing U.S. history from the 18th century to today, he shows how fears over trade disruptions have repeatedly led American leaders from cooperation to confrontation. The book warns of growing U.S.-China tensions but also suggests that improving trade expectations could still pave the way for lasting peace.

Professor Copeland’s research explores the complex dynamics of international relations, with particular emphasis on the origins of economic interdependence between great powers, the logic of reputation-building, bargaining and coercion theory, the interplay between trade, finance, and militarized behavior, and how shifts in economic and military power influence state behavior. 

Professor Copeland is the author of The Origins of Major War (Cornell University Press) and many influential articles published in leading journals such as International Security, Security Studies, and the Review of International Studies. His book, Economic Interdependence and War published by Princeton University Press received the International Studies Association Best Book Award in 2017.

Prof. Copeland earned his Ph.D., from the University of Chicago and has received numerous honors for his work, including MacArthur and Mellon Fellowships, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University.

This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com.

Disclaimer:

A. The background music used in this video is the property of its respective developer and is protected by Copyright. Although it is a free version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy and Deepak Bhatt do not hold the rights to this music.

B. Dr. Dale Copeland has generously shared profound insights from his groundbreaking book, “A World Safe for Commerce: American Foreign Policy from the Revolution to the Rise of China,” during his appearance on the Business Talk podcast channel. The uploaded video contains copyrighted material; therefore, any modifications to graphics, music, or the presence of the author or host are strictly prohibited.

All content is © 2025. All rights reserved.

From Peace to Power: Insights from Dr. Dale Copeland’s Groundbreaking Book

In this episode, Rob speaks with Nicholas Burns, the Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at Harvard Kennedy School about his time serving as U.S. Ambassador to China and on his perspectives about bilateral efforts to address climate change. 

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/nick-burns-podcast-transcript-june-2025.pdf.

Photo credit: Grace DuVal/Harvard University

Nicholas Burns on his time as U.S. Ambassador to China and on efforts to address climate change.

The University of East Anglia (UEA) Law School is a highly respected and innovative law school located in Norwich, England. Established in 1977, the Law School has a rich history of providing high-quality legal education to students from around the world.

https://www.uea.ac.uk/web/about/law-school/research/research-blog

The LatinNews Podcast is a fortnightly deep dive into key developments across Latin America and the Caribbean.

LUGARIT is a small think tank active in international development.

🇪🇺 EU-VALUES Network Podcast: Expert insights on democracy, human rights, EU policies & global influence. Tune in & stay informed! 🎧 #EUPolitics #Democracy #HumanRights #Geopolitics

Environmental Insights: Conversations on policy and practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.  

PHOTO: by Gustavo Quepón on Unsplash

Welcome to Business Talk, your go-to podcast for the latest trends, insights, and thought-provoking discussions in the business world. Whether you're a business professional, entrepreneur, researcher, or academic, our episodes will challenge you to rethink conventional wisdom and inspire actionable ideas.

Brought to you by Global Management Consultancy, we are committed to driving innovation and excellence in the business community. All content Copyrighted 2024 by Global Management Consultancy.

For more information about our past and upcoming podcasts, please click here:https://www.deepakbbhatt.com/businesstalk

Almost Diplomatic is a podcast discussing geopolitics, national security and nonsense over beers.

Disclaimer: The comments and views discussed in the podcast are our own and do not represent those of any entity we volunteer with or are employed by.

Was macht Kultur in der Außenpolitik? Wie arbeiten Mittlerorganisationen wie das ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen? 
 
Der Podcast des Instituts für Auslandsbeziehungen „Die Kulturmittler“ beleuchtet die vielseitigen Themen der Auswärtigen Kultur- und Bildungspolitik: Erfahren Sie mehr über Klimamigration, die Kunstbiennale in Venedig, die Rechte von LGBTQIA+-Personen in Ägypten, die Ukraine oder die afghanische Zivilgesellschaft. 
 
Unsere Interviewpartner:innen und Expert:innen vermitteln jeden Monat eine neue Perspektive – politisch und kulturell, zwischen außen und innen, auf Deutsch und Englisch. Zu Gast waren bisher u.a. die Menschenrechtsexpertin Selmin Çalışkan, der Künstler und Fotograf Wolfgang Tillmans, die Politikerin Oby Ezekwesili und die Expertin für feministische Außenpolitik Kristina Lunz.
 
Themenwünsche, Lob und Kritik können gerne an podcast@ifa.de geschickt werden.

New tracks tagged #InternationalRelations