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INTR1001: After the Lecture

INTR1001: After the Lecture

By ANU International Relations Society

Join ANU International Relations Society as we chat with the experts about international affairs!
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Political Islam and Islamic Politics with Dr Raihan Ismail [DEEP DIVE]

INTR1001: After the LectureJul 31, 2020

00:00
01:16:30
China-Taiwan Tensions

China-Taiwan Tensions

In this episode we sit down with Dr Iain D. Henry to discuss his perspectives on the strategic and security elements surrounding the ongoing tension between China and Taiwan. Dr Iain D. Henry is a Senior Lecturer in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University. Show Notes: Dr Iain D. Henry on Australia’s obligations under ANZUS and to Taiwan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHsOtUaMD-Y&t=2045s
Nov 15, 202225:41
The War in Ukraine
Sep 27, 202227:04
Welcome to Season 3!

Welcome to Season 3!

Welcome to Season 3 of INTR:1001 After the Lecture! This year we will be discussing a variety of issues from current affairs to more general topics in international relations. We hope you enjoy!

Sep 27, 202200:54
Japan-South Korea Relations

Japan-South Korea Relations

This week’s episode is a throwback! Recorded in 2020, James Brasington interviews Dr Lauren Richardson,  Director of Studies and Lecturer at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University. Dr Richardson dives in deep to the relationship between South Korea and Japan, looking at their troubled relationship throughout contemporary history. She discusses historical and more recent events, looking at the resulting diplomatic relationship.

Oct 10, 202119:32
Australia's Defence Planning

Australia's Defence Planning

On this week's episode, Brad Saines, a past Ir Society Exec member, interviews Dr John Blaxland, professor of international security and intelligence studies. Dr Blaxland chats with Brad about various 2020 strategic developments in Australia. He speaks about Australia's defence planning and proposals, as well as the importance of Australia's neighbourhood to the future of its security.

Oct 04, 202113:46
International Cancer Research

International Cancer Research

This week James Brasington (President) is joined by Leonie Quinn, who leads a team at the James Curtin School of Medical Research at the ANU. Her team conducts discovery-driven fundamental research to provide novel insights into cancer initiation and progression. In particular, she works with fruit fly genetic models to produce understanding of cancer as a disease. In this episode, she introduces cancer, and speaks about the international involvement in combating cancer across the world.

Sep 24, 202124:42
Public Opinion, Foreign Aid, and International Relations

Public Opinion, Foreign Aid, and International Relations

This week James Brasington (President) is joined by Professor Benjamin Goldsmith, head of International Relations and Politics at the ANU. His work has appeared in leading academic journals including American Political Science Review, Comparative Political Studies, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Politics, and World Politics.

In this episode, Professor Goldsmith discusses public diplomacy, foreign aid, soft power and high-level visits. He also mentions some future research he hopes to conduct surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and ‘vaccine diplomacy’.

Sep 18, 202126:37
Sino-Iranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Sino-Iranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

In this episode we discuss the Iran-China 25-Year Cooperation Program, also dubbed the Sino-Iranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The deal signed between China and Iran on 27th March 2021 will further develop Iran-China relations, and is expected to boost their long-standing economic and political alliance. We are joined by Dr Alam Saleh, a Lecturer in Iranian Studies at the ANU’s Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies. Dr Saleh is a Council Member of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies and Reviews Editor for the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. Dr Saleh has also been engaged with policy practitioners and external professional bodies, such as the U.K. Ministry of Defence, NATO, and European Council on Foreign Relations. Additionally, Dr Saleh has consulted for Transparency International Defence and Security, UNICEF, and the BBC.

Sep 10, 202134:36
Welcome to Season 2!

Welcome to Season 2!

Welcome back for Season 2 of ANU IR Society's Podcast INTR1001: After the Lecture!

Our first episode will be launching Friday 10th September. We hope you enjoy the new season!

Sep 06, 202101:01
2020 Malian Coup with Moctar Kane and Ernest Akuamoah

2020 Malian Coup with Moctar Kane and Ernest Akuamoah

In this episode we discuss the recent political developments in Mali, including the role of radicalisation and COVID-19 in the coup. We are joined by guests Moctar Kane and Ernest Akuamoah

Moctar is an expert on African politics. His is a current African Youth Ambassador for Peace in the African Union and an advisor to the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, Mali. He has been a program manager in Conflict Stability and Security Fund Sahel with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office focussing specifically on Mali. He also conducted a research project at Oxford on issues of citizenship within Mali's democratic experience, after the collapse of democracy in the country in 2012.  He has a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Bamako and a MPhil in Development Studies from Oxford University.

Ernest is a PhD student in the School of Politics and International Relations at ANU. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies (First Class Honours) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana) and a Master of Philosophy in Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon. Prior to his studies at ANU, he was pursuing a Master’s program in International Development Studies at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada. He has worked as a research assistant and tutored courses in Comparative Politics, Political Economy of Africa’s Underdevelopment and Issues in Africa’s International Relations. His PhD project is concerned with why some elections escalate into high-levels of violence but not others, focusing particularly on Africa.

Oct 08, 202038:20
A Career in the Indo-Pacific: Rory Medcalf

A Career in the Indo-Pacific: Rory Medcalf

Professor Rory Medcalf, Australian Foreign Policy legend, speaks to James Brasington about various aspects of career, including the importance of history, the role of social media, and the recent update to the Australian White Paper. 

Sep 25, 202030:52
Climate Action and the Future of the UN-Australian Relationship with Lachlan Hunter (UNAA Series, Part 2)

Climate Action and the Future of the UN-Australian Relationship with Lachlan Hunter (UNAA Series, Part 2)

Part 2 of our UNAA series will discuss issues surrounding the adequacy of the federal response to climate change, and what Australia's new foreign policy shift away from rejectionism means for its future engagement with the UN. We will also be asking Lachlan some personal questions about how he got to where he is, and what advice he has for people wanting to join the UNAA or UN in the future.

Happy listening! 

Sep 14, 202001:05:17
The UNAA, the UN, the rules-based order, and reconciliation with Lachlan Hunter
Sep 14, 202001:01:30
Diplomacy during COVID-19 with Ingrid Southworth, Deputy Head of UK Mission to Australia
Aug 28, 202019:57
Forecasting and Prediction with Dr Charles Miller

Forecasting and Prediction with Dr Charles Miller

In this next episode, Dr Charles Miller speaks with James Brasington about forecasting and prediction in the field of International Relations. He responds to questions about anarchy, 'superforecasters', heuristics, and prediction in the era of COVID-19.

Aug 14, 202019:49
Political Islam and Islamic Politics with Dr Raihan Ismail [DEEP DIVE]

Political Islam and Islamic Politics with Dr Raihan Ismail [DEEP DIVE]

Is Mohamed bin Salman being too authoritarian with his progressive reforms? What is the fundamental difference between Saudi Salafism, Wahabism, and the other broad branches of Sunni Islam? Are the Sunni-Shi’a political tensions across the Middle Eastern region fundamentally insurmountable? To what extent is Islam and Islamic societies oppressive to women?

The ANU International Relations Society’s Kaitie Wickham will be talking to Dr Raihan Ismail, a researcher and lecturer at ANU at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies.

In 2018, Raihan was the co-recipient of the Max Crawford Medal, awarded by the Australian Academy of the Humanities for outstanding achievement in the humanities by an early-career scholar. Alongside research, she has presented her research in multiple different contexts, including at Harvard, the Crawford Australian Leadership Forum, and the Canberra Writers’ Festival. If that isn’t enough, she convenes seminars on political Islam for various Commonwealth Government agencies, including the Attorney General’s Department and the Department of Defence.

The book recommendations mentioned are Do Muslim women need saving? by Lila Abu-Lughod, and the various books by Yuval Noah Harari (for example, Sapiens and Homo Deus). Also, the exact quote from Jamal Khashoggi that Raihan was referring to when talking about Mohammed bin Salman was: “He truly wants to make Saudi Arabia great again. But he is doing it the wrong way.“ from https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/10/how-jamal-khashoggi-fell-out-with-bin-salman.

We hope you enjoy the discussion!

Jul 31, 202001:16:30
Human Trafficking and COVID-19 Impacts with Dr Ruji Auethavornpipat

Human Trafficking and COVID-19 Impacts with Dr Ruji Auethavornpipat

The ANU International Relations Society’s President, Jessica Honan, speaks to Australian National University's Dr Ruji Auethavornpipat, a Lecturer in International Relations at the ANU and researcher in migrant worker rights norms in Southeast Asia, migration governance and human trafficking. 

In 2019, Ruji won the Excellence in Tutoring Award. His teaching covers both postgraduate and undergraduate courses such as World Politics and Introduction to International Relations. At the height of migrant trafficking politicisation in Southeast Asia, Ruji took up the Asia Studies Fellowship at the East-West Center in Washington, DC, in 2017 where he conducted research on ASEAN-US cooperation on human trafficking. This research was also supported by the Association of Southeast Asian Studies in the UK’s (ASEASUK) Research and Impact Award. Ruji previously held visiting fellowships at the Bamberg Graduate School of Social Sciences, Germany; the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore; and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Indonesia.

In this episode, we discuss Human Trafficking and forced labour in Southeast Asia. Ruji answers questions about the diference between forced labour and slavery, the political phenomenon that is Human Trafficking, and the impact COVID-19 is having on slavery in the Southeast Asia region. 

We hope you enjoy the discussion!

Jul 17, 202025:34
The Future of Syria, World Energy, and the Middle East with Dr Federico Manfredi Firmian

The Future of Syria, World Energy, and the Middle East with Dr Federico Manfredi Firmian

Will there be any change in Syria over the next few years? Why is Turkey intent on creating these pseudo-republics in Cyprus and Syria? What are the barriers in the way of oil-dependent state economies diversifying away from fossil fuels? What is a political risk consultant, and what are the takeaways and tips from someone in that profession? How much does history play into what we see now in the Middle East? And how does climate change fit into the picture, and how will it impact the world energy market? 

The ANU International Relations Society’s Kaitie Wickham will be talking to Science Po’s Dr Federico Manfredi Firmian, an expert on geopolitics of world energy, and a specialist in the Middle Eastern region. 

Federico has two main, often overlapping, research interests: greater Middle Eastern regional dynamics and the geopolitics of energy. He has two Masters and a PhD, and has been teaching Middle Eastern and energy geopolitics for over a decade, at Hunter College, Universite Paris Diderot, and Sciences Po. I was also amazed at the breadth of the 12 countries that Federico has done field research in: from Afghanistan and Turkey, to Libya and Lebanon. Amongst this, Federico lived in Cairo for a year as a Politics Editor for The Daily News Egypt, and has been a freelance political risk consultant since 2006. And day-to-day, he continues his research, having recently finished a long-analysis on the conflicts in Syria and Iraq from the Ottoman Empire to the present. 

The book recommendations mentioned are 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari, as well as Harari’s other books Sapiens and Homo Deus, and the works of Jared Diamond. 

We hope you enjoy the discussion!

Jul 03, 202029:42
Explaining Our Nuclear-Armed World with Prof. Benoît Pelopidas

Explaining Our Nuclear-Armed World with Prof. Benoît Pelopidas

When activists, diplomats, nuclear war planners, and religious actors use similar words when talking about nuclear weapons, do they mean the same thing? Do the citizens of the world know the demands that nuclear weapons are making of them? What are the actual drivers behind increasing nuclear weapons packages? And what assumptions do we carry with us while thinking about nuclear weapons that we should be questioning?

The ANU International Relations Society’s Kaitie Wickham will be talking to Science Po’s Professor Benoît Pelopidas, one of France’s premier experts on nuclear weapons.

Benoît runs the Nuclear Knowledges program, which is the first independent research program on the nuclear phenomenon in France. I won’t go through all of the accolades to his name, but the highlights include: previously having held the Chair of Excellence in security studies at Sciences Po (France’s most highly ranked and prestigious social sciences university); being an affiliate of the Centre for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford; and he has been awarded three international prizes for his research, as well as a grant by the European Research Council.

If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can get in touch with Benoît at: benoit.pelopidas@sciencespo.fr. You can also learn more about the Nuclear Knowledges program on Twitter (@NKowledges) or online: https://www.sciencespo.fr/nk/en.

The book recommendations mentioned is The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner by Daniel Ellsberg.

And Kaitie’s recommendation of where to start if you want to read some of Benoît’s papers: “The unbearable lightness of luck: Three sources of overconfidence in the manageability of nuclear crises,” by Benoît Pelopidas in the European Journal of International Security. If you want a link to a free copy of the paper, click here, and for a forthcoming follow-up on luck click here. Finally, for a 16-minute exposé on the dilemma of the public intellectual, click here.

We hope you enjoy the discussion!

Jun 19, 202026:43
Politics in the International Criminal Court with Shannon Torrens

Politics in the International Criminal Court with Shannon Torrens

In this episode, President Jessica Honan discusses the International Criminal Court (ICC) with International Human Rights Lawyer Shannon Maree Torrens.  See Shannon's bio here: https://shannonmareetorrens.com/

Topics include how and why the ICC is political; whether this is a good thing and what could be done about it; prosecuting crimes in Syria; the ICC's investigation into crimes in Afghanistan and Palestine; the way forward for the alleged genocide in Myanmar.

Jun 04, 202027:22
Ending Mass Atrocities with Josie Hornung

Ending Mass Atrocities with Josie Hornung

Join us as we discuss ending mass atrocities (such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes) with PhD candidate Josie Hornung

May 21, 202009:01
Welcome to our Podcast!

Welcome to our Podcast!

Welcome to the ANU IR Society's podcast - INTR1001: After the Lecture.  This short introduction oulines our vision for the podcast!

May 16, 202001:19