A Nation Must Think Before it Acts
Bear Market Brief Podcast
A nation must think before it acts.
The Bear Market Brief podcast explores politics, economics, and their intersection in Russia, Ukraine, and the post-Soviet space. Subscribe here
About the Host:
Aaron Schwartzbaum is a Fellow in the FPRI Eurasia Program, and is founder of the FPRI’s BMB Russia. He now works with the BMB team as an advisor and columnist. Aaron received an MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), with concentrations in International Political Economy and International Economics. Prior to starting at SAIS, he worked at Eurasia Group as a researcher for the Eurasia and Global Macro practices. Aaron holds a BA in International Relations and Russian from Haverford College, and has completed the Overseas Language Flagship program in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Explore Episodes
Bear Market Brief | Kyiv Dispatch
A flurry of back-and-forth diplomacy, a renewed Russian offensive, and a rare outburst of protest in Ukraine. The Kyiv Dispatch with Fabrice Deprez returns to break down what’s actually happening and most importantly, how people on the ground are...
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Whither Strong? Exploring Conceptions of Russian Power
Why does Russia play such an important role in geopolitics? If it’s because of ‘strength’… what does strength even mean? And why do conceptions of Russia’s strength vary so extremely? Seva Gunitsky joins Aaron Schwartzbaum on this week’s Bear...
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From Russia with Risk
Here on the Bear Market Brief, a lot of what we focus on is, simply put, risk: what might happen, and what might it mean? On this episode, geoeconomic and country risk expert Rachel Ziemba joins Aaron Schwartzbaum to delve in the discipline...
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Rumble in the Oval: Strategy or Spectacle?
The two weeks after Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky’s Oval Office clash have precipitated drastic shifts in transatlantic relations and the potential trajectory of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Now a possible ceasefire is on the horizon. This week...
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Trump, Russia, and the Strategic Context
Where does the US stand in the world as Trump (re)assumes office? How is his approach towards Ukraine shaping up? Stephen Wertheim, Senior Fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins Aaron Schwartzbaum...
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The Precipice: The War in Ukraine Hangs in the Balance
Between a Russian offensive and the reelection of Donald Trump, the war in Ukraine hangs in the balance. Janis Kluge joins host Aaron Schwartzbaum to explore how we got here and what might happen next. Explore more from...
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Kyiv Dispatch Redux
Kyiv-based journalist Fabrice Deprez returns to the brief for another update on the mood in Ukraine, including a report on his recent trip to the front line city of Pokrovsk. For more reporting from Ukraine, be sure to check...
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Russia and the Global South
Why has the Global South, historically on the receiving end of colonialism and imperialism, maintained what might be called a neutral stance towards Russia’s war against Ukraine? Ivan Grek, Director of the Russia Program at George Washington University’s Institute...
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The F-Word: Is Russia Fascist?
Russia has taken an increasingly authoritarian turn over the last decade, but is its political system fascist? Marlene Laruelle and Julian Waller join to discuss the blurry lines between politics, ideology, and terminology. Explore more from the Bear Market Brief Podcast...
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No Nukes is Good Nukes: Russia’s Strategic Red Lines
The Bear Market Brief goes nuclear! Andrey Baklitskiy dropped by to discuss all of Russia’s strategic red lines, what the introduction of hypersonic weapons means for global security, and more. Explore more from the Bear Market Brief Podcast here...
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