A Nation Must Think Before it Acts
Chain Reaction Podcast
A nation must think before it acts.
Chain Reaction is the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s flagship network of podcast series examining the political, security, economic, and social trends shaping our world. Throughout the year we are talking with experts about developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine, the new European security order, defense and geopolitical issues in the Baltic States, as well as current and future national security challenges and opportunities in the technology and space sectors. Join us each month for: Bear Market Brief, Behind the Front, Baltic Ways, Report in Short, and the Ties That Bind: NATO at 75 and Beyond.
Join us each month for : The Continent, Bear Market Brief, Baltic Ways, Report in Short, and The Ties That Bind: NATO at 75 and Beyond.
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Explore Episodes
The Sadrists: A Deep Dive with Ben and Renad
This week, Aaron held a virtual discussion with Ben Robin-D’Cruz and Renad Mansour, the authors of “Making Sense of the Sadrists: Fragmentation and Unstable Politics,” the first chapter for FPRI’s forthcoming edited volume, Iraq in Transition: Competing Actors and Complicated Politics*. The conversation focused...
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The COVID-19 Crisis and the Implications for Iran
On this week’s Middle East Brief, Aaron speaks with Dr. Afshon Ostovar, an associate professor at Naval PostGraduate School and a Fox Fellow at FPRI, about Iran’s response to the COVID-19 virus, its regional priorities, and what the future may...
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Low Density and in Demand: The Patriot Missile
The Patriot missile system is back in the news, with the Turkish request for two Patriot batteries and the introduction of the system into Iraq to protect U.S. forces from Iranian missile attack. To discuss the details of Patriot...
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Russian Interests in Syria
In this crossover podcast with FPRI’s Eurasia program, Aaron spoke this week with Bob Hamilton, a Professor of Eurasian Studies at the U.S. Army War College and a Black Sea fellow at FPRI and Nikolas Gvosdev, the Captain Jerome...
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Tracking Foreign Influence in the 2020 Election
In this episode, Aaron speaks with Clint Watts, a distinguished research fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, about Russian and Iranian disinformation efforts surrounding the 2020 election. The episode touched on many of the articles published on the...
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The Russian-Turkish Relationship: In Crisis or Muddling Along?
Please note: The audio quality of this episode was adversely affected by connectivity issues experienced during the recording session. We apologize for the inconvenience. The Russian — Turkish relationship is under strain, after events in Syria have challenged a...
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Iraq after Soleimani
After tensions with Iran escalated, American military operations in Iraq have been curtailed over concerns about possible attacks on U.S. soldiers. To discuss the threat to the U.S. military, Aaron spoke with Ian Rice, a retired US Army...
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The Protests in Iraq
After a period of calm following the territorial defeat of the Islamic State, Iraq has faced unprecedented protests, aimed at unseating the current ruling class and expressing anger at corruption and poor economic management. To discuss the protests, Aaron...
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The NATO Summit: The U.S. Perspective
During the run-up to NATO’s 70th anniversary summit, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated that Turkey would block consensus on the Graduated Response Plans for the Baltic States and Poland, along with the southern flank, unless the alliance recognized the...
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The NATO Summit: The EU Perspective
Please note: The audio quality of this episode was adversely affected by connectivity issues experienced during the recording session. We apologize for the inconvenience. During the run-up to NATO’s 70th anniversary summit, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated that Turkey...
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