A Nation Must Think Before it Acts
The Continent
A nation must think before it acts.
The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) is pleased to introduce a special Chain Reaction podcast series: The Continent.
The Continent explores how the war in Ukraine is changing Europe’s politics and security. Host Aaron Schwartzbaum will “visit” a country on each episode, learning about key dynamics and trends from local experts. To be the first to know about new episodes, please subscribe to our mailing list and follow us on Twitter @FPRI.
Latest Episode:
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 Past Episodes:
The Multipolar, the Merrier: US Foreign Policy in a Brave New World
In a rapidly evolving world where Washington might not have the same sway it used to, how should the US best position itself? Who are the “schools” or “camps” contesting the direction of foreign policy. In this episode of...
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After the Collapse: Tragedy in Serbia Sparks a Movement
On November 1 2024, the roof of a newly €55 million renovated railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second biggest city, collapsed and killed 15 people. The deaths sparked Serbia’s largest wave of student-led anti-government protests since Yugoslavia’s...
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Georgia On My Mind: Election Takeaways
This week on The Continent: FPRI’s Eurasia Program Director Maia Otarashvili joins Aaron to talk through recent parliamentary election results in Georgia and delve into an interesting question: how does a broadly pro-EU, Russia-skeptical country wind up with a...
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What’s Eating East Germany?
In the wake of far right gains in recent German state-level elections, German historian and journalist Katja Hoyer joins Aaron to explore the unique regional character of German populism. How has formerly communist Eastern Germany swung to the right? ...
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KZ Right Now: Kazakhstan’s Politics in a Changing Global Order
The Continent takes a (slight) detour to learn how trends over in Eurasia compare with what we’re seeing in Europe. The complicated neighbor is the same; what about the domestic and geopolitical landscape? Temur Umarov offers insights on the...
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Apocalypse Chisinau: Identity Politics in Moldova
How much do Moldovan politics rhyme with some of what we’ve seen in Ukraine? FPRI Senior Fellow Ecaterina Locoman sheds light on language politics, Ukraine war spillover, and frozen conflict. The Continent explores how the war in Ukraine is changing...
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Defense 101: Military Basics and the War in Ukraine
Robert Hamilton and Rick Landgraf join Aaron to tackle (almost) every question you were too embarrassed to ask about the defense and security issues central to Ukraine. Term by term, concept by concept, jargon by jargon. No acronym is...
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Powderkeg Party: Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
On this special double feature, The Continent visits the Balkans. How do we make sense of continued nationalism, the conflict it spurs, and Russia’s regional influence? Mladen Mrdalj and Jasmin Munjanovic join to discuss. Related Reading: Hunger and Fury:...
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The Fast and the Pistorius: Germany’s Remilitarization Plans
Germany announced bold remilitarization plans after Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine. A year later, where do we stand? Minna Ålander returns to The Continent to discuss progress made, and the challenges ahead. The Continent explores how the war in Ukraine...
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The Continent: Turkey to Victory
As we return to The Continent, what is the latest on Turkey’s upcoming election? Who is running, what is driving Turks to vote, and what does the result mean for Ukraine and beyond? FPRI’s Director of Research Jim Ryan...
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