Chinese leader Xi Jinping is in his third five-year term as the nation's president, putting him on track to stay in power for life at a time of severe economic challenges and rising tensions with the US. Nonresident senior fellow Paul Heer joins Deep Dish to argue the importance of engagement with China as a necessary component of US foreign policy. If we do not pursue it, he says, we are missing opportunities for a more peaceful coexistence between both countries and the world.  

This episode originally aired on August 4, 2022. 

Reading List: 

• The Next Taiwan Strait Crisis Has Arrived, Paul Heer, The National Interest, August 2, 2022  

• Engagement With China Has Not Failed, Paul Heer, The National Interest, July 14, 2022  

• Understanding U.S.-China Strategic Competition, Paul Heer, The National Interest, October 20, 2020 

Dive into the world of lasting change with Deep Dish! Join host Brian Hanson and author Sascha Haselmayer in a captivating exploration of 'The Slow Lane.' We’ll uncover the secrets behind why instant solutions often miss the mark, and how embracing patience and strategic thinking can pave the way for sustainable transformation to address global challenges.

Reading List 

• The Slow Lane: Why Quick Fixes Fail and How to Achieve Real Change, Sascha Haselmayer & Anne-Marie Slaughter, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, July 18, 2023 

The expulsion of Muslim schoolgirls for refusing to remove their abayas serves as a stark reminder of France's ongoing struggle to balance its historical commitment to laïcité with its growing religious and cultural diversity. The Council’s Ariel Schwartz joins host Brian Hanson to explore laïcité’s historical roots, modern challenges, and global implications in contemporary society.

At least 2,000 Middle Eastern migrants spent weeks trapped at checkpoints between Belarus and Poland—unable to legally enter the European Union and, until today, unable to return to Belarus or go home. Former US Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried joins host Brian Hanson on Deep Dish to explain how Belarus’ strongman President Lukashenka weaponized these migrants as a tool of "hybrid war," and why Russia’s President Putin looms behind this crisis—and others—on Europe’s doorstep.

As countries finalize their commitments at the UN Climate Conference, COP26, soaring global energy prices and shortages around the world emphasize our world’s current dependence on fossil fuels. The Economist’s Vijay Vaitheeswaran and the Just Transition Initiative’s Sandeep Pai join Deep Dish to explain what the energy crisis tell us about the costs of a green energy transition and how to manage shocks in a way that ensures countries and communities with fewer resources are not left behind. 

Recent US intelligence and defense agency reports warn that a warming climate is a fundamental threat to US national security by raising geopolitical tensions, increasing instability, and driving mass migration. The Center for Climate and Security’s Erin Sikorsky and the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft’s Anatol Lieven join Deep Dish to examine what a climate-focused US national security and defense strategy might look like and how to balance other competing threats.

China’s rapid recent nuclear expansion—from a hypersonic missile test to hundreds of new nuclear missile silos—is a stark contrast to years of a minimum deterrence approach. To explain the shift, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Tong Zhao joins host Brian Hanson on Deep Dish to unpack China’s nuclear strategy, the need for nuclear stability, and how to avoid an arms race or worse.

2020 marked the most significant increase in US domestic terrorism in a quarter-century, data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies reveals. The University of Chicago’s Kathleen Belew and Robert Pape join Deep Dish to explain the trends they believe are driving the uptick and the role war and conflict play in shaping these groups.

Further Reading

• The Capitol Rioters Aren’t Like Other Extremists, the Atlantic, by Robert Pape

• What an Analysis of 377 Americans Arrested or Charged in the Capitol Insurrection Tells Us, Washington Post, by Robert Pape

• Bring the War Home by Kathleen Belew

• The Right Way to Understand White Nationalist Terrorism,  New York Times, by Kathleen Belew

For decades, American foreign policy on Taiwan has been rooted in strategic ambiguity, but after China’s President Xi Jinping’s call for “reunification” with Taiwan and record military presence near the island, is it time to rethink this approach? Rand Corporation’s Michael Mazarr and the Commander Michele Lowe join Deep Dish to explore the options in a constructive debate on the benefits—and costs—of a shift in policy.

The 2021 Chicago Council Survey shows Americans are on board with the majority of the Biden administration’s foreign policy agenda, which is focused on decisions that benefit everyday Americans. But when it comes to trade, there are important differences between public opinion and this approach to foreign policy. Council President Ivo Daalder and the American Enterprise Institute’s Kori Schake join Deep Dish to explain what Americans think of a "Foreign Policy for the Middle Class” and why the administration should reassess some of their assumptions.  

After the episode, explore the data. 

German voters prioritized stability in the first post-Merkel election—voting for the party who most emulated the former chancellor’s approach to government, the Social Democrats (SPD), instead of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). What does the narrow SPD victory tell us about the German political landscape and important Western trends like populism? Ulrike Franke and Sheri Berman join Deep Dish to explain how potential coalition governments could shape German foreign policy and the relationship with the United States.  

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gambled on a snap election that left him in power, but without a majority in Parliament. With an election behind him, can he make progress on the critical foreign policy issues his government must tackle—from COVID-19 to multilateral engagement—during his third term? Canadian political scientists Roland Paris and Jennifer Welsh join Deep Dish to explain why it’s time for a reset on Canadian foreign policy.  

Years of underinvestment, politicization, and data on looming retention problems raise urgent questions about the need for change in the United States Department of State. Ambassador Marcie Ries and Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellow Constanza Castro Zúñiga join Deep Dish to explain why diplomacy is still critical for American foreign policy and offer solutions to reimagine the diplomatic service for a new generation.

Deep Dish delves into how the unchecked power of social platforms in the Metaverse, woven into the fabric of modern communication, is fueling conflicts, disinformation, terror, and hate. Experts Kristina Wilfore and Leah Kimathi confront the chilling reality of Big Tech's role in fueling extremism in Kenya, where profit often trumps content policing, and share what Kenyans are doing about it.

Reading List:

• The Council for Responsible Social Media, Website
• Why dangerous content thrives on Facebook and TikTok in Kenya, Neha Wadekar, Washington Post, July 31, 2022

The US military may have exited the conflict in Afghanistan, but thousands of those who helped during the war remain. What does the United States owe those we leave behind, and is there a better way to prevent chaos and loss of life after war? Virginia Tech’s Amanda Demmer and the Council’s Elizabeth Shackelford join Deep Dish to explore the lessons from past military evacuations in Vietnam and South Sudan and what they tell us about the coming days in Afghanistan.  

Globalization promised us collaboration, peace, and prosperity. But did the connectivity that linked our world together increase conflict and drive our geopolitical priorities farther apart? The European Council on Foreign Relation’s Mark Leonard joins Deep Dish to discuss his new book The Age of Unpeace and his proposal for policymakers navigating our connected future. 

After weeks of finger-pointing and accusations about the catastrophic US retreat from Afghanistan, we’re taking a step back to ask some big-picture questions. What if the problem isn’t the exit, but the strategy that started the intervention in the first place: counterinsurgency? US Naval War College author Jacqueline Hazelton joins Deep Dish to explain what went wrong and why we’re doomed to repeat our mistakes if we don’t shift strategies. 

What will the Taliban’s Afghanistan takeover mean for Pakistan—a US ally, a nuclear power, and a country beset by its own terrorism threats—and will the government’s decades-long support of the Taliban backfire? Brookings’ Madiha Afzal and the Financial Times’ Farhan Bokhari join Deep Dish to explain Pakistan’s priorities, foreign policy, and options for the future.

Cryptocurrencies have moved away from their anarchic origins to spark political conversations that could shift national currencies and redefine the global economy. Former Chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission Tim Massad and the Financial Times’ Gillian Tett join Brian Hanson on Deep Dish to explore digital currencies and their effect on geopolitics. 

China’s massive investment in Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has prompted concern over political influence—enough for the G-7 to form a rival initiative, the Build Back Better World (B3W). The Center for Global Development’s Gyude Moore and the US Navy’s Michele Lowe join Elizabeth Shackelford on Deep Dish to explore whether these programs are positive or negative and how African countries can take control of their futures. 

This week a bipartisan group of US senators introduced a bill to reform the 48-year-old War Powers Act—the law intended to check a president’s ability to declare war. Yale Law School’s Oona Hathaway joins Deep Dish to explain why it’s so important for Congress to revive its war powers and offer a potential solution. 

Haiti is in political turmoil after President Moïse’s assassination in his home last week. The Miami Herald’s Jacqueline Charles and the University of Virginia’s Robert Fatton Jr. join Deep Dish to assess the country’s stability, how international interference factored into the hollowing out of democratic institutions, and what could tip the scales towards disaster or hope for the future. 

Ten years after South Sudan’s independence, Ambassador Susan D. Page joins the Council’s Elizabeth Shackelford on Deep Dish to discuss their shared history in the country, what went wrong with statehood, and the lessons the international community must learn for the future.  

A century after the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, Bruce Dickson, author of The Party and the People: Chinese Politics in the 21st Century, joins Deep Dish to examine how the party maintains its power and what influences will shape its future—and geopolitics. 

With 110,000 drug overdose deaths last year, including 70 percent from synthetic opioids, we examine how international factors have played a crucial role in the US drug epidemic. Vanda Felbab-Brown of Brookings Institution and Regina LaBelle of Georgetown University offer insights on the government's response, effective policy solutions, and the path to recovery.  

Reading List: 

• Why America is Struggling to Stop the Fentanyl Epidemic, Vanda Felbab-Brown, Foreign Affairs, May 15, 2023 

• 3 Actionable Bipartisan Solutions to Address the Overdose Crisis, Regina LaBelle, The Hill, February 02, 2023 

After nearly 20 politically motivated arrests in the last month, Nicaraguan President Ortega’s crackdown on his opposition could shake the country’s democracy. Researcher Ryan Berg and journalist Cindy Regidor join Deep Dish to explain the field for November’s presidential election and whether we’re witnessing the rise of a “second dictatorship.”

Underneath the public face of unity at this week’s NATO meetings, potential disagreements and fissures between the United States and its European allies could significantly complicate the US’ return to the global stage. Council President Ivo Daalder and the New York Times’ Steve Erlanger join Deep Dish to analyze if President Biden has successfully reinvigorated the alliance and whether a shared agenda exists.

Researcher and practitioner Séverine Autesserre argues that traditional approaches to peacebuilding often fail because they follow a top-down formula: expert expatriates parachute in to solve a problem with big budgets, cut-and-paste solutions, and a return ticket home. She joins Deep Dish to explain why a new strategy is needed and how grassroots efforts offer hope for an end to violent conflict.

China announced families can now have three children as opposed to two — a reaction to new data showing shocking population growth slowdowns and mirroring global declines. Demographics expert Nicholas Eberstadt joins Deep Dish to explain why population size, capabilities, and characteristics matter more for competition between great powers than economic or military power. 

US Secretary of State Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to protecting American interests in the Arctic last week—but what does that mean, exactly? Arctic experts Eugene Rumer and Rebecca Pincus join Deep Dish to unpack the debate over the Arctic’s potential as a geopolitical flashpoint and possibilities for a very cold new Cold War.

After a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, former United States Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations Martin Indyk joins Deep Dish to explain the pattern driving the latest violence, and implications for the peace process, regional stability, and President Biden’s desire to pivot away from the Middle East. 

Turkish President Erdoğan initially pursued “zero problems with neighbors” as a foreign policy strategy, but now relies on the country’s military might to achieve political goals. Brookings’ Kemal Kirişci and journalist Ayla Jean Yackley join Deep Dish to explain what Turkey’s approach means for neighbors, allies, and foes.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called the United States' decision to leave Afghanistan by September 11 a “moment of both opportunity and risk” this week. The University of Texas at Austin’s Aaron O’Connell and the International Crisis Group’s Andrew Watkins join guest host Elizabeth Shackelford on Deep Dish to examine whether the United States can withdraw without undermining regional stability.  

Vice President Kamala Harris urged world leaders at the United Nations this week to begin preparing for the next pandemic, even as COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise in some parts of the world. Abbott’s Gavin Cloherty and the Cary Institute’s Barbara Han join Deep Dish to explain their strategies for tracking infections and why collaboration is the key to preventing future outbreaks. 

Twenty-three years after the Good Friday Accords, sectarian violence in Northern Ireland is once again making headlines. The European University Institute’s Brigid Laffan and POLITICO Europe’s Shawn Pogatchnik join Deep Dish to explain why the trade fallout from Brexit could destroy the fragile peace.

Niger's recent coup has reignited debates about democracy, stability, and Western influence. Join Kamissa Camara of the US Institute of Peace and Deep Dish hosts Lizzy Shackelford and Brian Hanson as they explore Niger's coup, its place in the Sahel's instability, and the urgent need to rethink policies in this complex region. 

Reading List: 

• Countering Coups: How to Reverse Military Rule Across the Sahel, Kamissa Camara and Susan Stigant, U.S. Institute of Peace, Thursday, August 3, 2023  

• Less is More: A New Strategy for US Security Assistance to Africa, Lizzy Shackelford, Ethan Kessler, and Emma Sanderson, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, August 21, 2023 

After failing to hold elections in February, Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo passed legislation this week to extend his power for at least two more years, prompting global concern. Somali academic Abdi Aynte and former US diplomat Elizabeth Shackelford join Deep Dish to unpack the players in Somalia’s politics and what role the international community should — or shouldn’t— have in its future. 

Brazil’s daily COVID-19 deaths passed 4,000 for first time this week, while President Jair Bolsonaro focused on firing his defense minister; reshuffling congress to ward off impeachment; and replacing the top commanders of the army, navy, and air force. Oliver Stuenkel and Sarah Maslin join Deep Dish to examine whether the pandemic could cost Bolsonaro the 2022 presidential election—or if he will find another way to hold onto power. 

For six days, a ship as tall as the Empire State Building, the Ever Given, was lodged in the Suez Canal – launching memes and delaying 10 percent of global trade. Flexport’s Phil Levy and the Financial Times’ Claire Jones join Deep Dish to discuss if crises like this and COVID-19 show it’s time to rethink global supply chains. 

For decades, the United States has ensured peace for Taiwan through strategic ambiguity, but last week’s combative US-China meeting could be a signal to rethink that approach. Rand Corporation’s Michael Mazarr and the Council’s Commander Michele Lowe join Deep Dish to explore the options in a constructive debate on the benefits—and costs—of a shift in policy.

The changing security environment and decaying trust in the US nuclear guarantee could lead to nuclear proliferation among allies, a new report from a task force of defense and security experts argues. Task force cochairs and report authors Kevin Rudd, Malcolm Rifkind, Chuck Hagel, and Ivo Daalder join Deep Dish to discuss possible solutions and why this is so urgent.

New data shows women have borne the brunt of pandemic job losses, potentially undercutting decades of progress toward gender equality. To recognize Women's History Month, The Council on Foreign Relations’ Jamille Bigio joins Deep Dish to explain why women’s economic participation is not simply a matter of fairness—it’s a global prosperity and security imperative. 

President Biden halted US support for the conflict in Yemen, but “resolving the world’s worst humanitarian crisis will require a larger paradigm shift in foreign policy,” former World Food Programme head Ertharin Cousin writes for Foreign Policy. She joins Deep Dish to explain why hunger must be treated as an essential element of military and foreign policy, not just as a humanitarian issue.

Last week’s military coup in Myanmar has undone nearly a decade of progress toward democratic reform: Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been jailed, the public is protesting martial law across the country, and the military’s strategy to contain the situation is escalating. Christina Fink and Debra Eisenman join Deep Dish to explain Myanmar’s complicated politics and why the country’s transition toward democracy didn’t go as the West expected. 

Black History Month and recent US domestic political events highlight our historical struggles over freedom and race – how they have shaped our world and why they continue to influence our lives today. Historian Tyler Stovall joins Deep Dish to explain why our understanding of freedom has been fundamentally grounded in race and how understanding our past can give us the tools to move forward. 

Deep Dish revisits the haunting morning of August 7, 1998, when al-Qaeda struck US embassies in Kenya that claimed over 200 lives and left thousands wounded. Ambassador Prudence Bushnell, who was present during the attacks, and former foreign service officer Mietek Boduszyński, who served in Libya when US facilities in Benghazi were attacked, reflect on how the US government should balance diplomacy and danger, whether the right lessons were learned, and what challenge face US diplomats in today's risky world. 

Reading List: 

• Terrorism, Betrayal, and Resilience: My Story of the 1998 U.S. Embassy Bombings, Prudence Bushnell, Potomac Books, October 1, 2018 

• Public Diplomacy and the American Fortress Embassy, Mietek Boduszyński, Pacific Council on International Policy, February 13, 2019  

• Diplomacy Doesn’t Work in a Zero-risk World, Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, November 4, 2021 

Last weekend, more than 40,000 Russians in 100 cities marched to protest opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s arrest and signal a new era in Russian politics. The New Yorker’s Joshua Yaffa joins Deep Dish to explain why Russians both resent and rely on the state, and what that means for Russia – and President Putin’s – future.

Russia’s massive cyber attack on SolarWinds put some 250 US government agencies, security firms, and companies in jeopardy and exposed the sophisticated nature of today’s targeted hacks. Cyber risk expert Jody Westby joins Deep Dish to examine how the United States—and the world—can deter future attacks and prevent cyber escalation.

You may have missed it, but at the end of 2020, the European Union and China solidified an investment deal that will open EU access to China’s markets while raising China’s global profile. Former US trade negotiator Wendy Cutler and the Rhodium Group’s Noah Barkin join Deep Dish to look at the geopolitical consequences of the deal and how President-elect Biden can work toward better relationships with both sides.