The Inside Story Podcast

Hope, promise and enormous challenges. It's been one year since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, and even while it celebrates, the country is also confronting the problems of a transitional state. So what kind of Syria is the new government building?

In this episode: 

• Haid Haid, Researcher, Chatham House.
• Ammar Kahf, Executive Director, Omran Center for Strategic Studies.
• Heiko Wimmen, Project Director for I...

From limo diplomacy to a ceremonial guard - Vladimir Putin got a red-carpet welcome in India this week.He was there to talk trade ties and energy supply with Narendra Modi. But as New Delhi tries to walk a tightrope between Moscow and Washington - who stands to benefit the most, and what's at stake?

In this episode: 

• Brahma Chellaney - Professor of Strategic Studies at the Center for Policy Research. 
• Thomas Pickerin...

Surrounded by his cabinet, US President Donald Trump described Somalis living in America as 'garbage'. The comments have been widely condemned, but not by his supporters. What are the implications - not just in the US but elsewhere? 

In this episode: 

• Samakab Hussein - Somali-American and Minnesota State House Representative
• Joi Chaney - Lawyer and Democratic political strategist
• Eric Ham - Political analyst and...

France's President Emmanuel Macron visits China for a three-day state visit - at a tricky time in relations. Under discussion - trade and the Ukraine war - with big differences between the two. 
What are the divisions - and what's at stake?

In this episode: 

• Andy Mok - Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization
• Rémi Bourgeot - Associate Research Fellow at the French Institute for Inter...

India is rolling out a set of simplified labour codes to modernise outdated laws. Unions describe the changes as sweeping and aggressive. So, who stands to benefit -- workers seeking job security and fair wages? Or employers looking for flexibility and lower staffing costs?

In this episode: 

• Harshil Sharma - Labour economist who specialises in reforms and welfare 
• Surbhi Kesar - Senior Lecturer in Econ...

African leaders want colonial-era abuses recognised and criminalised. Algeria says a legal framework would ensure reparations are neither a gift nor a favour. So, how could former colonial powers be held accountable? And can the cost of those atrocities be measured?

In this episode: 

• Abdelkader Abderrahmane, Independent Researcher. 
• Liliane Umubyeyi, Co-Founder, African Futures Lab.
• Nicolas Norman...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked for a presidential pardon to end his criminal prosecution. He says it will unite the public but critics say he's driving further division. So, what are the long-term implications for Israel? 

In this episode: 

• Dan Perry, Political Analyst. 
• Neve Gordon, Professor, Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Queen Mary University of London.
• Mitche...

Venezuela accuses Washington of colonialism after President Donald Trump said he's shutting down its airspace. The country's on high alert after US attacks on boats nearby and a huge military and naval build-up. Trump says he's fighting drug trafficking. But is that the real reason? 

In this episode: 

• Mark Pfeifle, US Republican Strategist. 
• Paul Dobson, Independent Journalist. 
• Christopher S...

A corruption scandal in Ukraine claims its biggest scalp yet - with the resignation of President Volodomy Zelenskyy's top aide. Andriy Yermak had been due to lead key talks with the U.S. on the war with Russia this weekend. So what does this mean for Ukraine? 

In this episode: 

• Olena Tregub - Secretary General of Ukraine’s Independent Anti-Corruption Commission.
• Leonid Ragozin - Independent journalist and polit...

France is to bring back a form of military service. That comes weeks after Germany announced plans to assess young people's suitability for military duty.  Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced European states to examine their readiness. So could conscription return?

In this episode: 

• Jacques Reland - Senior Research Fellow in European Affairs, focusing on French politics, European defence and wider EU institu...

The military seizes power in Guinea-Bissau - a day before Sunday's presidential election results were due to be announced. The African Union and West African regional bloc Ecowas have condemned the coup. Why has it happened - and what are the implications? 

In this episode: 

• Kabir Adamu - Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence
• Bram Posthumus - Political and economic analyst specialising in West Africa ...

Little sign of peace in Ukraine - but trans-Atlantic diplomatic efforts to end the war are intensifying. 
Ukraine and its European allies are vying with Russia to sway US President Donald Trump in forging a deal. Can one be reached - or will the war go on? 

In this episode: 

• Chris Weafer, Chief Executive Officer at Macro-Advisory, a strategic consultancy focused on Russia and the Eurasia region.
• Anatol Lieven...

Pakistan accused of air strikes killing civilians in Afghanistan. A day earlier, a suicide bomb in Pakistan killed three security personnel. Recent peace efforts and a temporary ceasefire have failed. What's driving the violence and what are the risks? 

In this episode: 

• Obaidullah Baheer, Adjunct Lecturer, American University of Afghanistan.
• Sahar Khan, Security Analyst, South Asia. 
• Hameed Hakimi, Associa...

An Israeli air strike on Beirut kills Hezbollah's top military commander, its highest-level target during a ceasefire that came into force a year ago. There have been frequent Israeli breaches throughout.  
But why this strike now, and what are the implications? 

In this episode: 

• Joe Macaron, Geopolitical analyst specialising in US strategy in the Middle East
• Nadim Houry, Executive Director of the ...

Africa's first ever G20 summit - and the first boycotted by a member, the United States. Its host, South Africa hails it as a success with a declaration agreed across a wide range of issues. But what's next for the G20? 

In this episode: 

• Thembisa Fakude, Director, Africa Asia Dialogues.
• Richard Weitz, Senior Non-Resident Associate Fellow, NATO Defense College. 
• Omar Ashour, Professor, Strategic Studies and Inte...

Division at the COP30 climate change summit in Brazil - a more difficult message to tell to the world than progress. Scientists, politicians, media and business all have a huge role to play in keeping the public engaged. But are they succeeding? 

In this episode: 

• Professor John Sweeney - one of Ireland's foremost climate scientists and contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or IPCC’s Nobe...

The Trump administration has crafted a controversial 28-point peace framework with Russia to end the Ukraine war. The plan demands some painful concessions: surrendering the Donbas region and slashing Ukraine's military by half to name just a few. So, is Washington negotiating Ukraine's future to favour Russia - just to promise a lasting peace?

In this episode: 

• Alexander Bratersky - Political analyst and and an independe...

Annual military spending is rising globally at its steepest level since the Cold War. And after a break of more than 30 years, the US says it might restart testing nuclear weapons. So if the global arms race is back on - who's winning and what's the true cost of escalation?

In this episode: 

• Michael Boyle - Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University–Camden, and author of The Drone Age.
• Elijah Magnier - sen...

The World Food Programme is warning more than 300 million people face critical levels of hunger next year. The United Nations body says that's double the number compared to 2019. What's behind this worsening crisis that's putting so many people in danger? 

In this episode: 

• Jean-Martin Bauer, Director, Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service, United Nations World Food Programme.
• Shahin Ashraf, Head, Global Advoc...