Berlin Policy Journal Podcast

Episode 8 - World, Interrupted: the Coronavirus’s Effect on International Affairs

Episode 8 — World, Interrupted: the Coronavirus’s Effect on International Affairs The eighth episode of the Berlin Policy Journal Podcast looks at the present state of international affairs during the pandemic, and what’s likely to be its outcome, particularly in Europe. To begin, we speak with British journalist and author David Goodhart of London think tank Policy Exchange, who argues for taking a step back from what he describes as hyper-globalization. Then, Berlin Policy Journal executive editor Henning Hoff is joined by Didi Kirsten Tatlow, Senior Fellow at the Asia program of the German Council on Foreign Relations, or DGAP to discuss how the Europe-China relationship is changing in the wake of aggressive behavior and disinformation from Beijing. Formerly a correspondent based in Hong Kong, Didi has firsthand experience of getting in China’s crosshairs. Finally, we end with an audio postcard from Jacob Mardell, who has been covering China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative. His Beijing-to-Brussels travel on the New Silk Road was interrupted by the global pandemic. Now back in the UK, he reflects on what might be next for China’s relationship with the rest of the world. ———————————— The Berlin Policy Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine on European affairs, edited in Germany’s capital and published by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). It’s the sister publication of Internationale Politik, Germany’s leading foreign affairs magazine. You can read the Berlin Policy Journal on our website, berlinpolicyjournal.com/ or receive it free of charge via our app for Android and iOS devices.   Contact us with questions or suggestions:  podcast@berlinpolicyjournal.com

Episode 7 - Coronavirus Hits Europe's Economy & Refugees in Greece

Episode 7 — Coronavirus hits Europe’s Economy & Refugees in Greece   The seventh episode of the Berlin Policy Journal Podcast explores the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the European economy and its existing migrant situation. We start with a conversation with Marcel Fratzscher, the president of the German Institute for Economic Research, or DIW Berlin. He is one of Germany’s leading economists, and joins Berlin Policy Journal executive editor Henning Hoff to discuss the economic impact and possible EU solutions. With everyone focused on fighting the pandemic, it’s easy to forget that some crises at Europe’s borders are continuing, virus or no virus. The situation of refugees and migrants trapped at the Greek-Turkish border and on Greek islands has been made worse by the pandemic. For a first-person look, we hear from Chiara Tormen, who works on the Greek island of Samos as a translator for the medical NGO Med’EqualiTeam. She sent us her impressions of the situation refugees find themselves in. Finally, Mona Lou Günnewig who works with the German Council on Foreign Relations’ Migration Program explains what led to the escalation at the Greek-Turkish border, and what might come next in this dire situation. ———————————— The Berlin Policy Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine on European affairs, edited in Germany’s capital and published by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). It’s the sister publication of Internationale Politik, Germany’s leading foreign affairs magazine. You can read the Berlin Policy Journal on our website,  berlinpolicyjournal.com/ or receive it free of charge via our app for Android and iOS devices.   Contact us with questions or suggestions: podcast@berlinpolicyjournal.com

Episode 7 - Coronavirus Hits Europe's Economy & Refugees in Greece

Episode 7 — Coronavirus hits Europe’s Economy & Refugees in Greece   The seventh episode of the Berlin Policy Journal Podcast explores the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the European economy and its existing migrant situation. We start with a conversation with Marcel Fratzscher, the president of the German Institute for Economic Research, or DIW Berlin. He is one of Germany’s leading economists, and joins Berlin Policy Journal executive editor Henning Hoff to discuss the economic impact and possible EU solutions. With everyone focused on fighting the pandemic, it’s easy to forget that some crises at Europe’s borders are continuing, virus or no virus. The situation of refugees and migrants trapped at the Greek-Turkish border and on Greek islands has been made worse by the pandemic. For a first-person look, we hear from Chiara Tormen, who works on the Greek island of Samos as a translator for the medical NGO Med’EqualiTeam. She sent us her impressions of the situation refugees find themselves in. Finally, Mona Lou Günnewig who works with the German Council on Foreign Relations’ Migration Program explains what led to the escalation at the Greek-Turkish border, and what might come next in this dire situation. ———————————— The Berlin Policy Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine on European affairs, edited in Germany’s capital and published by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). It’s the sister publication of Internationale Politik, Germany’s leading foreign affairs magazine. You can read the Berlin Policy Journal on our website,  berlinpolicyjournal.com/ or receive it free of charge via our app for Android and iOS devices.   Contact us with questions or suggestions: podcast@berlinpolicyjournal.com

Episode 6 - Russia, the Threatening Neighbor

Episode 6 —  Russia, the Threatening Neighbor   For our sixth episode of the Berlin Policy Journal Podcast, we look at Russia’s role in the trouble spots surrounding Europe, and explore its actions as the threatening neighbor in international relations.    First, Swedish-American scholar Anders Åslund from the Washington-based think tank the Atlantic Council puts Vladimir Putin’s recent moves into perspective.   Then, Koerber Foundation’s Liana Fix assesses Emmanuel Macron’s attempts to take the fast lane to Moscow, and the effects this has on Germany’s Russia policy.   For the view from Europe, we turn to DGAP colleague Milan Nič, who gives us an overview of the next steps the EU is planning to take vis-à-vis its troublesome neighbor.   Finally, host and Berlin Policy Journal executive editor Henning Hoff speaks with BPJ editor Noah Gordon about how the decline of fossil fuels will fundamentally reshape geopolitics with Russia and other nations.  ———————————— The Berlin Policy Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine on European affairs, edited in Germany’s capital and published by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). It’s the sister publication of Internationale Politik, Germany’s leading foreign affairs magazine. You can read the Berlin Policy Journal on our website https://berlinpolicyjournal.com/ or receive it free of charge via our app for Android and iOS devices.   Contact us with questions or suggestions: podcast@berlinpolicyjournal.com

Episode 5 - Germany in Active Mode?

Episode 5 — Germany in Active Mode?  In this fifth episode of the Berlin Policy Journal Podcast, we explore whether Germany is ready to take a more active role in foreign policy. Starting with January’s Berlin Libya Conference, looking forward to the Munich Security Council, and then ahead to summer when Germany will take over the rotating EU presidency, the country is being pushed to take the lead. In fact, the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell, went as far as to say, “Nothing can be done without Germany.”  To discuss whether the country is truly ready for action, host and Berlin Policy Journal executive editor Henning Hoff sits down with the director of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Daniela Schwarzer, who also wrote the article “Weaponizing the Economy” in the current issue of the Berlin Policy Journal. We also have a chat with Rainer Rudolph, a German diplomat who worked on a previous German EU presidency; he’s currently on a think-tank sabbatical with DGAP.  ------------------------ The Berlin Policy Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine on European affairs, edited in Germany’s capital and published by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). It’s the sister publication of Internationale Politik, Germany’s leading foreign affairs magazine. You can read the Berlin Policy Journal on our website berlinpolicyjournal.com/ or receive it free of charge via our app for Android and iOS devices.   Contact us with questions or suggestions: podcast@berlinpolicyjournal.com