Deep Dish on Global Affairs

Almost every conversation about China is framed as an all-out competition—but expert Jessica Chen Weiss argues that reflexive rivalry is making America weaker, not stronger. She breaks down why resilience matters more than dominance, how strategic integration protects US interests, and why “beating” China shouldn’t be the ultimate goal.

As Ukraine calls for security and support, world leaders juggle high-stakes negotiations and competing interests. Alexander Cooley and Alex Dukalskis, authors of Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics, [https://global.oup.com/academic/product/dictating-the-agenda-9780197776360?cc=us&lang=en&] unpack how authoritarian strategies are influencing the talks and argue that negotiating peace isn’t just about stopping the fighting—it’s about who walks away with the leverage.

India’s rise is undeniable—but so are the roadblocks. With President Trump threatening to double tariffs over Russian oil imports and China on its doorstep, can the world’s largest democracy maintain its strategic autonomy? Foreign Policy’s Ravi Agrawal and University of Chicago’s Raghuram Rajan explore. Reading List:  * Facts about Indians in the U.S., Pew Research Center, May 1, 2025 [https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/fact-sheet/asian-americans-indians-in-the-u-s/]

A fresh round of reciprocal tariffs from President Trump has rattled markets and prompted concern over the future of trade. As uncertainty grows for businesses, consumers, and governments alike, two leading experts, Brent Neiman of the University of Chicago and David Henig of the European Centre for International Political Economy, join Deep Dish to unpack the implications for the global economic system.

Starvation is spreading in Gaza—not because of a lack of aid, but because humanitarian access is being blocked. Former UN World Food Programme Executive Director and Council Distinguished Fellow Ertharin Cousin joins Deep Dish to analyze how the crisis is fueling a broader diplomatic reckoning, with more nations moving toward recognition of a Palestinian state.     Related: * Americans Grow More Divided on US Support for Israel [https://globalaffairs.org/research/public-opinion-survey/americans-grow-more-divided-us-support-israel], Chicago Council on Global Affairs, May 15, 2025