Episode 37: Realpolitik

Episode 37: Realpolitik

Author: Centre for Geopolitics September 20, 2023 Duration: 38:49

Suzanne and Ali discuss the origins of the term and ask how states navigate between pursuit of their interests and being true to their values and ideals.

About the hosts:

Suzanne Raine is an Affiliate Lecturer at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism and was a senior member of the UK government assessment community. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.


Stepping beyond the headlines and soundbites, On Geopolitics offers a deeper, more considered look at the forces shaping our world. Produced by the Centre for Geopolitics, this podcast is now guided by two distinct academic voices. Professor John Nilsson-Wright leads "Currents," a series of timely conversations that bring together experts from government, business, science, and journalism to dissect the most pressing international events as they unfold. In parallel, Professor William Hurst curates "Explorations," dedicating extended episodes to foundational ideas and historical patterns that underpin global affairs, providing crucial context for today's complexities. Together, these formats create a rich dialogue that connects immediate crises to their deeper roots. Tuning into this podcast means moving past superficial analysis to engage with nuanced perspectives on power, history, and strategy, all grounded in rigorous thought and diverse expertise. It’s for anyone who feels that understanding the world requires more than a daily news update, seeking instead a sustained inquiry into how nations interact, compete, and coexist. Each episode, whether focused on a breaking development or a perennial theme, is built to inform and challenge, making sense of a disordered global landscape through thoughtful discussion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 85

On Geopolitics
Podcast Episodes
Explorations on War - Episode 1, with Prof William Hurst [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:43
Our first Explorations series takes a deeper dive into the subject of war. In this introductory episode, we begin by tracing the history of war as a concept, from ancient poetry, tragedy, and philosophy through to contem…
Currents - Episode 2: Trump and the Fourth Estate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:13
John Nilsson-Wright talks to Steve Herman — until recently Voice of America’s Chief National Correspondent — about the Trump administration’s relationship with private and public media organisations in the United States.…
Episode 54: What just happened? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:28
What just happened? To look back at a momentous month Suzanne Raine and Ali Ansari are joined by Bill Hurst and John Nilsson-Wright. Ali offers his views on Iran, Bill on China, John on Japan and North and South Korea, a…
Episode 53: Trump, US Policy & Asia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:22
Suzanne Raine and John Nilsson-Wright talk with Professor John Delury, Sinologist, Korea expert and currently a visiting professor in Rome, about the current state of policy under Donald Trump towards the United States'…
Episode 52: Martial law & repercussions in South Korea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:52
Ali and Suzanne are joined by John Nilsson-Wright, who was in Seoul in early December when President Yoon Suk-yeol moved to declare martial law, to discuss the recent tumultuous events in South Korea and the implications…
Episode 51: Revolution in Syria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:58
Ali and Suzanne take stock of the dramatic events in Syria and the implications of the collapse of the Assad regime for Iran, looking at themes common across many revolutions and possible areas to watch.
Episode 50: Trump, China and Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:52
Ali and Suzanne are joined by Professor Bill Hurst to look at the implications of Trump's election win on US policy positions towards China and Iran. How might China navigate what America does next?Why are some in Iran s…
Episode 49: War in the Middle East [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:00
Ali and Suzanne take stock on the contest between Iran and Israel, especially considering the impact in Iran of recent setbacks. What might be the consequences domestically and in terms of the conflict?
Episode 48: North Korea's TikTok sensation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:45
Suzanne Raine is joined by Dr John Nilssen-Wright and Alexandra Leonzini to learn more about the story behind a recent North Korean viral TikTok hit. Alexandra and John explore the role of music in the creation and stren…