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Mapping the World

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Then complex world of geopolitics broken down into ten minute, bite-sized chunks. You'll never sound uninformed at the dinner table ever again.

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The Geopolitics Programme

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The fall of the USSR destabalised the Caucasus, which is being eyed up by three autocratic regimes: Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Each country jealously guards its interests in this oil and gas-rich region. 

The Caucasus: At the Crossroads of Europe and Asia

The fall of the USSR destabalised the Caucasus, which is being eyed up by three autocratic regimes: Russia, Turkey, and Iran

Thirty years after the end of apartheid, South Africa has still not overcome its many problems: Endemic violence, economic and racial inequalities, state corruption. However, the rainbow nation has a lot to offer: tourism, natural resources and a leadership role on the African continent.

South Africa and its Demons

At the crossroads between China and India is Indonesia, an archipelago bursting with potential. The biggest Muslim country in the world became a democracy after years of dictatorship. It successfully curbed threats from Islamic extremists and enjoys the most dynamic economy in the region. Indonesia could well become a major player in international politics.

Indonesia: An Archipelago With Potential

At the crossroads between China and India, is Indonesia, an archipelago bursting with potential

Ten years after Gaddafi's fall, what state is Libya in? There's the official government based in Tripoli that is recognised by the international community, and rival forces controlled by General Khalifa Haftar.

Libya: A Global Power Struggle

Ten years after Gaddafi's fall, what state is Libya in?

With France holding the European presidency and with presidential elections on the horizon, a focus on the French nation. An assessment of its economic, cultural and military influence in the world today.

France: Still a Major Power?

 An assessment of France's economic, cultural and military influence in the world today.

"Hard power" means economic, military, and demographic power; "soft power" means symbolic, cultural, and informational power. And now there is also "food power": the weaponised production of food. Wheat, one of the most consumed grains and traded on the stock exchange, has become a geopolitical issue.

The Weaponisation of Wheat

 Wheat, one of the most consumed grains and traded on the stock exchange, has become a geopolitical issue

Understanding geopolitics has never been more urgent. Mapping the World analyses Putin's unprecedented attack on Ukraine with a short history of relations between Russia and Ukraine. Political scientist Anna Colin Lebedev and the head of the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI), Thomas Gomart provide context.

Putin and Ukraine: What Next?

We put Putin's attack on Ukraine in context with a short history of relations between Russia and Ukraine

A focus on the world’s largest country by landmass. Russia is a major world power that excels in certain spheres but glaring inequality, major structural problems and Western sanctions mean it may struggle to keep up with other world powers.

Russia: Land of Contrasts

Places of learning, universities also have another role: to affirm the status of their countries and guarantee their cultural influence. Since the advent of global league tables, the struggle between universities vying for prestige has only intensified; especially between East and West.

Soft Power - Universities at War

Since the advent of global league tables, the struggle between universities vying for prestige has only intensified

We look at Argentina to understand why this country with multiple resources did not live up to its promise. The missed opportunities are numerous: over-investment in agriculture, a singular political model, inequality, and corruption.

Argentina: Country of Missed Opportunities

We look at Argentina to understand why this country with multiple resources did not live up to its promise

Since 2021, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping are rivals on the world stage with China now positioning itself to take the lead in all areas - economic, military, diplomatic, cultural and political.  An overview of the Sino-American competition to be world leader, which could be decisive for the 21st century.

USA vs China

An overview of the Sino-American competition to be world leader, which could be decisive for the 21st century.

The history of Europe since the end of the Second World War cannot be properly understood without taking into account immigration. Within countries, between European countries as well as from outside Europe, immigration has always been a hot topic.

A History of Immigration in Europe

From the North Sea to the Black Sea, the Rhine and the Danube form a link across Europe. Mapping the World navigates the history of the two longest rivers of the European Union.

Rhine and Danube: Two Rivers, Two Europes

Iraq in 2022: Will the emerging nation succeed in resisting foreign influence and from Iran in particular? What does the future hold for the Kurdish autonomous region? And will the USA ever really leave?

Iraq - A Sovereign Country?

Iraq in 2022: Will the emerging nation succeed in resisting influence from foreign powers, and from Iran in particular? 

Compared to neighboring Mali, Senegal appears to be quiet and stable. France, a former colonial power, maintains its place as its main partner, but others are now vying for a spot at the table: China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Indonesia and the United States.

Senegal and France: Allies?

France, a former colonial power, is Senegal's main partner, but others are now vying for a spot at the table

The ruling junta renamed Burma Myanmar, claiming it was a way of erasing the country's British colonial past. But the deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi still defends the name Burma. This episode of Mapping the World looks at this ethically diverse country influenced by both India and China.

Myanmar: The Junta and the Democratic Dream

This episode of Mapping the World looks at this ethically diverse country influenced by both India and China

The two main cocoa-producing countries - Ivory Coast and Ghana - aren't reaping the rewards of a growing global taste for sweet treats. On the one hand there are multinational corporations that control the entire value chain, on the other, small cocoa producers trying to support their families.

Cacao: Who Profits from Chocolate?

The main cocoa-producing countries - Ivory Coast and Ghana - aren't reaping the rewards of growing global demand

A region of Europe with a shared experience of communism and USSR dominance, Eastern Europe today is characterised by nations with diverse cultural and political identities.

How many Eastern Europes?

How we represent our world in maps depends on our perspective. For many centuries Europeans have put their continent in the centre and on top of their maps, the Chinese likewise placed the Middle Kingdom in the centre of things. What do our maps tell us about our worldview?

Cartography: How We Represent the World

For centuries Europeans have put their continent in the centre of their maps, the Chinese likewise placed the Middle Kingdom in the centre of things. What do our maps tell us about our worldview?

Warfare has evolved with the professionalisation of armies, the refusal of public opinion to see their soldiers sacrifice their lives in distant lands, and the emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robots and other drones.

21st Century Warfare

Warfare has evolved into high tech drone strikes and robo-armies, and it's a gamechanger for global geopolitics

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Lockdowns, crop failures due to climate change and the war in Ukraine are all to blame for soaring prices around the world.

Geopolitics of Inflation

Mapping the World Essentials

Schools and hospitals have been bombed, civilians shot in the back of the head. The International Criminal Court is already investigating alleged war crimes in Ukraine as the conflict is ongoing.

Ukraine: Looking for Justice

A war of optics is raging on 9 May. Russia celebrates the victory over fascism, Ukraine shows defiance and it is Europe day in the European Union.

9 May: A War of Images

Visiting France on 4th May, Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron. But the Indian Prime Minister did not condemn the Russian invasion, merely expressing his "concern". That's because India depends heavily on Russia for its supply of arms and energy.

India's Ukraine Problem

Why India needs Russia, and won't condemn the war in Ukraine

The Supreme Court is now made of a majority of ultra-conservative judges since President Trump's term in office. The court now looks set to overturn the Roe v Wade case which gave women the constitutional right to have an abortion if they so wish or need. This worrying step backwards for women's rights doesn't mean women won't have abortions. It means they'll die trying.

Abortion: A Threatened Right

This worrying step backwards doesn't mean women won't have abortions. It means they'll die trying

On May 9, Russia celebrated its victory day without a victory in Ukraine. Instead, President Putin further pushed the narrative of Russian victimhood, despite the fact that Moscow, not Kyiv, is the agressor. As the battle continues to rage, we take a look at Ukraine before and after the conflict.

Ukraine, Before and After the War

As the battle continues to rage, we take a look at Ukraine before and after the conflict

China’s fight against COVID used to seem exemplary. But with brutal and inhumane lockdowns imposed on many cities to fight the Omicron variant, citizens are angry and the Zero Covid strategy is stretched to breaking point. Could Xi Jinping be in trouble?

COVID Puts Chinese Regime under Strain

China’s fight against COVID used to seem exemplary. But with brutal and inhumane lockdowns imposed on many cities to fight the Omicron variant, citizens are angry. Could Xi Jinping be in trouble?

On Tuesday 26 April, Gazprom announced that it was stopping gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria. The two countries had made it known that they refused to pay Russia in roubles. How could Europe cope with a possible European embargo on Russian gas?

Russian Gas: Who Is Ready for an Embargo?

Victor Orban personally endorsed right-wing populists in the recent French and Slovenian elections. Both candidates lost with a newcomer, Robert Golob, winning in Slovenia.

Slovenia: Setback for Populists

The Ukrainian president has proposed a new meeting with the Russian president to end the war. If negotiations were to take place, the Kremlin is likely to demand that Ukraine become a neutral state and renounce its wish of joining NATO. Finland has long been neutral, but its position on this issue is now shifting.

Ukraine-Finland: Neutrality in Question

If peace negotiations were to take place, the Kremlin is likely to demand that Ukraine become a neutral state like another Russian neighbour, Finland.

Viktor Orban won his fourth consecutive electoral victory in April. The Prime Minister of Hungary welcomes Ukrainian refugees, despite been strongly hostile to other refugees in the past. For twelve years, the leader of the Fidesz party has imposed his model of the illiberal democracy on the EU, which is at odds with some fundamental values of the bloc.

The EU and Viktor Orban's illiberal democracy

Hungary's Viktor Orban welcomes Ukrainian refugees, despite being strongly opposed to other refugees in the past

After the covid years which led the Saudi kingdom to limit the number of pilgrims, one million pilgrims are allowed to come this summer for the Hajj, the annual summer pilgrimage to Mecca. Mohamed Ben Salmane's Saudi Arabia is reviving a fundamental element of its power at a strategic moment: The West is criticising the Saudis for not helping Europeans wean themselves of Russian oil.

Saudi Arabia: Pilgrims Return

Some in Moscow are pointing out that Vladimir Putin’s popularity is holding up as he positions himself as a strongman and war leader defending Russia’s greatness against the West. A persona he has been cultivating since the 1990s.

Vladimir Putin: War Leader

As Washington announces the delivery of heavy military equipment to Ukraine, the Kremlin needs to show it also has support. Belarus, which serves as a base to transport Russian equipment and soldiers to Ukraine, is also one of the worst dictatorships on the planet.

Belarus: Vladimir Putin's Supporter

With possible war crimes in Russia, many European countries are considering an embargo on Russian gas imports. The Baltic states are already finding alternative energy supplies.

An Embargo on Russian Gas

With suspected war crimes in Ukraine, the UN General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council. 93 countries voted in favour, 24 voted against, 58 countries abstained. a sign of a crumbling international consensus?

Is the United Nations Obsolete?

In peacetime, Ukraine and Russia account for around 30% of world wheat exports. With the war restricting trade, Mapping the World looks at who depends most on Ukrainian and Russian wheat exports.

How the War Affects Food Supplies

The French presidential election campaign has been dominated by foreign policy issues as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and NATO membership have been top of the agenda.

France: A Foreign Affairs Election?

Why did the Russian army retreat to southern and eastern Ukraine? What did we know, before this war in Ukraine started, of Russian military power? Was it overrated? How does it measure up to American and Chinese military powers?

Russia's Military Might

What did we know, before this war in Ukraine started, of Russian military power?

Most of Mariupol's infrastructure has been destroyed. The city is a strategic port on the Black Sea, as it's not far from Crimea (annexed by Russia) and located in the Donbas, which is already under the influence of the Kremlin. As the invasion falters, the Russian army has fallen back to the separatist region, hoping that there at least, they can secure a victory.

The Kremlin Saves Face in the Donbas

The Russian army has fallen back to the Donbas, hoping that there at least, they can secure a victory

Regular bite-sized shorts focusing on different aspects of the war in Ukraine from a geopolitical perspective.

A special series of Mapping the World focusing on the geopolitics of the coronavirus pandemic.