IR thinker

About IR thinker

The IR thinker is an independent, non-partisan and non-aligned podcast exploring international relations through conversations with leading scholars and practitioners. It offers diverse perspectives without endorsing any political party, government or ideology. Founded and hosted by IR scholar and lecturer Martin Zubko as a pro bono initiative in 2023, it has surpassed 100 episodes and is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Martin Zubko

Category

science · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Jan 2023

Latest episode

17 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

132 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Azerbaijan's Energy Geopolitics — John M. Roberts

   In this episode, John Roberts examines Azerbaijan’s evolving role in regional energy security, from its traditional position as an oil and gas exporter to emerging opportunities in electricity and renewable energy. John explores the geopolitical significance of Azerbaijan’s energy partnerships with the European Union, Türkiye, Russia, Iran, Central Asia and China, and considers whether the country can successfully transform itself into a diversified regional energy hub. John M. Roberts (https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/roberts-john-m/) is a leading European energy security specialist and researcher, with particular expertise in the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Caspian energy corridors. He is a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and a Senior Partner at Methinks Ltd, a consultancy specialising in the relationship between energy, economic development and politics. John has extensive experience analysing the intersection of energy, economic development and geopolitics. He has advised and testified on Turkish, Russian, Caspian, Middle Eastern and Kurdish energy security, and has particular expertise in the pipelines connecting, or intended to connect, the Caspian region with Europe, Russia, China and India. He previously served as Managing Editor at Platts and worked with Financial Times Energy, focusing on energy development and the impact of energy on economic development. His publications include Caspian Pipelines (1996), Visions & Mirages: The Middle East in a New Era (1995), and Pipeline Politics: The Caspian and Global Energy Security (2014). Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:54 Baku–Novorossiysk Pipeline [oil] 05:29 Baku–Supsa Pipeline [oil] 08:03 Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) Pipeline [oil] 10:47 Baku–Kulevi Rail Corridor [oil] 12:22 Hajigabul–Astara Pipeline [gas] 14:21 Hajigabul–Gazakh–Saguramo Pipeline [gas] 15:08 Hajigabul–Shirvanovka–Mozdok Pipeline [gas] 16:13 South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) [gas] 21:15 Iğdır–Nakhchivan Pipeline [gas] 23:50 Azerbaijan’s Oil and Gas: Significance for the European Union 35:09 Declining Oil Production in Azerbaijan: Challenges and Prospects 39:08 Black Sea Energy Cable 46:31 Azerbaijan and Central Asia: The Uzbek Energy Market 52:18 Could Azerbaijan Revive Its Nuclear Energy Ambitions? 55:23 Green Energy Development 59:40 Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Iran 01:05:25 An Underexplored Area of Energy Research Follow & Further Resources Substack: https://theirthinker.substack.com/ (https://theirthinker.substack.com/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theirthinker/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/theirthinker/) X: https://x.com/theirthinker (https://x.com/theirthinker) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirthinker/ (https://www.instagram.com/theirthinker/) Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theirthinker.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/theirthinker.bsky.social) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theirthinker/ (https://www.facebook.com/theirthinker/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   18 Aug 2026

   Uncertainty, Intentions and Great Power Conflict — Sebastian Rosato

   How certain can great powers ever be about the intentions of their rivals, and what happens when that uncertainty becomes a permanent feature of international politics? In this episode, Professor Sebastian Rosato joins us to discuss 'intentions pessimism', the limits of information, and what uncertainty means for great-power conflict, diplomacy, and the study of international relations. Sebastian Rosato Sebastian Rosato (https://politicalscience.nd.edu/people/sebastian-rosato/) is Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, where he is also a fellow of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies. Publications Europe United: Power Politics and the Making of the European Community (https://cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9780801478499/europe-united) Intentions in Great Power Politics: Uncertainty and the Roots of Conflict (https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300253023/intentions-in-great-power-politics/) How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy (https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300279870/how-states-think/) (with John J. Mearsheimer) Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Is 'intentions pessimism' a structural or epistemological argument—or are the two inseparable? 04:38 Endemic uncertainty in international relations 06:33 The role of first- and secondhand information 12:48 Waltzian neorealism vs. 'intentions pessimism' 15:27 Has 'intentions pessimism' changed Professor Rosato's stance on IR? 18:11 Is 'intentions pessimism' applicable to great powers only? 20:44 Truism and falsifiability questions 22:20 Which IR theory draws the most criticism of 'intentions pessimism'? 24:50 Liberal institutionalism and constructivism vs. 'intentions pessimism' 28:05 How 'intentions pessimism' works across different regime types 31:41 Case study selection and theory grounding 37:42 Material vs. ideational explanations 40:07 Is 'intentions pessimism' about states or leaders? 42:50 Signals intelligence, satellite surveillance, and AI: do new technologies change the information problem? 46:17 The role of diplomacy and statecraft 47:54 Uncertainty in foreign policy analysis 53:46 How do we make progress in IR theory? Follow & Further Resources Substack: https://theirthinker.substack.com/ (https://theirthinker.substack.com/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ir-thinker/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ir-thinker/) X: https://x.com/irthinker_ (https://x.com/irthinker_) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirthinker/ (https://www.instagram.com/theirthinker/) Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theirthinker.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/theirthinker.bsky.social) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irthinkerfb (https://www.facebook.com/irthinkerfb) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Who Controls Africa’s Food? Rethinking Food Security, Trade & Agriculture — David Luke

   Why is Africa still importing so much of the food it consumes? What is holding back trade in food and agricultural products between African countries? In this interview, we speak with Professor David Luke, editor of How Africa Eats: Trade, Food Security and Climate Risks (https://press.lse.ac.uk/books/e/10.31389/lsepress.hae), an open-access book published by LSE Press. We discuss the causes of food insecurity across Africa, the role of agricultural investment, and the barriers that make it difficult for African countries to trade food with one another. Professor Luke explains why non-tariff barriers matter, where intra-African food trade falls short, and what the AfCFTA could mean for African agriculture. The conversation also covers Africa’s approach to the WTO, the future of the Malabo Declaration, countries making progress in agricultural transformation, and China’s role in African agriculture. The interview concludes with a discussion of where research on African agriculture should go next. David Luke David Luke (https://www.lse.ac.uk/people/david-luke) is Professor in Practice and Strategic Director at the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa (https://www.lse.ac.uk/africa), LSE and Extraordinary Professor at North-West University, South Africa, specialising in African trade policy, trade negotiations, and development. Publications How Africa Trades (https://press.lse.ac.uk/books/e/10.31389/lsepress.hat) How Africa Eats (https://press.lse.ac.uk/books/e/10.31389/lsepress.hae) Implementing the AfCFTA: A sluggish start (https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/book/9781035325962/chapter18.xml) Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:39 Rethinking Africa’s Hunger Narrative 06:51 The Root Causes of Food Insecurity in Africa 12:28 How the Research Was Conducted 15:13 Why Non-Tariff Barriers Matter for African Food Trade 17:43 The Missing Link in Intra-African Food Trade 20:12 Agricultural Investment: Africa’s Internal and External Drivers 24:49 Africa’s WTO Strategy: Practical Outcomes Over Ideology 29:11 Does the Malabo Declaration Need an Upgrade? 31:11 Countries Driving Africa’s Agricultural Transformation 32:23 China’s Role in African Agriculture 34:36 Future Research Priorities in African Agriculture Follow & Further Resources Substack: https://theirthinker.substack.com/ (https://theirthinker.substack.com/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ir-thinker/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ir-thinker/) X: https://x.com/irthinker_ (https://x.com/irthinker_) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirthinker/ (https://www.instagram.com/theirthinker/) Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theirthinker.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/theirthinker.bsky.social) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irthinkerfb (https://www.facebook.com/irthinkerfb) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Who has been a guest on IR thinker

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Hussein Banai
• Arie M Kacowicz
• Dr Joseph Daher
• Gilbert A Ang'ana
• Eldaniz Gusseinov

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

32,092

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

61

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

27

Contact IR thinker

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.