A podcast and conversation where we take time to explore different parts or our world and the forces affecting them. Walter Givhan, a retired Air Force General, Senior Vice Chancellor at Troy University, and the President of the Alabama World Affairs Council hosts Speaking Globally which brings together expert voices from around the globe for conversations about culture, context, and issues that matter.
Early this month, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza. The agreement brings a tenuous peace to a region wracked by two years of war, the latest armed clash in a conflict whose roots stretch back into a long history of wars and crises. Here to help us put the ceasefire into context is a seasoned veteran of diplomacy in this complex arena, Ambassador Richard LeBaron.
In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty formally established the European Union—an ambitious step toward deeper integration across the continent.
The goals were bold: a single currency, open borders, free trade, and above all, stability in Europe.
More than three decades later, the results are mixed.
The UK officially withdrew from the EU in 2020. And many detractors of the EU, or Eurosceptics, say that European integration undermines national sovereignty and identity.
Today, the EU stands at another crossroads—grappling with the ongoing war in Ukraine, internal unrest, and shifting dynamics with NATO and the United States.
Martin Holmes is a Senior Common Room Member at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, UK. Since 1989 he has been Programme Director of the University of Nebraska annual summer school at Oxford. He is the author of seven books. Our conversation centers largely around his 2022 book, From the Treaty of Versailles to the Treaty of Maastricht: Conflict, Carnage and Cooperation in Europe, 1918–1993.
Today marks three years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. We’re talking with Stephen Humphreys, who is about to travel back to Ukraine for the 12th time in that span.
After the Battle of Irpin (February 2022), a turning point in the Kyiv offensive during the Russian invasion, Humphreys decided to go to Ukraine, to offer assistance. Since then, Humphreys, an attorney, has worked on war crimes investigations, volunteered in training Ukrainian armed forces, and taught law and history at the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv.
In his time in Ukraine, Humphreys has taken photographs documenting the people, cities, and landscapes as they are now, war-torn yet bonded together and resilient amidst incredible destruction. Back in Alabama, he exhibited these photographs in several galleries and cities.
In October, news of North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s war in Ukraine sparked fresh fears of escalation in the conflict.
The news also brought fresh scrutiny to North Korea itself and the threat an alliance of so called “dissatisfied states” like North Korea and Russia poses to the global world order.
This is the second of our two-part series on North Korea with Dr. Daniel Pinkston, a Lecturer of International Relations at Troy University. Dr Pinkston previously served as Northeast Asia Deputy Project Director for the International Crisis Group.
In October, news of North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s war in Ukraine sparked fresh fears of escalation in the conflict.
The news also brought fresh scrutiny to North Korea itself and the threat an alliance of so called “dissatisfied states” like North Korea and Russia poses to the global world order.
This is the second of our two-part series on North Korea with Dr. Daniel Pinkston, a Lecturer of International Relations at Troy University. Dr Pinkston previously served as Northeast Asia Deputy Project Director for the International Crisis Group.
In October, news of North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s war in Ukraine sparked fresh fears of escalation in the conflict.
The news also brought fresh scrutiny to North Korea itself and the threat an alliance of so called “dissatisfied states” like North Korea and Russia poses to the global world order.
Today, we’re going to zero in on North Korea’s history and try to piece together what led us to this point.
This is the first of our two-part series on North Korea with Dr. Daniel Pinkston, a Lecturer of International Relations at Troy University. Dr Pinkston previously served as Northeast Asia Deputy Project Director for the International Crisis Group.
In October, news of North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s war in Ukraine sparked fresh fears of escalation in the conflict.
The news also brought fresh scrutiny to North Korea itself and the threat an alliance of so called “dissatisfied states” like North Korea and Russia poses to the global world order.
Today, we’re going to zero in on North Korea’s history and try to piece together what led us to this point.
This is the first of our two-part series on North Korea with Dr. Daniel Pinkston, a Lecturer of International Relations at Troy University. Dr Pinkston previously served as Northeast Asia Deputy Project Director for the International Crisis Group.
In the months since Hamas’ devastating surprise attack on October 7th, Israel has responded with a massive air campaign and ground offensive in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to eliminate Hamas, but international pressure is mounting for Israel to scale back its operation as the civilian death toll continues to climb.
On this episode of Speaking Globally, we talk to Anton La Guardia, diplomatic editor of The Economist and author of War Without End: Israelis, Palestinians, and the Struggle for a Promised Land.
Related Links:
Alabama World Affairs Council: alwac.org
TROY Public Radio: troypublicradio.org
Anton La Guardia on X (formerly Twitter): @AntonLaGuardia
In the months since Hamas’ devastating surprise attack on October 7th, Israel has responded with a massive air campaign and ground offensive in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to eliminate Hamas, but international pressure is mounting for Israel to scale back its operation as the civilian death toll continues to climb.
On this episode of Speaking Globally, we talk to Anton La Guardia, diplomatic editor of The Economist and author of War Without End: Israelis, Palestinians, and the Struggle for a Promised Land.
Related Links:
Alabama World Affairs Council: alwac.org
TROY Public Radio: troypublicradio.org
Anton La Guardia on X (formerly Twitter): @AntonLaGuardia
In May, President Biden announced that the U.S. will allow its allies to send F-16’s to Ukraine. The announcement marked a striking reversal for the Biden administration, which had previously maintained that Ukraine did not need advanced fighter jets. Join host Walter Givhan as he discusses what this change could mean for Ukraine with retired Lt. General David Deptula, one of the world’s foremost experts on military air power.
Related Links:
Alabama World Affairs Council: alwac.org
TROY Public Radio: troypublicradio.org
Lt. Gen. Deptula on Twitter: @Deptula_David