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RAIA(ffairs)

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Episode #47: Modi's Semiconductor Reform Draws Huge Foreign Investment

In this episode, our host, Elisa De Angelis, sits down with Bryan Thorne to discuss Modi's successful semiconductor reform, which has attracted significant foreign investment and its overall ties to his 'Self-Reliant India' campaign. We look at how global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Modi's semiconductor reform, what political value semiconductors represent, and how these unfathomably small components are having such a huge impact.

Episode #46: Tuvalu's Taiwanese Ties: A Geopolitical Analysis of this Unique Pacific Partnership

In this episode, RAIA(ffairs) spoke with Beatriz Ledo Tonin to discuss the Kaitasi Treaty signed in late 2025 between Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, Feleti Teo and Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te. The discussion examines Taiwan’s shrinking diplomatic space, China’s influence in the Pacific, and the existential question of what happens to a state when climate change threatens its physical territory. Remember to read Beatriz's article here: https://raiagroup.org/feleti-teo-blazing-with-new-tuvalu-taiwan-treaty

Episode #45: John Swinney's Vision for an Independent Scotland Unlikely Ahead of Elections in 2026

In this episode, we spoke with Nicolás de Miguel Castillo to discuss the problems facing First Minister John Swinney and the Scottish National Party (SNP) ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections. We delve into the structural issues that influence Swinney's current COLD status, how his plan to achieve Scottish independence is constrained by the electoral system and who, if any, opposition parties are capitalising on Swinney's weakness. Finally, we explore how the independence debate is perceived at a European level. Remember to read Nicolás's article here: https://raiagroup.org/swinney-cold-ahead-of-2026-scottish-elections

Episode #44: Climate Leaders 101: King Mohammed VI

In this episode, we sat down with Finja Ullrich and Aleksej Obradovic to examine the climate leadership of King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Under his reign, Morocco has launched some of the most ambitious environmental policies on the African continent, including the Green Morocco Plan, a national strategy for renewable energy, and the country’s first adaptation plan. We discuss how Morocco’s environmental challenges, from drought and desertification to rising sea levels, have shaped a climate agenda rooted in national survival, economic modernization, and global leadership. This episode is the sixth and last of our series as part of the IExRAIA Summer Research Program of 2025. RAIA has invited twelve IE University students to join our think tank and spend 9 weeks researching a figure from around the world to try to answer a simple question: Are they a climate leader? Don’t forget to read Finja and Aleksej’s article (https://raiagroup.org/mohammed-36-billion-climate-plan-resilience-morocco) and report (https://raiagroup.org/ie-university-x-raia-research-program-2025).

Episode #43: Climate Leaders 101: Anthony Nyong

In this episode, we sat down with Luiza da Costa Carvalho Melo and Sara Tobar Herrera to explore the career of Anthony Nyong, one of Africa’s most prominent climate advocates and a key figure in shaping the continent’s response to climate change. From his role as a lead author in the IPCC’s landmark 2007 report to his leadership at the African Development Bank and the African Carbon Markets Initiative, Nyong has consistently pushed for a climate agenda grounded in justice, development, and African agency. We discuss how his work confronts challenges like energy poverty, extreme weather events, and underrepresentation in global climate finance. This episode is the fifth in a series of six as part of the IExRAIA Summer Research Program of 2025. RAIA has invited twelve IE University students to join our think tank and spend 9 weeks researching a figure from around the world to try to answer a simple question: Are they a climate leader? Don’t forget to read Luiza and Sara’s article (https://raiagroup.org/anthony-nyong-vision-africa-climate-finance-revolutio) and report (https://raiagroup.org/ie-university-x-raia-research-program-2025).

Episode #42: Hostilities between Tshisekedi and Makenga: The Battle for DRC

In this episode, we sat down with Lilli-Sage Bayes to talk about the conflict in the DRC and the escalating tensions between President Félix Tshisekedi and Sultani Makenga, leader of the M23 rebel group. We explore how renewed violence in the eastern provinces is reshaping the country’s political and military landscape. Don’t forget to read Lilli's article here: https://raiagroup.org/hostilities-tshisekedi-makenga-battle-for-drc

Episode #41: Climate Leaders 101: Grace Fu

In this episode, we sat down with Pilar Gonzalez and Gaspard Brabant to explore the climate leadership of Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment. From championing the Singapore Green Plan 2030 to implementing carbon taxes and food resilience strategies, Fu has positioned herself at the center of one of the world’s most ambitious urban sustainability agendas. We discuss how her technocratic, data-driven approach, shaped by a career in both the private and public sectors, reflects Singapore’s broader climate priorities and whether it’s enough to safeguard the city-state’s future in the face of rising seas and global disruption. This episode is the fourth in a series of six as part of the IExRAIA Summer Research Program of 2025. RAIA has invited twelve IE University students to join our think tank and spend 9 weeks researching a figure from around the world to try to answer a simple question: Are they a climate leader? Don’t forget to read Pilar and Gaspard’s article (https://raiagroup.org/infrastructure-constructs-grace-fu-climate-leadership) and report (https://raiagroup.org/ie-university-x-raia-research-program-2025).

Episode #40: Climate Leaders 101: David Attenborough

In this episode, we sat down with Giulio Guiducci and Jayveer Gautam to delve into the legacy of Sir David Attenborough, one of the world’s most influential environmental communicators. Through decades of groundbreaking documentaries, global campaigns like Our Planet and A Life on Our Planet, and initiatives such as The People’s Seat and Save Our Wild Isles, Attenborough has reshaped how millions perceive the natural world and the urgency of climate action. We discuss how his storytelling bridges science and emotion, and whether his role as a public figure can be seen as a form of climate leadership in its own right. This episode is the third in a series of six as part of the IExRAIA Summer Research Program of 2025. RAIA has invited twelve IE University students to join our think tank and spend 9 weeks researching a figure from around the world to try to answer a simple question: Are they a climate leader? Don’t forget to read Giulio and Jayveer’s article (https://raiagroup.org/david-attenborough-people-seat-fail-to-produce-change) and report (https://raiagroup.org/ie-university-x-raia-research-program-2025).

Episode #39: Climate Leaders 101: Anne Hidalgo

In this episode, we sat down with Alice Girotto and Bryan Thorne to explore the urban climate leadership of Anne Hidalgo, the long-serving Mayor of Paris. Known for her bold policies to reshape the French capital, from low-emission zones and car-free initiatives to green urban planning and energy-efficient housing, Hidalgo has positioned herself as a global voice for sustainable cities. We discuss how her leadership during COP21 and her ambitious Bioclimatic Urban Plan have transformed Paris into a laboratory for climate governance, and what her approach tells us about the power and limits of city-level action. This episode is the second in a series of six as part of the IExRAIA Summer Research Program of 2025. RAIA has invited twelve IE University students to join our think tank and spend 9 weeks researching a figure from around the world to try to answer a simple question: Are they a climate leader? Don’t forget to read Alice and Bryan’s article (https://raiagroup.org/hidalgo-mild-aligning-climate-action-social-justice) and report (https://raiagroup.org/ie-university-x-raia-research-program-2025).

Episode #38: Climate Leaders 101: Claudia Sheinbaum

In this episode, we sat down with Josip Biondic and Manuela Altes Alcaraz to unpack the climate legacy of Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s new president and former Mayor of Mexico City. With a background in physics and a PhD in energy engineering, Sheinbaum has brought scientific rigor and political ambition to some of Mexico’s most pressing environmental challenges. From transforming public transportation in the capital to shaping the country’s water and energy strategies, we explore how her policies balance climate action with economic and political realities, and whether she can truly lead Mexico into a greener future. This episode is the first in a series of six as part of the IExRAIA Summer Research Program of 2025. RAIA has invited twelve IE University students to join our think tank and spend 9 weeks researching a figure from around the world to try to answer a simple question: Are they a climate leader? Don't forget to read Josip and Manuela's article (https://raiagroup.org/sheinbaum-hot-public-transport-reforms-set-a-high-bar) and report (https://raiagroup.org/ie-university-x-raia-research-program-2025).

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