Small World, Big Problems – a SAIS Strategy Podcast.
A SAIS student podcast supported by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies.
In Small World, Big Problems, we ask the experts about the biggest challenges in the world of strategy and national security.
It’s a small world, and it’s only getting smaller. But it seems like every day, there is a new problem on the hori ...
... Read more
Days after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, new in office, gave the now famous Zeitenwende speech in which he proclaimed a dramatic turn in German foreign policy and national security policy in response to Russia’s full-scale aggression. The speech generated a lot of discussions and, sometimes, unrealistic optimism. Two years later, Germany has been at the forefront of supporting Ukraine militarily and economically, but as the war has turned into a war of attrition, Germany is still a long way from the ambitious undertaking of Zeitenwende and divided over the extent to which to support Ukraine. In this episode, Jeff Rathke, the President of the American-German Institute, Washington’s only think tank focusing exclusively on Germany and U.S.-German relations, discusses with Martin Makaryan Germany’s role in the security architecture of Europe and within NATO, the practical implications of Zeitenwende, the war in Ukraine, and what the future holds for U.S.-German relations and Germany’s new role in Europe. This episode was recorded by Martin Makaryan and produced by Luke Litle and Andrew Whelan.
In a first for Small World Big Problems, this week we interviewed a sitting head of state: Jakov Milatović, the 37-year-old president of Montenegro. Milatović was elected in May of 2023 on a pro-European Union, pro-democracy, and anti-corruption platform that has received record-breaking support from the people of Montenegro. In an era of weakening democracy and growing isolationism around the world, Montenegro has proven to be an exception to the rule. But why are these values important to everyday Montenegrins, and how do ongoing threats—like disinformation and organized crime—endanger the progress that has been made so far? Sitting down with President Milatović was a fantastic opportunity, and we thank him for his time. Special thanks also go to Ed Joseph, Brent Kesler, and the SAIS Foreign Policy Institute for arranging the interview. This episode was researched, hosted, and edited by Eli George, with audio support from the staff at the JHU Bloomberg Center Media Suite.
Russia has a long-fabled history of deep-cover spies in the West. Known as the Illegals Program, these spies enter Western countries under false identities to conduct espionage activities. The history of this program goes back to the earliest days of the USSR, but these spies still lurk in the shadows of universities, think-tanks, and suburban neighborhoods across the West. Why does Russia use these types of spies? Has their mission changed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine? How can private institutions protect themselves from Russian intelligence? In this episode, we discuss the answers to these questions with Professor Mark Kelton. Professor Kelton was formerly the Deputy Director of the National Clandestine Service for Counterintelligence, one of the most senior positions within the National Clandestine Service. This episode was researched, recorded, and edited by Connor Crago.
In part two of this interview with Richard "Otter" Bew, we dive deep into the challenges currently facing the defense industry. The digital revolution is upending how we approach defense; back in the day, we could plan out development on a ten or fifteen year timeline. But now, game-changing technologies are being released every few months. The militaries that can best capitalize on this revolution will be the most successful in the 21st century. How can the US keep up? And what are the stakes if we don't? This episode was researched, edited, and produced by Eli George.
The American defense industry employs over a million people—in the military, in civilian jobs, and at private companies—and every part matters. Few people have spent as much time inside this complex machine as our guest this week: Richard T. Bew, the Chief of Staff for Lockheed Martin. In part one of this two-part interview, we talk with him about his time as a Marine aviator, the importance of human capital in the civil-military relationship, and the changing character of war in the 21st century. This episode was researched, recorded, and edited by Eli George.